If you’ve ventured out of the basement at all lately, you’ll have noticed that summer is upon us.  Always a long time coming, it’s nothing short of super-appreciated.  Now that it’s here, I find myself almost frantically trying to make the most of it, before it’s gone again!  The  summer’s short around here, and so we need to make every moment count.

Enjoying summer meals on the patio is a big part of what I love about summer. Enjoying a sizzling burger with chilled glass of Bumbleberry Fruit Wine, or sipping a glass of Raspberry Fruit Wine while munching on patio appetizers can’t be beat. The final course, however, can be really fun. I’m talking about using dessert wines for scrumptious summer desserts.

If you’ve been by the farmers markets lately, you’ll notice that FRESH BERRIES are in vast supply! Beautiful, luscious berries piled up in boxes, just waiting for you to take them home. I have a stock tip for you: TAKE SOME.  With the addition of our flavourful dessert wines, you can make some mouth-watering berry desserts with very little effort, that will leave your guests asking for more.  Here’s a few of our favourites.

Field Stone Summer Swirl Dessert

(The simplest of them all!)

1 liter softened vanilla ice cream
125 ml Black Currant or Saskatoon Berry Dessert Wine
Combine in a blender and blend. Pour into martini glasses. Re-freeze. Top with fresh berries and some chocolate shavings. Yum!

This works great with whatever berry you prefer – saskatoon berries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries…  Whatever your choice, the results will be delicious!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Popsicles 

(We don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a popsicle for dessert after a BBQ!… But remember, ours are for the adults only…)

1/4 c. water

1/4 c. sugar

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1 lb. fresh strawberries

1 cup Strawberry-Rhubarb Fruit Wine

Bring water, sugar and lemon juice to a boil; boil for 5 minutes.  Let cool.

Cut up the strawberries and slightly puree them.  Combine with simple syrup and fruit wine.  Stir slightly.  Pour into popsicle molds and freeze overnight.

Cherry-Berry Wine Slushie 

(A slushie:  the perfect before-dinner refresher, or the perfect dessert!)

2 cups frozen cherries

2 cups frozen saskatoon berries

3 cups Cherry Fruit Wine

Place berries, cherries and wine in blender.  Blend until it reaches your desired consistency.

Pour into four glasses and serve immediately.    So super easy!

Is Black Currant your favourite flavour?  We haven’t forgotten you…

Pop’s Popular Popsicle

(Dessert on a stick..)

1 bottle Black Currant Fruit Wine

1/2 cup simple syrup

1/2 cup orange liqueur (or orange juice)

2 lemons

2 cups chopped fruit, your choice

Combine wine, simple syrup and orange liqueur in pitcher. Juice 1 lemon into the pitcher.  Slice and halve the other lemon and add with the other fruit.  Pour into 3-ounce paper cups and freeze for 2 hours until they start to ice over.  Insert popsicle sticks and freeze overnight.  Carefully peel away the paper and eat immediately!

Black Currant Wine Sorbet

(A bit more effort … but worth it!)

1 bottle Black Currant Fruit Wine

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

1 cup fresh blackberries

1 cup fresh blueberries

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons Black Currant Dessert Wine

1/2 teaspoon lime zest

Cook first 3 ingredients and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes or just until sugar dissolves. Fill a large bowl with ice; place saucepan in ice, and let stand, stirring wine mixture occasionally, until cold (about 1 hour).

Pour mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2-qt. electric ice-cream maker; freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. (Instructions and times will vary.) Spoon sorbet into an airtight container; cover and freeze at least 8 hours. Combine blackberries and next 5 ingredients; toss gently. Cover and chill up to 2 hours.  Serve sorbet topped with berries.

And finally, an elegant ending to any meal…

Saskatoon Berry Crème

(Lovely, AND delectable!)

2 1/2 cups whipping cream

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup Saskatoon Berry Dessert Wine

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Heat cream and sugar over medium heat and whisk occasionally, heating just until the sugar has fully dissolved.

Remove from heat, stir in wine and lemon juice.  Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then carefully pour into clear serving dishes.  Chill overnight.  Top with an assortment of fresh berries.

Of course you can find many more summer recipes using fruit wines at www.fieldstonefruitwines.com on the “Recipes” page. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for daily news and recipe ideas.

We’re hoping you don’t miss visiting us at our two Calgary locations this summer:  Calgary Farmers Market West (Wed-Sun) and Crossroads Market (Fri-Sun).  In the summer months we also have sangrias and cocktails for you to taste… all made with our flavourful fruit wines!

Isn’t summer great?  Warm weather, sunshine, farmers markets, seasonal fruits, garden bounty.

Just add patio-perfect, award-winning, Alberta fruit wines, and stir.

Happy July everyone! May you have a “berry” wonderful summer…