Holiday Open House Food Ideas

Invite friends for a holiday open house!

The season for entertaining is upon us, so this is the ideal time to invite friends and family to a festive open house where you can share your favorite Silverado Vineyards wines accompanied by an array of delicious appetizers. The wonderful thing about hosting an open house during this hectic season is that guests can come and go as their schedules allow. That’s why it’s important to offer an array of tempting finger foods that don’t need a lot of last minute fussing and don’t need to be served piping hot. Here are some of our favorite holiday nibbles, ranging from savory to sweet. Be sure to uncork lots of Silverado Vineyards wine to serve alongside them!

Smoked Salmon Crostini: Simply slice a baguette into half-inch thick slices, lightly toast on both sides, then slather with herb-flavored goat cheese or cream cheese and top with a sliver of smoked salmon. A sprig of fresh dill makes a pretty and tasty topping. Pair with our Silverado Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc.

Spicy Sausage Skewers: Thread chunks of spicy cooked sausage onto mini skewers along with pieces of colorful bell pepper and red onion. Grill or broil until cooked through and serve with a selection of flavorful mustards for dipping. Serve with Silverado Vineyards Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. 

Festive Garlic Shrimp: Peel, devein and butterfly large shrimp. Toss with melted butter, minced garlic, fresh bread crumbs and a generous amount of paprika. Broil until shrimp are cooked through and bread crumbs are browned. Pair with Silverado Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay.

Herb-Marinated Olives and Mozzarella: Heat some olive oil in a pan and add a few cloves of minced garlic, some lemon zest and a sprig of rosemary. When garlic just begins to brown, pour the mixture over a selection of your favorite oil-cured and brined olives. Let cool, then stir in some tiny fresh mozzarella balls. Serve with Silverado Vineyards Sangiovese.

Mini Ham and Swiss Sandwiches: Purchase your favorite tiny buns or rolls, split in half, slather with hot-sweet mustard and place a slice of roasted ham and a thin slice of Swiss cheese on top. Garnish with slivered onions or fresh lettuce, if desired. Serve with Silverado Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay or Merlot. 

Savory White Bean Crostini: Drain a can of cannellini beans, then puree in food processor with a few cloves of garlic, a few tablespoons of olive oil and a sprig or two of fresh thyme and rosemary. Add some pitted kalamata olives and process until just coarsely chopped. Slice a baguette into half-inch thick slices, lightly toast on both sides and slather with the white bean puree. If you have extra herbs on hand, use them to garnish the crostini. Serve with Silverado Vineyards Merlot, Sangiovese or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Holiday Sweet Bread Bites: Prepare your favorite recipes for banana bread, date-nut bread and pumpkin bread. Let cool, then cut into ¾-inch slices. Cut slices into quarters and top each piece with a dab of cream cheese flavored with grated orange zest. Serve with Silverado Vineyards Vineburg Chardonnay.

Dried Figs with Gorgonzola: Marinate dried figs in a little Port or Sherry, then slice in half, place a dab of Gorgonzola cheese on the bottom half and replace the top half. Pair with Silverado Vineyards Merlot.

Dates with Toasted Pecans and Parmesan: Make a vertical slit in each date and insert a pecan and a sliver of Parmesan cheese. Serve with Silverado Vineyards Sangiovese.