Herbes de Provence Whipped Goat Cheese & Provence Rosé
This one is basically the embodiment of summer! The GOAT of whipped cheeses with a beyond perfect pairing.
Why is whipped cheese so. freaking. good. Allll of them. Whipped ricotta, whipped feta, whipped Brie, and of course, the GOAT of all the whipped cheeses: Whipped Goat Cheese! One of the coolest things about fresh goat cheese is its pairing potential. It has that creamy, tangy, earthy base that works so wonderfully with endless flavours and textures, and the ones in this dip (plus the refreshing vibrancy of a Provence Rosé) are perfect examples of this!
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The Dip
The whipped base of this dip is a combination of fresh goat cheese, ricotta, lemon juice, salt, and a blend of dried herbs called Herbes de Provence. Every component plays a crucial role in creating the perfect flavour and texture:
The mild and creamy ricotta works with the goat cheese to make the base as smooth and decadent as can be,
the lemon juice amps up the natural tanginess of the goat cheese and adds in a layer of freshness,
the olive oil and dried herbs play up the earthiness in the goat cheese,
and the flaked sea salt works to amplify all the flavour and ties it all together.
The base on it’s own is no doubt delicious, but it needs some contrast in both flavour and texture. That’s where the toppings come in:
The sweet honey and spicy chili flakes balance the tangy, salty base,
the fresh basil balances out the dried herbs,
and the crunch from the pistachios brings in a nice textural contrast to the creaminess!
The Pairing
Then we have the wine: Provence Rosé. A light-bodied, pale salmon-pink Rosé from the South of France that has crisp acidity and flavours of citrus, red fruit, dried herbs, and that lovely wet stone minerality. And the wine pairing magic goes DEEP with this one.
Starting with the most obvious, we have a rosé from Provence and a dip laced with Herbes de Provence, so it has to be good! Herbes de Provence is basically a blend of herbs that grow in the Provence region of France (like oregano, thyme, and savory, to name a few). Provence Rosé is made from grapes that grow in the same region. Both are grown in the same soil, with the same terroir, so they will have similar flavours. And this is why ‘what grows together, goes together’ in the world of food and wine pairing! Along with this, we also have:
Contrasting textures: The contrast between the crisp, refreshing wine and creamy dip (AKA the perfect palate cleanser).
Matching (congruent) flavours: Along with the matching earthy/herbal flavours, we have the matching tanginess and citrus.
Complimentary flavours: The contrast of the fresh fruit flavour in the wine provides the perfect balance to the herbal, earthy flavours in the dip.
Matching lightness: Light and fresh wine + light and fresh dip = neither overpower the other and they help each other shine!
Matching vibes: Both are just PERFECT for a hot spring or summer day!
My Recommendation
The beauty of Provence Rosé is that they are all pretty darn awesome. They have some strict quality standards in the Côtes de Provence appellation, so if you see Côtes de Provence on the label you know it won’t suck!! I paired this one with the very loved Whispering Angel Rosé (because it’s normally over $40 CAD and was on sale for $21), but any will do!
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RECIPE: Herbes de Provence Whipped Goat Cheese
