As you plan your gatherings for the festive season, set the stage for an occasion you can enjoy just as much as the guests by choosing delicious yet simple appetizer recipes that can be prepared just before guests arrive. Elevate the experience by pairing your party fare with Josh Cellars wines that enhance each recipe’s signature flavours.
Josh Cellars was founded in 2005 by Joseph Carr as a tribute to his late father, who went by the nickname Josh. Raised by hardworking, modest parents, Carr has instilled his father’s values of hard work, gratitude and family in his company. Josh Cellars’s award-winning wines make the perfect addition to your holiday gatherings.
Try these palate-pleasing wine-and-appetizer pairings this holiday season.
Josh Cellars Chardonnay and Chili-coconut shrimp
Josh Chardonnay is fruit-forward and rich, balancing out the weight and earthiness of this dish. The tropical and citrus notes complement the mild spice and delicate shrimp flavour. Josh Chardonnay is grown in soil composed of volcanic ash, old seabed, sand and river-run gravel, making seafood a natural choice as a pairing.
Prep Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Makes: 12 servings
Ingredients 340 g frozen raw jumbo shrimp, peeled 1/4 cup cornstarch, or all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp salt 3/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce 2 tbsp rice vinegar 1 cup unsweetened medium dessicated coconut, toasted
Instructions
Josh Cellars Prosecco and Caramelized onion tart with asparagus
The decadent and refreshing qualities of this match will surprise and delight your palate. Nothing says celebration quite like a bottle of prosecco; the texture of the caramelized onion and the earthiness of the asparagus contrast nicely with the fresh acidity and effervescent bubbles of this sparkling wine.
Prep Time: 20 min Total Time: 55 min Makes: 12 servings
Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, thinly sliced into rounds 1 tsp granulated sugar 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp balsamic vinegar 1/2 397-g pkg frozen puff pastry, thawed 1 egg 1/2 bunch asparagus, about 250 g, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced 1 cup grated fontina or mozzarella
Instructions
Josh Cellars Prosecco Rosé and Cranberry-almond baked brie
Made from glera and pinot noir grapes, Josh Prosecco DOC Rosé has wild berry and blackberry aromas and refreshing acidity on the finish. The acidity of the Prosecco Rosé cuts through the creamy brie in this warm and exciting pairing. This appetizer is easy to prep beforehand and is best served warm just out of the oven. The crisp Prosecco Rosé is a great choice for welcoming guests and setting a celebratory mood.
Prep Time: 5 min Total Time: 25 min Makes: 10 servings
Ingredients 230-g pkg brie 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 tbsp packed brown sugar 2 tsp butter 1 sprig thyme or rosemary 1 cinnamon stick 2-in. strip orange peel 1/4 cup roasted unsalted almonds, roughly chopped 3 tbsp dried cranberries
Instructions
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and Beef and blue cheese brochettes
A tantalizing, party-starting appetizer, these sirloin skewers with blue cheese and balsamic are simple to prepare the night before. Recently awarded a 91-point rating and named Editor’s Choice from Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Josh Cellars’s full-bodied cabernet sauvignon bursts with aromas of intense dark fruits like black cherries and blackberries. With notes of vanilla and spice, it finishes with subtle oak and soft tannins on the palate. The unique flavour combination of the beef, blue cheese and the tannins of the wine will impress your guests; make sure you prepare enough so you don’t run out.
Prep Time: 50 min Total Time: 1 hr Makes: 32 servings
Ingredients 32 mini skewers 2 tbsp chopped parsley 2 tbsp canola oil 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1/2 tsp salt 2-Jan large red, green and yellow bell peppers, cut into 32 pieces 340 g beef sirloin, cut into 3/4-in. cubes 90 g Canadian blue cheese, sliced or crumbled
Instructions