Summer Vineyard Picnic -

I had the dreamiest Summer Vineyard Picnic at San Martiño Winery with my friends Matt and Sarah last weekend! San Martiño in Rockwall, Texas has live jazz music on the weekends and tons of covered outdoor seating. Picnicking is encouraged (yay!) so I packed up some of my summer favorites inspired by goodies I picked up that morning at the farmers market.

The Wine

Of course, we have to start with the wine! It was a balmy afternoon so I decided to cool down with San Martiño’s sparkling rosé. It tasted exactly, and I mean exactly, like the Bing cherries I brought along. It’s so refreshing on a hot day!

The Food

I am particularly proud of this menu, as I’ve been in a bit of a pasta salad rut lately. I spent a lot of time exploring Italy from my favorite chair via blogs and vlogs and so love how Italians will just make a ton of salads so I decided to do the same!

Summer Vineyard Picnic Menu
Smoked Herring Dip
Zucchini Ribbons from The Rose Table Cookbook
Spicy Basil Caprese Salad
Goat Cheese Smashed Potatoes
Hummus & Pita Chips
Fruit Salad
Mini Black Cherry Cheesecakes

Smoked Herring Dip

I picked up Alaskan smoked herring from the farmers market that day and was excited to try it. I mixed the flaked smoked herring with mayonnaise, fresh chives and dill from my garden, lemon zest, and diced celery. I served the dip with crackers – a simple snack to start things off! It was honestly better the next day, making this a great make-ahead dish. Get the recipe here.

Zucchini Ribbons

I’m not even going to apologize for serving this dish at every meal all summer long. It’s insanely healthy and delicious and zucchini is in abundance. Why not? It’s such a light, wonderful accompaniment to almost anything. Get the recipe here.

Spicy Basil Caprese Salad

I was SO excited to finally use the spicy basil I’ve been growing in a classic caprese salad and it did not disappoint. It added that little something extra to an already stellar summer dish. Get the recipe here.

Goat Cheese Smashed Potatoes

Man, oh, man. I cannot say enough good things about these potatoes! They are out of this world. I’ve been gobbling up tubs and tubs of Lost Ruby Farm goat cheese and randomly decided to mix it with potatoes. Best decision ever! Get the recipe here.

Mini Black Cherry Cheesecakes

For dessert, I took these adorable mini black cherry cheesecakes with vanilla whipped cream and cherry sauce from The Rose Table cookbook. Get the recipe here.

The Vineyard

After dinner, we strolled through the vines, admiring what fine form the grapes were in. It sure wasn’t a pretty day; it was storming all around the Metroplex but luckily we stayed dry. Still, San Martiño is gorgeous no matter what the weather and on the bright side, we were nice and cool while enjoying our picnic!