Don’t know about you, but I often get confused as to which wine is best with those strong summer grilled-food flavors. Luckily, our wine advisor Michele has cleared all this up for us with a simple guide …
We’re closing in on the long-awaited, balmy days of summer – and it’s time to head outdoors, kick back, get friends together, uncork some wine, and barbeque a simple meal. (Okay, if you live in a city and don’t have access to a grill, you still get grilled foods at a restaurant…)
Choosing what wine to drink with grilled foods should be as effortless as the meal itself.
Start with a crisp, clean, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc – one of the most versatile food wines there is. It’s perfect with grilled or fresh vegetables drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil, skewered shrimp marinated in citrus juice and garlic, and anything with pesto sauce.
Summer is definitely the season to think pink Рchilled, refreshing ros̩s pair wonderfully with charcuterie plates, grilled sausages, hamburgers and hot dogs, pork chops and fish.
When choosing what red wine to serve with grilled foods, consider what you’re serving. Earthy Pinot Noirs are fabulous with grilled Portabello mushrooms. Fruity, spicy Zinfandels, Sangioveses and Tempranillos enhance smoky and tomato-based dishes, grilled meats with Spanish-style Romesco sauces (take roasted peppers, garlic and almonds and process them in your Cuisinart), and olive tapenade. Simple grilled steaks traditionally call for hearty Cabs and Merlots, but as you can see from the guide below, other types of wines go equally well.
A QUICK GUIDE FOR MATCHING WINES to BBQ FOOD:
White fish (sole, roughy, halibut, etc.) – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Semillon
Mollusks (mussels, clams, oysters, etc.) – Riesling, Chablis, Sparkling
Shellfish (shrimp, crab, scallops, etc.) – Chardonnay, rose, Beaujolais, Viognier
Salmon, tuna, grouper, striped bass, etc. – White Burgundy, Pinot Noir, Burgundy, Merlot
Chicken – Chardonnay, Beaujolais, Pinot Noir
Pork – Riesling, Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noir, Burgundy, Sparkling
Hamburgers РBarbera, Chianti, ros̩,
Beef – Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfandel (if peppered or spiced)
Meats with BBQ sauce – Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz
