Elevate your lunchtime experience with the luxurious Blackberry and Peach Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich. This gourmet delight pairs the creamy elegance of Brie cheese with the sweet, vibrant notes of fresh blackberries and peaches, creating a flavor sensation that will redefine your notion of the classic grilled cheese.
Today I’m partnering with the French Ministry of Agriculture in a super fun #sponsored post about wine, butter and cheese. I don’t know about you guys, but those are three of my all time favorite things in this world. Oh, you too!? then you will love the ooey gooey brie grilled cheese I cooked up to go with (soak up) all the delicious French wine I sampled from all across the country.
When I lived in Germany for 6 months in 2012 I always planned to hop on a train and travel to France. Because seriously, that’s what you do in Europe- hop on a train and bam! you’re in a different country. It didn’t have to be Paris; in fact, more attracted to smaller cities, I wanted to visit some mountainous regions. I made it to Italy, Czech Republic, and Austria, but due to a sudden departure, I never made it to France. While I would love to one day explore and taste my way through such a beautiful and historic country as France, it won’t be until my husband and I are old. My adventure bucket list needs to be checked off first.
Just because I won’t be physically traveling to France any time soon (although the more I write about it, the more I want to!), doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some of the tastes and flavors produced there.
My idea? A wine tasting tour through France from the comfort of your own home. Ok, I know, way WAY less fun than the real deal, but we can’t always get exactly what we want. Until then, this makes for a very happy compromise. Bonus: no jet lag! And, just for fun, I thought some samples of cheese and butter would be pretty fun, too.
So here’s the line up:
Trimbach Riesling 2014 (Dry white wine from Alsace)
Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve 2013 (Dry white wine from Alsace)
Château D’Esclans, Whispering Angel rosé (Rosé wine from Provence)
Mas de Daumas Gassac red 2015 (red wine from Languedoc)
Mas de Daumas Gassac Rosé Frizant 2016 (sparkling rosé wine from Languedoc)
President butter (from Normandy, France)
Le Châtelain brie (cheese from Raival in Meuse, France)
First stop: Alsace
Trimbach Winery: For three centuries and 13 generations (that is a long time!), the family has produced wines that are long-lived, fruity, elegant and balanced. The family personally looks after each operation from start to finish. Situated around Ribeauville, the vineyards benefit from a unique Alsatian microclimate.
Trimbach Riesling 2014 (Dry white wine from Alsace)- Flavors of white peach, quince and lemon with a lingering, clean and dry finish. Pairs perfectly with marinated or grilled fish and sushi. Bottles remain in the cellar for several years before reaching the marketplace, ensuring the wines are both ready to drink upon release but also hold great aging potential.
Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve 2013 (Dry white wine from Alsace) – Aromas of juicy peaches and ripe pear. Full-bodied with ripe smokey tropical fruit flavors and a long nutty finish. Perfect as an aperitif or paired with fish, shellfish, poultry and lighter pastas. Bottles remain in the cellar for several years before reaching the marketplace, ensuring the wines are both ready to drink upon release but also hold great aging potential.
Stop Two: Provence
Château D’Esclans: Located in the heart of Provence, France, Chateau d’Esclans is a prestigious estate and winery producing the industry’s leading rosé wines. The winery has become the fastest growing range of fine wines to be introduced globally during the past two decades and was recently awarded Wine Enthusiast’s European Winery of The Year Award for 2014.
Château D’Esclans, Whispering Angel rosé (Rosé wine from Provence) – Fresh red berry fruit characteristics with floral notes. Ripe and fleshy feel on the palate. Dry (zero sugar) with a smooth and round finish. No astringent aftertaste or bite. Extremely easy drinking. It is the #1 premium rosé in the U.S. and the #1 French wine in the U.S. Sold at Total Wine, Whole Foods, and Fresh Market.
Stop Three: Languedoc
Mas de Daumas Gassac: Divided into 63 small vineyard plots amongst 9.000 acres of protected forest cultivated without any chemicals or pesticides, Mas de Daumas Gassac remains a virgin land farmed with total respect of mother Nature to preserve it’s balance. In the past 45 years the wines have reached the rare status of «cult wine» that is only given to a limited number of exceptional estates in the world. A family owned estate which has devoted its approach since the creation of the estate to respect the environment (where the family also lives). Both vineyard farming and winemaking follow the simple concept of no interference and total respect of Mother Nature.
