Perfect with wine, fondue is one of those unusual foods that brings people together. It’s a dish of melted cheese, chocolate or hot oil, served in a heated pot over an open flame or heating element. Fondue brings a dramatic element to your table – you get to play with fire with luxurious results. Each of these 3 recipes pairs beautifully with our wines and are perfect for chilly, late winter nights.

Goat Cheese Fondue with Crispy Fried Sage
Paired with Girl & Dragon Pinot Grigio

This recipe from How Sweet Eats pairs a light goat cheese mix with crispy fried sage for the perfect pre-party nosh.

Ingredients
1 T olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
3/4 cup Girl & Dragon Pinot Grigio
3/4 cup heavy cream
16 ounces goat cheese
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Fried Sage (recipe below)

For Serving
Bread cubes
Apple slices
Endive leaves

Directions
In a medium sauce pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add garlic. Stir for 30 seconds, and add Girl & Dragon Pinot Grigio. Bring to a simmer and add cream. When the garlic, wine and cream are incorporated, add the goat cheese and turn the heat to low. Add the nutmeg, salt and pepper and stir until melted. Crumble fried sage leaves into the fondue and add the rest to the top of the fondue to decorate.

Impress your friends and serve with Girl & Dragon Pinot Grigio, apple slices, endive leaves and bread cubes.

Fried Sage Recipe

Ingredients
12 sage leaves, rinsed and dried
4 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
Heat a skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. When the oil hits 350 degrees, add the sage leaves and fry for just under a minute. Remove from oil and let drain on a paper towel. When crispy, crumble into the goat cheese fondue.

Fiesta Fondue Recipe
Paired with Girl & Dragon Malbec

This recipe is the perfect big game recipe – the spiciness from the chorizo gives it just the right amount of kick.  Quick tip: Use thick tortilla chips with this dip – the cheeses we use are fairly dense and need that extra thickness not to break in the fondue.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable or corn oil
1/2 pound fresh Mexican chorizo
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup grated queso Cotija

For serving
Thick tortilla chips
Prepared salsa verde

Directions
Heat oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the chorizo to the pan. Cook the chorizo, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, roughly 8-12 minutes depending on the kind of chorizo you’re working with. Drain the chorizo and wipe out the pan. Add the cheeses to the pan and heat over low, stirring in the chorizo until all is mixed together. Serve with tortilla chips, salsa verde and Girl & Dragon Malbec.

Chocolate Fondue Recipe
Paired with Girl & Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon

Is there anything more dramatic than melted chocolate, fire and juicy, ripe fruit? (We think not). Enjoy this sweet treat with your most loved ones. Consider this dessert perfect for the upcoming holiday.

Ingredients
12 ounces of milk or dark chocolate (chips or roughly chopped if from a block)
1 cup (8 ounces) of heavy whipping cream
½ teaspoon salt

For serving

Any of the following fruit:
Strawberries
Seedless Grapes
Orange slices
Bananas
Pineapples
Pears

Directions
Heat chocolate, cream and salt in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat until melted together (4-5 minutes). Add to fondue pot and serve with fruit and Girl & Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon.