Goat Cheese, Walnut, and Honey Bruschetta: A Match Made in Heaven

This post is sponsored by Rioja Wine. The opinions are all my own.

Despite my husband’s best efforts, I will always prefer a glass of wine over beer. Maybe it has to do with my upbringing—my parents drink solely wine—but I imagine it has a lot more to do with the possibility of an outstanding food pairing. Good wines make for great meals.

When Honest Foods and Rioja wines asked me to create a recipe that would pair well with one of their lovely wines, I was thrilled. Rioja, a region in Spain, offers some of the best food wines in the world. They are beautifully balanced in their alcohol content and acidity and pair well with everything from fish to veggies to meats and cheeses. Of course, traditional Spanish tapas go beautifully with Rioja wines, but they pair with food from all over the world (you can find more inspiration here).

Unlike many other wine regions, winemakers in Rioja don’t rush their wines to market. They only release their wines when ready to drink, which means that you know your bottle is going to be great as soon as you pick it up.

And if I wasn’t already sold, wines from Rioja are a great value. I purchased this beautiful Vivanco Rose for under $15. It’s a purchase we’ll be making again and again.

This Rosado (rose) from Vivanco is an ideal summer wine. On a hot day, a glass is particularly refreshing. Never bitter and with just the right amount of fruit flavor. After sampling the wine, I knew exactly what I wanted to make. A simple and delicious goat cheese bruschetta featuring toasted walnuts, lemon basil, and local honey. Heaven in a glass. Heaven on a plate. If you’d like to find out more about Rioja wines and all the culinary possibilities they afford, be sure to look for this hashtag: #matchmadeinheaven

Goat Cheese, Walnut and Honey Bruschetta

1 baguette, sliced into 2 inch slices

4 ounces soft goat cheese

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

¼ cup basil leaves, chopped

¼ cup local honey

In a small bowl, gently mix goat cheese, walnuts, and basil leaves. Generously spoon mixture on top of baguette slices. Drizzle with honey and serve.

Stay connected to your favorite wine region by joining the Rioja Wine mailing list. It’s fast and simple! Just click on the banner above and fill out the form. You’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win a festive wine dinner. Good luck! #riojabuzz

24 thoughts on “Goat Cheese, Walnut, and Honey Bruschetta: A Match Made in Heaven”

Crystal | Apples & Sparkle July 28, 2014 at 1:28 am

This pairing sounds heavenly! I love the addition of honey. : )

Tandy | Lavender and Lime July 28, 2014 at 1:37 am

what a great opportunity! I love coming up with food and wine pairings. This sounds quite perfect 🙂

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella July 28, 2014 at 4:03 am

What a great way to whet the appetite! I have a dinner party this Friday night and I wonder if I have time to buy some goats cheese before then? 😛

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar July 28, 2014 at 4:39 am

This looks like such a yummy snack!! love it!

Sues July 28, 2014 at 5:57 am

I don’t drink rose enough, but this one looks so pretty and I bet it’s perfectly delicious with your bruschetta (can I go home and sit on my deck with a glass of this now??)

Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today July 28, 2014 at 6:28 am

I’m with you on wine, so much better than a beer 🙂 And your brochettes sound delicious.

SallyBR July 28, 2014 at 8:05 am

I love Rioja! And these crostini you made are superb to go along a nice wine…

great post, loved it!

Julia July 28, 2014 at 10:15 am

MMMM MMMMM sign me up for that herby goat cheese!! I got to try some rioja too and was so curious about the rose…I ended up going with a red, and it was delicious. I could easily see these delicious bruscetta becoming a full meal. Oops! Not oops 😉

Andj July 28, 2014 at 11:53 am

I love goat cheese with honey! These bruschetta look amazing 🙂

Kate July 28, 2014 at 1:43 pm

I feel like Roses get such a bad reputation from years of white zinfandel marketing. I remember drinking French roses on our honeymoon and thinking they were so different from wines I’d had before. And perfect for the summer. I’ll have to look into these Riojas.

Erin July 28, 2014 at 2:44 pm

GAH! You are making me miss all kinds of things I can’t have while pregnant! 😉

Trisha July 28, 2014 at 3:38 pm

Goat cheese and wine? What a lovely combination. I love the addition of the crunchy walnut and sweet honey. I think I’ll always prefer wine over beer too!

Kayle (The Cooking Actress) July 28, 2014 at 7:15 pm

ooooh la la! so classy, love!

Choc Chip Uru July 28, 2014 at 9:31 pm

Wow, this should be in a top class restaurant 😀

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

Krista July 29, 2014 at 4:34 am

I absolutely love the sounds of this. 🙂 I have friends coming this weekend and think this would be a perfect treat to serve them. 🙂

Kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies July 29, 2014 at 5:26 am

I’m an equal opportunity drinker. Beer, wine, I don’t care as long as it tastes good 😉 This bruschetta sounds delicious! Sadly, I’m allergic to walnuts (wahhhhh), but I think a swap for pecans and this would make a great quick appetizer.