The Ritual of Summer Peaches in Red Wine

Ahh, the wonderful ritual of sitting outside after dinner and drinking red wine soaked with summer peaches. A favorite childhood memory of mine is how my grandmother did this on summer nights. She lived next door, and would sit out in her backyard after dinner and watch us kids catching fireflies at dusk to put in a mason jar to make a living lantern. Sometimes, Nonnie would let me sneak one of the wine-soaked peaches as a treat.  I recall the sweet taste of the luscious peaches and the glow of the fireflies like yesterday. This is how Italians live the dolce vita (sweet life). So simple, so sensual.

I don’t really want to reduce this experience to a scientific equation by writing it out as a recipe. Instead just feel it. Peel a ripe peach picked right off the tree, and soak a few slices in your glass of red wine. Sip the wine while watching the sunset with a soulmate. When the wine is gone, savor the peaches at the end.

Don’t listen to anyone that tells you to sprinkle the peaches with sugar or add cinnamon and spices. This ritual is meant to be kept pure like a moment in time with someone you love. Do it everyday and live happy.

We like pairing the peaches with a Nero D’Avola, a ruby red wine grown high above sea level in Sicily. The palate is bright with a hint of cherry, vanilla and spices. It also works wonderful with a nice Chianti.

Aren’t the hydrangeas pretty this time of year. I might go look for fireflies.