Holiday time means parties, tasty appetizers, and wine! These easy Cranberry, Brie and Pecan Pinwheels are perfect for handing out to your guests alongside two perfectly paired German wines.
This post is sponsored by Wines Of Germany USA.
Some of my favorite holiday parties are those that display a huge spread of small bites and appetizers. I have no problem skipping a sit down meal in favor for grazing lots of different things people have brought to the party. It’s way more fun and perfect for me because charcuterie and snacking is one of my all time favorite ways to eat. With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away cranberries are the hot ticket ingredient right now and don’t think that all they’re good for is cranberry sauce! Cranberries work perfectly with savory and spicy ingredients bringing a perfect balance to any recipe.
When I was asked to pair two German wines with a holiday appetizer, these cranberry brie pinwheels came to me right away! They have a savory style first bite and then those center swirls full of sweet cranberry jelly and melted brie take your taste buds to another level.
I tasted them with two styles of German wine made from the same grape, Spätburgunder, the German name for Pinot Noir. The first is a sparkling rosé from the Rheingau region and the other is a classic still red wine from the Rheinhessen region.
The Spätburgunder from Schmitt Winery is certified organic with flavors of blackberry and cranberry, making it a great choice for my cranberry brie pinwheels! I’ve had more experience and access to German beer but being the eighth largest wine producing country in the world, Germany has a lot to offer other than beer. In fact, Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir in the world, after France and the US. And of course, Germany is home to Riesling, which is grown throughout all 13 official German winemaking regions. The Rheinhessen valley where this wine was made is Germany’s largest wine region and produces mild and easy to drink wines.
The Rheingau region is famous for the popular Riesling, but Spätburgunder is the second most important grape to the region. The 2017 Leitz Pinot Noir Rosé Brut (linked) is light and refreshing with balanced sweetness to match the tart cranberry while the bubbles cut through the rich pastry. It would be the perfect summer wine served with any salad or seafood but it still held its own with these cranberry brie pinwheels and would add some sparkle to any holiday gathering. When looking for a German sparkling wine, you might see “Sekt” on the label - this is the German term for sparkling wine. Germany makes great sparkling wine from a number of varieties including Riesling and all three Pinots (Noir, Gris, and Blanc).
Serve your Leitz Sparkling wine slightly chilled and the Schmitt Spätburgunder at room temperature. The cranberry brie bites are best served warm straight from the oven to enjoy that sweet and savory gooey melted cheese.
