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Gallo Family Vineyards newest variety, Riesling, plays a big part in sweetening up this Clams in White Wine Sauce paired with crispy, creamy Goat Cheese Crostini perfect for a Labor Day celebration.
Ah, the end of summer is here. Can you taste it? Of course you can. Because it’s Labor Day weekend and food is just about the number one thing on everyone’s mind.
Technically, the first day of fall isn’t until September 21st — but once Labor Day rolls around, it feels like time for a farewell party to summer and a welcome party for fall. Labor Day is all about having a good time with friends and family, not doing any labor (except maybe manning the grill or playing bartender), and just enjoying your last real weekend of summer.
As always, #SundaySupper is celebrating! But this is no ordinary celebration — we’ve got Gallo Family Vineyards here with us! This is my first time participating in one of the Gallo sponsored posts and I am thrilled to be here.
I was able to try Gallo’s newest wine, Riesling, at the Food and Wine Conference last month during the Blogger Blend wine and cheese tasting. I looooove Riesling — it is my favorite variety of wine. I was super excited to be one of the first to try it and even more excited to know I would be getting a bottle sent to me to play with in the kitchen. And drink. Obviously. I was also given a bottle of their Sweet Red, another sweet variety that I really enjoyed. But when it comes to clams — they scream for white wine, so the Riesling was top choice!
I grew up in New Jersey, where summer is alllll about seafood, which was the first thing that came to my mind when I thought about food I’d like to see at a Labor Day party. How about a big bowl of Clams in White Wine Sauce for everyone to dig into? Sounds good to me!
But when there’s a bowl full of white wine sauce, you can’t let any of it go to waste. This means bread. Lots of bread to soak up all that white wine deliciousness. But not just any bread. We’re making crostini and we’re topping it with creamy, tangy goat cheese — because who doesn’t love goat cheese?! If you raise your hand, I may have to end our friendship… Just kidding. I’ll just steal your portion of Goat Cheese Crostini.
The Gallo Family Vineyard’s Riesling, a sweet white wine, perfectly complemented the spicier components of the sauce — garlic, red chili flakes and a super yummy spice blend all the way from Israel. I would also choose Riesling as the perfect pairing for these Clams in White Wine Sauce too. Wine and seafood at a Labor Day party is just inevitable.
Gallo Family Vineyards is sharing more Labor Day recipes on their website, so you have no excuse not to make something yummy to celebrate! Not sure where to find Gallo Family wines? Check their store locater and see where it’s sold near you. Gallo is offering a $1 digital coupon for you to go out and purchase any of their delicious wines to use for your Labor Day cooking. Visit Gallo Family Vineyards to learn more about their different varieties of wine, and don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small tomato, diced
- 1 dozen Littleneck Clams, scrubbed clean
- 1 cup Gallo Family Vineyards Riesling
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 4-5 fresh basil leaves for garnish
- Heat oil in a saucepot over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add tomatoes and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add wine, red pepper flakes, garlic powder and onion powder and bring to a boil.
- Add clams and let cook, covered, for about 5 minutes or until the clams have opened.
- To make the crostini, slice a baguette and smear generously with goat cheese. Set the oven to low broil and arrange the goat-cheese topped bread slices on a piece of aluminum foil. Keep a watchful eye, as broiling can result in burnt toast very quickly. Broil until the edges start to brown and the cheese looks a little bubbly, about 2-3 minutes.
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
Here are lots more yummy recipe ideas for Labor Day from the #SundaySupper crew! ((PS- Obviously today is not Sunday. We know this. Just trying something a little different this week, posting our recipes on Friday instead of Sunday. But don’t worry, next week we will be back on schedule!)
Labor Day Beverages:
- German Strawberry Wine Punch (Erdbeerbowle) by Magnolia Days
- Ginger Plum Sangria by Jelly Toast
- Lemon Lime Wine Sparkle by Basic N Delicious
- Watermelon Wine Cooler with Lime by The Wimpy Vegetarian
Labor Day Savory Bites:
- Breakfast Sausages with Apples & Riesling by Webicurean
- Buffalo Ranch Pasta Salad by Foxes Love Lemons
- Clams in White Wine Sauce with Goat Cheese Crostini by Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Deconstructed Egg Rolls by Ruffles & Truffles
- Peach Mango Grilled Chicken over Quinoa by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Sausage Mushroom and Bacon Pasta by Family Foodie
- Whipped Feta & Grilled Peach Salad with Blueberry Balsamic Vinaigrette by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Labor Day Desserts:
- Brown Butter Grilled Peach Cupcakes with Riesling Frosting by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Mango Riesling Coulis by Run DMT
- Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake by Desserts Required
- Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownies by Alida’s Kitchen
- Peach Granita Sundaes by Melanie Makes
- Peach Riesling Buckle by girlichef
- Riesling Infused Peach and Blueberry Cobbler by In The Kitchen With KP
- Riesling Poached Peaches with Mascarpone Cream by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- White Wine Ice Cream by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
What a gorgeous, restaurant worthy entree!!! I love this Riesling, too…so perfect to cook with AND drink
Thanks, Liz! Riesling is my favorite =)
What a great meal! I think it would work nicely with mussels too.
