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This post was sponsored by AVA Grace Vineyards.

Happy November friends!

Maria and I are super excited to share with you today this fall wine party ft. AVA Grace Vineyards! You may have first seen AVA Grace wine on our Instagram stories this summer when I discovered their cans (yes cans!) of Rosé and Pinot Grigio which were PERFECT for summer boating days at my parents’ lake house. I loved the delicate fruitiness of the Rosé, and the crisp bright taste of the Pinot was the perfect pairing for the hot summer sun. So when they reached out to partner with us this Fall, it seemed like a no brainer!

With everyone gearing up for the holidays already, we thought it would be fun to give you all some inspiration for a fall wine party this month! We went with the AVA Grace Vineyards Red Blend and Pinot Grigio to give us a little variety which would be your best bet when hosting a fall wine party. That way, you’ve got a red and a white for your guests to taste and ultimately they can decide which they’d prefer to drink all night.

We figured a pre-holiday fall wine party should be kept a little more relaxed than your traditional Thanksgiving dinner. (Because honestly no one should be expected to cook up two giant feasts served on a carefully decorated table twice in one month let’s be real!) So we’re keeping this gathering to AVA Grace wines and simple (but delicious) pairings that won’t stress you out. Besides, these wine bottles are so tastefully decorated that you will impress your friends just based on how lovely they are packaged!

THE RED WINE

RED BLEND- Elegant, Berries, Spice

Our Red Blend exhibits notes of blackberries and raspberries, with hints of spice. The palate is clean, with flavors of cranberries, roses and a touch of rhubarb. A lingering finish is touched by notes of vanilla and dark cherries.

Appellation: California alcohol: 13.5%
PH: 3.61

Vintage: 2014
titratable acidity: 6.5 G/L residual sugar: 8.0 G/L

Accolades: NV Red Blend
88 points, Beverage Testing Institute

*Information compliments of www.avagracevineyards.com because I am not a sommelier and their descriptions are much more elegant than mine! haha

THE PAIRINGS

Goat Cheese and Crackers

*You will need:

1 container/package of goat cheese

1 containger/box of crackers (I like cracked pepper, or rosemary thyme flavored best)

*Spread goat cheese evenly on crackers and enjoy

Proscuitto Wrapped Figs (these are super easy but make you look super fancy haha)

*You will need:

8 fresh figs

16 slices of prosciutto

Olive oil, salt and pepper

*Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line baking sheet with parchment paper

*Cut figs in half and wrap each half with one slice of prosciutto

*Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper

THE WHITE WINE

PINOT GRIGIO- Citrus, Pear, Vibrant, Zesty and Bright

AVA Grace Pinot Grigio is zesty and bright, with stone fruit aromas. The wine’s crisp, medium-bodied mouthfeel is rounded out with flavors of honeysuckle and lime that envelop the palate.

Appellation: California alcohol: 13%
PH: 3.30

Vintage: 2017
Titratable acidity: 0.7 G/100mL residual sugar:9 G/L

*Information compliments of www.avagracevineyards.com because I am not a sommelier and their descriptions are much more elegant than mine! haha

THE PAIRINGS

Veggie Tray

Okay, now I know this is the easy way out but we are saving our stress for Thanksgiving dinner remember? So go out and buy a pre-made veggie tray. It may cost more, but it will be worth you saving your sanity.

Feta and Walnut Salad

*Toss together the following:

1 clamshell of fresh chopped spinach (about 4-6 cups)

½ cup feta cheese crumbles

¼ cup chopped walnuts

*Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette

*Sprinkle dried cranberries and fresh ground pepper on top

So there you have it friends! A quick guide to an easy fall wine party ft. AVA Grace Vineyards! Let us know in the comments if you try or have already discovered AVA Grace Wines, whether it was via cans this summer or the traditional bottles- we want to hear what you think!