Spring Starts Here with Sweet Pepper Drop Cheese & Apple Bites Leading Our Garden Party Pairings Series

Spring is here, and so is one of our favorite traditions: pairing fresh, garden‑inspired bites with vibrant whites and rosés. Perfect for Mother’s Day brunches, Kentucky Derby parties, or warm weekend backyard hangs, this lineup of recipes made is for sunny tables and chilled glasses.

🌼 Let’s set the spring vibe right from the first bite

First up, these Sweet Pepper Drop Cheese & Apple Bites, a fun little upgrade on pimento cheese (minus the pimentos – not our jam) stacked on dried apples (or traditional Ritz!) and dusted with paprika or Aleppo pepper, and fresh chives. Sweet, smoky, and a little playful, they’re a natural match for the mineral, lifted character of our 2024 Sauvignon Blanc.

NOTE: Below is recipe one in a four‑part series. The rest of the menu is just as delicious — each recipe stands on its own, but together? A full Garden Party feast! Just add sunshine, your favorite people, and a few chilled bottles. Stay tuned for…

Recipe 2: Tarragon Chicken Tea Sandwiches + 2024 Rosé of Syrah
Recipe 3: Spring Garden Tartlets with Herbed Gremolata + 2024 Freyja
Bonus: Minted Rosé Spritz

Sweet Pepper Drop Cheese & Apple Bites

A lighter, brighter, pimento‑less twist on a Southern classic

These Sweet Pepper Drop Cheese & Apple Bites are our new favorite way to reimagine pimento cheese. They’re lighter, a little more elegant, and just unexpected enough to make people say, “Wait… what is this?” The cheese mixture can be made a day ahead (a gift to future you), and the crisp dried apple base adds the perfect sweet‑tart crunch. Or, go traditional and with Ritz crackers as your foundation. Pair with a chilled glass of our 2024 Sauvignon Blanc and you’ve got instant garden‑party energy.

Recipe by: Tanya Miller
Serves: 6–8
Suggested wine pairing: 2024 Sauvignon Blanc


INGREDIENTS

For the dried apples:
1 Cosmic Crisp apple, sliced very thinly on a mandolin

For the cheese:
Please note: we do not recommend using pre-grated cheese for this recipe 

  • 3 Tbsp diced sweet & tangy pepper drops + Tbsp juice, if desired (we used DeLallo)
  • 1 cup grated extra‑sharp cheddar (we used Wisconsin extra sharp cheddar cheese from Traders Joe’s) 
  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar (we used New Zealand grass fed sharp cheddar from Trader Joe’s)
  • ½ cup whipped cream cheese
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • For garnish: 
    • Finely diced fresh chives, for garnish
    • Smoked hot paprika or Aleppo pepper, for a little kick
    • Flaky salt, if desired (we love finishing salt!)
    • Optional: Edible flowers for the platter/board


INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Dehydrate the apples
    Use a dehydrator or your oven on its lowest setting. Slice the apple very thinly (no need to core or season) and then dry. This takes a while, so plan ahead. Here is a handy oven-dehydrated apple guide.

  2. Make the cheese mixture
    In a medium bowl, mix the mayo, cream cheese, and pepper drops (plus a bit of their juice if you like extra tang). Add both cheeses and stir until well combined. Chill until ready to assemble — it can be made up to a day in advance.

  3. Assemble the bites
    Lay out the dried apple slices on a serving platter/board. Scoop or dollop a small mound of the cheese mixture onto each slice (we used a mini ice cream scoop). Sprinkle with smoked paprika or Aleppo, chives, and a pinch of flaky salt if you want a little extra pop.

  4. Serve
    Garnish platter with edible flowers, if using. Enjoy apple bites with a glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc!

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