Thanks, Renee! Mussels would be definitely work just as well. Or why not both?!
I haven’t had mussels in forever and these look fabulous!!
I’m obviously delirious about these because I typed mussels as I was reading and thinking clams! Ugh! Sorry for my goof, Shaina!
LOL, no worries, Emily, I knew what you meant
I just discovered I liked clams and mussels last year..I would totally make this dish! I love all the flavor profiles in this one…plus, um I could just eat goat cheese and be happy. Ever since FWCon, I’m hooked on Gallo’s Riesling!
I’m hooked too, Nichole, it’s SO good! I’m glad you discovered that you like clams and mussels because they are just toooo delicious to pass up.
Gorgeous dish Shaina! I would love a bowl of it right now!! Clams and white wine? How can you go wrong?
Thanks, Bobbi! You can never go wrong when there is wine involved
Oooooh – so nice! I would totally be dunking those crostini in the sauce/broth…mmmmm!!!!
That’s exactly what I did, Katie, and snuck a few more pieces of bread to get all the extra broth after I finished the clams too
Who doesn’t love goat cheese? Odd!!
I love how your mind works, bringing in your wonderful seafood roots to this delicious dish! Perfect with a cold glass of Gallo’s delicious Riesling.
Thanks, Betsy!! And I agree about not liking goat cheese, totally odd!
This is one of my all-time favorite dishes, Shaina! I order it anytime I see it on a menu. GREAT post this week, and a wonderful way to use Gallo’s wine
Thanks, Susan! I am such a huge seafood fan, and it always pairs so well with my favorite wine, Riesling
That goat cheese crostini is calling my name! Looks amazing!
Thanks, Michele
This looks AMAZING! I am very impressed at how fancy this dish looks, yet it seems simple at the same time.
Thank you so much, Alida! Simplicity is always best.
Wine…seafood…crusty bread for mopping up the sauce… yeah, basically my idea of bliss! This looks amazing, Shaina.
Thanks, Heather!! My thoughts exactly
I adore clams in white wine sauce and adding the goat cheese crostini is just brilliant!
Thanks, Isabel! I think adding goat cheese to ANYTHING is brilliant
I am cracking up because when I saw the first photo, before I even read your post, I thought, “This recipe is SO Jersey!”
Hahahah. I guess it’s true when they say you can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl!
One of my favorite appetizers is clams with white wine sauce! I can’t wait to try this along side the crostini.
My favorite has always been mussels, but lately I’m loving clams too! Hope you enjoy, Heather!
Can I have dinner at your house?! I need to toss back a few of those clams and sop up all that broth with some french bread!
You’re always welcome, Anne! If you promise to bring the french bread, I’ll bring the clams! =)
I love the Riesling too! You have really made a beautiful dish here, Shaina! My goodness it sounds wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing
ps – I’m from Jersey originally too, although we moved to FL when I was very young – about 6.
Haha YES. I would have a really hard time being friends with somebody who didn’t like goat cheese. For real. Although my husband doesn’t like brie, which is crazy as well. This is on my menu this weekend! I’ll try to remember to snap a photo, although I’ll probably be using the bread to sop up the clam juices by the time I remember
Lori, you have got to figure out a way to make him like brie. That is unheard of! Can’t wait to see the pictures of your clam dish (if there are any, ha!)
Hi, I’m glad I found you through It Bakes Me Happy! This is a great seafood dish! How about adding it to the Food on Friday: Fish and Seafood collection over at Carole’s Chatter? Cheers
Oh gosh. Clams and goat cheese? I am all over that! Thanks for linking with our Yuck Stops Here party. Hope to see you again next week.
Thanks, Chrystal. It is a great combination =)
Shaina, your clams look #droolworthy! I’ll have to see if I can find fresh clams this weekend and make this! Thank you for linking up with #WakeUpWednesdayLinky Stop by this Wednesday to see if you’ve been featured.
Thanks, Christie! I hope you are able to make it, let me know how it turns out!