For the 4^th of July or any day this summer plan to grill a special dish for your family and friends. Several recipes that are grilled are available on the Wine Trail Traveler website. Check these recipes depending on the food item you want to grill.

Beef Entrees: Grilled Marinated Beef Tenderloin

Seafood Entrées: Grilled Rock Lobster

Seafood Entrée: Grilled Bodega Salmon a la Marino

Seafood Sauce for Salmon: Grilled Salmon Cherry Sauce

Dessert: Grilled Peaches with Fresh Cherry Sauce

When these recipes don’t fit with the foods you want to use then consider what Hope from Doukenie Winery in Virginia told us a few years ago:

• Add wine to leftovers.
• Add wine to any tomato sauce.
• Use white wine with any chicken dish. Use a white wine if you have some. If not use a red wine.

The recipe below is from the  J Vineyards & Winery Culinary Team in Sonoma, California

Watermelon Granité

Ingredients:

3 cups watermelon puree
2 cups J Sparkling vintage Brut
1 cup water
1½ cup simple syrup (or mint simple syrup)

Method:

To make simple syrup, put equal parts sugar and water in a small pot. Bring mixture to a boil then remove from heat. For mint simple syrup, add ½ cup mint leaves, roughly chopped, as soon as mixture is removed from heat. When syrup cools, strain out leaves.

For granité, combine all ingredients in a shallow pan and freeze. Scrape to serve.

The granité can be served before a main course as a refresher, or with fresh sliced fruits and berries for a summertime dessert.

Provided by J Vineyards & Winery Culinary Team

J Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg, California

Wishing  everyone a wonderful 4^th of July and summer!

Cheers,
Kathy