A Wine Country Inspired Dessert Board
Blog Post By Meg Barkley
October is a Spooktacular month in Napa Valley. Perfumed scents of grape ferments linger in the air as harvest winds down. Rich hues of fall foliage paint the valley floor and hillside. And warm days fade into cool, crisp evenings that beg for a glass of hearty red wine paired with dark chocolate.
Halloween is a favorite holiday in wine country. Not only do the kids celebrate but the adults do too! It’s customary for adults to bring a wine glass during trick or treating, as they’re usually offered a splash of wine and a spread of treats once landing on a neighbor’s front porch. Our community is eager to toast to the completion of another bountiful Harvest season.
At Clif Family, we’re sharing our tips to curate your own Wine Country inspired Halloween Dessert Board.
First things first, Chocolate!
Clif Family has a selection of three chocolates in eco-friendly packaging that are rich and decadent sweet treats. Choose between Organic Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds or Dark Chocolate Toffee Crunch. The chocolates are packaged in an array of fall-inspired colors, so no need for a bowl, just open the container and dig in. Insider’s tip, Clif Family chocolates are a popular choice for host and hostess gifts throughout the valley and beyond.
Don’t forget the Cheese
Take a nod to the traditional cheese course and add a few of your favorite cheeses to your dessert board. We suggest Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam and Bellwether Farm’s Carmody. And for a vegan option Miyoko’s Creamery has nutritious cashew-based cheeses.
Cookie Monster
We love working with our partner, Rustic Bakery. They produce scrumptious and organic baked goods in an array of seasonal offerings. Get into the spirit with their Spooky Ghosts, Pumpkins or Maple Leaves cookies to surprise and delight your guests.
Spread the Love
We suggest adding seasonal preserves or spreads that can enhance your cheese and cookie offerings. Flavors such as our Organic Apple Butter, Solar Grown™ Cinnamon Honey Spread and Solar Grown™ Cacao Honey Spread or Organic Red Pepper Jam add an extra decadence for the culinary experience.
Farm Inspired Produce
Shop at your local farmer’s market or peruse the grocery store aisles to source seasonal fruits. Apples, pears, persimmons, grapes, figs and pomegranates are beautiful choices to add color to your board. And if you’re feeling creative, we suggest foraging for autumnal florals or herbs from your own backyard or a friend’s garden to add an extra pop of seasonal color to your board.
The Wine Selection
For wine we suggest a medium to full-bodied red with bolder flavors of fruit, spice, and oak. Gary’s Improv Zinfandel, a Bordeaux-style blend like The Climber or Kit’s Killer Cab Cabernet Sauvignon would stand up well to the sweet and savory notes highlighted on your dessert board.