Summer isn’t complete without one of my favorite kitchen staples: delicious pesto made fresh from the garden. It’s so easy to make, and you can get creative by adjusting the ingredients and proportions until you’ve mastered your craft. Pesto combines essential ingredients in varying proportions and is blended or chopped in a food processor to the consistency you desire. Once you’ve made it a few times, you’ll know what style you and your family prefer. Trial and error is the best way to learn what you like best, and luckily, you almost always wind up with something delicious.

A handful of simple ingredients come together to create one of the most versatile pairings possible that works with just about any dry wine. Why? You’ve got the umami flavors of the mushrooms and the salty herbal flavors of the cheese and sage all atop flavorful, perfectly toasted French bread. It’s all the most food-friendly flavors rolled up into one decadent bite!