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 We all know the feeling, come the dog days of summer, when you need something cool and light to quench your thirst. So what vino should you serve when the mercury is up?
Try the lighter, brighter wines that won't weigh down the palate or leave you feeling overwhelmed by powerful alcohol levels. The best wines for summer are light, crisp, refreshing and fun to drink. With white wines, complexity isn't as important as quaffability, affordability and versatility. Sauvignon Blanc might be the ultimate summer wine - its acidity and flavors match well with everything from shellfish to garden vegetables. Chardonnay has long been a go-to varietal for food and wine lovers and works well with grilled fish and chicken. Pinot Gris offers fresh, fruity flavors, and the spicy, fragrant notes of Viognier, Riesling and Gewürztraminer pair well with ribs, grilled chicken and pasta salads.
In general, red wines go well with grilled red meats - we're talking your basic burgers, steaks and ribs. These meats can be somewhat salty, a bit smokey and tend to be a touch sweeter if grilled due to marinades, sauces and condiments. Zinfandels can handle a wide variety of red meats and will work well with barbeque sauce, steak sauce and mild salsas. Merlot is the spicy sauce answer. With the characteristic fruit-forward flavor profile, this varietal will support the spice and not aggravate it. Grilled pork chops, chicken and garden-variety salads with lighter dressings also mingle well with Merlot. Shiraz/Syrah makes the grill-friendly wine list and is delicious with just about any red meat. Cabernet Sauvignon is made for steaks with a higher fat content and burgers of beef or turkey will pair equally well. Top your burgers with bold cheeses, like blue or sharp cheddar and this varietal gets even better!
If you are having a backyard barbecue, offer a few whites and a few reds and let your guests mix and match to see which flavors suit their preferences. They are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing wines with your grilled foods, just generalities that can get you going. Ultimately it is your palate that you are seeking to please by the wine pairing. |
