This post has been sponsored by Layer Cake Wine. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Layer Cake asked to collaborate on a Fall post, I thought of a tradition Nick & I had every Fall before kids- fondue on Halloween night (if it was a week night), wine, a movie and giving out candy to trick or treaters. The memory brings back fall, a bit of chill in the air and delicious wine. I have never made red wine fondue before though and I decided to experiment at home and try making red wine fondue with some of Layer Cake’s wine. I also made some traditional white wine cheese fondue and of course, I enjoyed drinking the Layer Cake wine! Layer Cake wine is great for fondue and the wine is from the best regions on earth. Layer Cake’s richly layered flavors make the flavors in the fondue much more nuanced and every bite so flavorful.
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A light red wine is best for fondue so I chose Layer Cake’s Pinot Noir which is from the Central Coast (where Nick & I lived!) in California.
How to Make Red Wine Cheese Fondue
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 cup grated Fontina cheese
1/2 cup grated Fontina & Gruyere cheese set aside
Tablespoon of Cornstarch
3-4 garlic cloves, cut in half
2 cups of red wine- Layer Cake’s pinot noir (1 cup set aside)
Notes: If the cheese is to “clumpy” add more wine, if it is too runny, add more cheese
Using your fondue pot or any pot for stove, rub garlic all around pot.
Add wine to pot and bring to a simmer over low to medium heat.
Gradually add cheese while constantly stirring- (gradually!! Nick is impatient and when he adds handfuls I have to adjust the proportions to get it smooth!)
Do not let the cheese boil, lower heat if it begins to boil.
Once smooth, stir in the cornstarch.
Keep stirring and serve smooth fondue delicious cheesiness. Place fondue pot over a flame and enjoy your communal delicious meal.
Fondue accompaniments-
Steak bites (a particular good pairing with the red wine fondue)
Small baby potatoes- purple for fall & traditional white
Cauliflower- I picked up fun colors like purple & orange, especially perfect for a fall look
Bread (obviously, yummm)
Garnished with rosemary
For an additional fall tablescape, I added dried citrus to the table decor and used dried citrus and a sprig of rosemary for each table setting.
I was very lucky to try a whole line of Layer Cake’s red wine, thankfully they are so simple to access without having to go to a fancy restaurant and even though I wish I could go wine tasting in California, I have 3 kids and that is impossible to do. Layer Cake gives me at-home access to wines from the best wine regions of the world. Each place of origin has wines that are hand selected and authentically made for rich, delicious wines I know I will love.
Love the dark candle vibe for a fall evening!