Mas de Daumas Gassac red 2015 (red wine from Languedoc) – “The Grand Crus of the Midi” . A very Fine wine born on a unique red glacial deposits soil – made from 75% non-cloned and ancient Cabernet Sauvignon blended with about 18 other grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Malbec, Dolcetto, Nebiolo, Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Tempranillo, Merlot, etc. To be served around 16°C (60°F); best if decanted/opened in advance. Ideal if matched with meat with very little sauce (roasted lamb, pork chop, filet mignon) roasted vegetables (ratatouille), or any strong/flavored main dish.
Mas de Daumas Gassac Rosé Frizant 2016 (sparkling rosé wine from Languedoc) – a unique wine, made from the young Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and about 4-5% Pinot Noir of the Daumas Gassac’s estate. No sugar added. Delicious as an aperitif, with charcuterie, goat cheese or shrimp salad. Beautiful with a chocolate based dessert or simply with raspberries and strawberries.
Stop Four: Normandy
President Cheese & Butter: Président® Cheese, one of the world’s premiere cheesemakers and the #1 brand of Brie and Butter in France, is part of Groupe Lactalis.
President 7 oz. Butter (unsalted) – France’s #1 butter is made from high-quality cultured creams in the northwestern portion of France referred to as the “Grand Cru” of European dairy regions. Its oceanic climate, rich soil, and lush grass help produce butter that are distinctly rich and savory. The butter is ideal for spreading, cooking and baking.
Stop Five: Meuse
President Cheese & Butter: Président® Cheese, one of the world’s premiere cheesemakers and the #1 brand of Brie and Butter in France, is part of Groupe Lactalis.
Le Chatelain 8 oz. Brie Wedge – comes from the pastures of the Meuse region of France, where most farms have herds ranging from 20 to 30 cows spending a good portion of the year outside grazing. Since only raw milk products aged over 60 days can be imported to the US Le Chatelain brie is the only alternative to coming close to tasting the flavor of raw milk French Brie without having to travel to France. Le Chatelain was just awarded one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a cheese: a Gold Medal from France’s biggest food competition, the Concours General Agricole held at the Salon International de l’Agriculture in Paris. The Gold Medal was especially remarkable for Brie Le Châtelain because it was crafted especially for the U.S. market, using pasteurized milk.
Now, I don’t know about you guys, but all that wine tasting and cheese tasting made me hungry. If I were actually in France, I would probably take that big, beautiful loaf of fresh baked bread and head to a park with the fruit you see below and a fresh block of butter and cheese. That’s just how they roll over there. Lunch on a park bench? Totally normal. A glass of wine (in public) in the middle of the afternoon with your casual picnic? Also, totally normal.
But the U.S. is a little different. Although I am surrounded by parks, I am also surrounded by suburbia and shopping centers (and not the historic 200 year old shopping centers). There is less green, more cars and a greater sense of busy busy busy all.the.time and all.around.you here (at least where I live). I love it here, yes. But that’s just the way it is.
Anywho, since I won’t be taking a picnic in the park, I am going to make the next best thing.
A GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH! Why? Well, because grilled cheese sandwiches are quite possibly the best drunk food ever.
Now, what is the perfect complement to wine and cheese?
Fruit!
Seriously, you guys, think about it…is there a fruit out there that just does not belong with cheese? Of course, not all fruit belongs with all cheese, but fruit and cheese and wine were made for each other. Hmm, maybe because wine is made from fruit? Anyway, mix the two between two slices of thick buttered slices of fresh sourdough bread and you are in for some magic. Messy magic, yes. But magic, nonetheless.
Circling back to the mess real quick, if super super messy grilled cheese sandwiches aren’t your thing, you can always make these open face and eat with a fork and knife. Or, forgo the grilled part altogether. Either way, the peaches and blackberries with the brie is a winning combo. Add some fresh bread and butter (OMG the butter is soooo good!) and it will all be gone before you know it.
Blackberry and Peach Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices sourdough bread - fresh
- 4 tablespoon President Butter - softened
- 8 ounces La Chatêlain Brie - sliced
- 2 peaches - pitted and thinly sliced
- 6 ounces blackberries
Instructions
- Spread 2 slices of bread with 1 tablespoon of butter. Place sourdough slices, butter-side-down, and top with half the sliced brie. In a small bowl, mash the blackberries with a fork and divide between the two sandwiches, spooning on top of the sliced brie. Arrange the sliced peaches on top of the smashed blackberries, finally topping with remaining sliced brie. Top each sandwich with the corresponding slice of bread and spread 1 tablespoon of butter on top of each.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and cook until golden brown, approximately 3-4 minutes each side.
- Best served immediately.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
You may also enjoy these SANDWICH recipes:
>>Avocado Toast with Beet Hummus
>>Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich
YUM! I need to make this like now 😉