A Lifestyle blog based in Sonoma County, in the heart of Wine Country. Amber is an outspoken voice for local activism, local wine tourism, and more.

Last Minute Entertaining with Santa Margherita

This post is done in partnership with Santa Margherita


Summer is here! Can you believe it? Can you feel it? With the promise of long, warm sunny days, I have been looking forward to picnics, fancy cheese platers, and prét a manger table spreads, charcuterie style. And plenty of pretty pink Brut rosé of course.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy sparkling rosé is simply as it comes: straight out of the bottle, into my glass, garnished with fresh seasonal fruit. A pretty table setting, with a spectacular view on a warm summer day always makes for a great pairing as well. Another way is the super trendy frozé; a frozen, slushy-like boozy treat that is sure to take the edge off when temperatures rise.

But that takes planning ahead, and when friends show up for a serendipitous hello, it's so much easier for me to wow them with a beautiful pour of Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé and a fresh selection of my favorite local cheeses.

Summer is for socializing; the days are longer, and weekends by the pool chatting with girlfriends, group Netflix, and sunny afternoons after work are all great occasions for casual entertaining. Spur of the moment guests are to be expected: and it only takes a few ingredients to be prepared as their host. Continue reading to learn my tips and tricks for stress-free last-minute entertaining.





Keep it tidy
There are few things quite as stressful as having a last-minute guest and trying to clean the house or apartment 20 minutes before they arrive. I personally would much rather spend those 20 minutes preparing a cheese platter or chilling my wine rather than running around the apartment shoving random blankets and dishes into already-stuffed closets, or the dishwasher. Rather than stressing out trying to clean your space before guests arrive, make a small effort every day to straighten up. You'd be surprised how just how organized you can be when you set aside 10-15 minutes a day to tidy up your space.

It's all about the sips and nibbles
Last minute entertaining doesn't take a lot. If you keep the basics on hand, you'll always be prepared. Just remember these: wine, cheese, fruit, and crackers. Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé should be served cold, so as soon as it is purchased, pop that beauty in the refrigerator, so it's always ready to go. Next, be sure to pick up 2-3 cheese selections that complement the Sparkling rosé (see below). Fresh fruit is always a hit; it makes the platter look extra pretty, and it helps you out if you have a vegan or lactose-intolerant guest. Think grapes, pears, and fresh berries. Dried fruit can also work. For crackers, keep them simple. The plain, round water crackers are my favorite because they don't interfere with the flavors of the wine or cheese.

Bonus tip: set the cheeses out before guests arrive. A room temperature cheese has more aroma, flavor, and body than a cold cheese!

Rosé cheese pairings: aged goat gouda, creamy feta, and/or a triple cream Brie



It doesn't need to be fancy
Things can become stressful quickly when trying to out-do ourselves. Don't worry about having the fancy glassware, or if all of your wine glasses match. What's really important is being with your friends and creating new memories. Your friends won't mind one bit if you serve them Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé in a mason jar - so go for it! Keep it casual and fun and make new memories!

Cheers!

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This post was done in sponsorship with Santa Margherita. All photos, opinions, and reviews are my own and are a true representative of my thoughts, and feelings towards this product. If you have any questions about my review process or the products and brands I selectively choose to work with, please do not hesitate to ask! 
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