A Tropical Grazing Board and Hawaiian Sparkling Wine; Mele Kalikimaka #WorldWineTravel

I am heading to Maui to kick off the New Year.  I am very excited to return this year and so fortunate to have such good friends who welcome us to their home on the Island.   

I decided to see if Hawaii made sparkling wines.  To my delight, they do.  This made my decision on what to share with this month's wine group very easy.

Cam, of Culinary Cam, is hosting this month and invited us to join her in pouring a bubbly from anywhere in the world and pair it with an appetizer.

A great theme for the holidays.  I decided to celebrate Friendsgiving this year with a tropical-themed dinner and game night.  It was a great time.  I started with this Hawaiian-themed charcuterie featuring tropical fruits, nuts, rice crackers, and Spam.  You wouldn't believe how popular the Spam was.  It brought back a lot of childhood memories for those in my age bracket.

I found this Sparkling Pineapple Wine made in Hawaii with pineapples.  It is made in Maui and served in cans.  I bought a 4 pack at Total Wine. Each can contain two generous servings at about $5 per glass. 

It is not a great wine, but it is a fun wine and was definitely drinkable.  Medium-bodied, more dry than sweet, but definitely fruit-forward with strong pineapple and hints of mango.  It was a great pairing.  A non-traditional sparkling wine served with a non-traditional charcuterie, shared by great friends to kick off the holiday season.  Success!!!

Please stop by and see what other sparkling wines are being popped this holiday season.......

• Culinary Cam discovers A Bouquet of Bubbly Rosés with Festive Nibbles: From California's Central Coast to Neusiedlersee, Alsace, Swartland, and More
• The Quirky Cork takes A Sparkling Journey Through Hungary, Germany, and Armenia
• Food Wine Click! pours A Very Bourgogne Holiday Apéro
• A Day in the Life on the Farm shares A Tropical Grazing Board and Hawaiian Sparkling Wine; Mele Kalikimaka
• Cooking Chat has Brie Crostini with Prosciutto and Sparkling Wine
• Crushed Grape Chronicles tells of Bites with Bubbles – tossing together a party for two
• ENOFYLZ Wine Blog shares Bubbles and Bites: Dr. Konstantin Frank Sparkling Brut Meets “Meat and Potatoes”
• Wine Predator.... Gwendolyn Alley says Sekt Means Sparkling in German: 2013 Raumland Cuvee Marie Luise Brut Means Fondue Fun and Small Bites– Clink Different!
• Savor the Harvest shares Sparkling Wine From Around the World with Dinatoire
• Our Good Life finds the Top Affordable Sparkling Wines for Every Budget

I was born in 1958, my eldest brother joined the Navy and left when I was an infant.  I was 4 or 5 before I met him and when he came home he brought me a Christmas Stocking with Santa on a Surfboard and Mele Kalikimaka written across it.  That stocking was hung each year throughout my childhood. I'm not sure whatever became of it.  

Mele Kalikimaka!!!