Farmer's Market Wine Challenge: It's Reining Melons!

From Ambrosia and Goddess to Canary and Cantaloupe, California melons are at their peak right now, rolling in and out of farmers' markets everywhere across LA. It is hard to resist the intoxicating smell of ripe melon, just begging you to take it home. Fresh melon is delicious on its own and makes a juicy addition to summer appetizer and salads. Whether you prepare it Italian style, sliced with smoked prosciutto, chopped with jicama in a refreshing Mexican salad, or my favorite, melon and cucumber salad with yogurt and mint, melon lends a juicy texture and cool sweetness to dishes as it balances savory, spicy, and herbal flavors. 

2014 Rein Riesling - In stock now at Mission Wines!

The sweetness of melon can present a challenge for wine pairing, however. It is liable to make your oaked whites taste bitter and your red wines even more so. Ideally, you want the sweetness of your wine to exceed than your dish, so a crisp wine with balanced acidity just a hint of residual sugar--just barely off-dry--would be the perfect choice. Melon is rarely  cooked, so I recommend a white, sparkling, or rose wine served chilled to best complement a dish featuring melon. 

Want to hit the sweet spot?  The next time you serve a melon dish, pair it with a crisp Riesling with just a hint of sweetness, like the locally grown 2014 Rein Greenwood Ridge Riesling from Anderson Valley, California. This is world-class Riesling, on par with the best Kabinetts of Germany. From sustainably farmed 40 year-old ungrafted Riesling vines, this was produced completely naturally without the use of pesticides in the vineyards or additives in the winemaking process. A native yeast fermentation was followed by aging entirely in stainless steel. Balancing acidity with pure, clean fruit, this has a kiss of sweetness but still finishes fresh on the palate. It is mouthwateringly delicious, the ultimate match for summer melon dishes.

2014 REIN GREENWOOD VALLEY RIESLING ($24.99) Winemaker's Notes: "Picked at a low pH of 2.97 and let to sit on their skins overnight to gain tannin and heightened aromatics.100% whole cluster pressed, fermented and aged in all stainless steel. At only 11% alc, this riesling is more in the style of a German Kabinet, with pretty white flowers, such as jasmine and Gardenia on the nose. A well defined balance of acid, tannin, and the slightest bit of RS, creating precision and focus from start to finish on the palate." 

Want to taste it? We are pouring it tonight in our tasting bar until 7pm! Enjoy a flight of 3 wines for $15 or $10 with purchase, sip it by the glass, or take home a bottle to savor at home. 

Cheers!

-Chiara