Top Summer BBQ Wine Choices

Summer time is here and the barbeques are being kept busy producing mouthwatering meat and veggies across America, and the world. You may be asking yourself what sort of wine is the right kind to serve with your backyard barbeque, and the answer is “it depends”.

If your feast centers around red meat (think hamburgers, steak, barbecued ribs, or brisket), you will want to have some hearty, big red wines on hand such as Bordeaux, Cabernet, and Merlot. Syrah, Malbec, Zinfandel, and blended reds will work, too. These full bodied red wines hold up well against the rich flavors of barbequed red meats.

If you’re thinking of tossing some marinated pork chops on the grill, you will want to have Beaujolais, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or a nice Chardonnay at the ready. If you are serving ham, Beaujolais, Riesling, Vouvray, Gewurztraminer, or Merlot will work equally well. When it comes to Vouvray, a white wine made with Chenin Blanc grapes, the style can be lean and dry, fruity and sweet (or something in between), still or sparkling, but it’s all good! Wine Folly says, “Regardless of style, Vouvray is loved for its delicate floral aromas and boisterous taste that will pucker your lips and make you immediately wish for another sip.” Sounds like a fun wine to drink, doesn’t it? For those in favor of earthier wines, lots of people enjoy consuming a glass or two of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, or Chianti with their barbequed pork chops or tenderloin.

Chicken calls for a lighter wine, usually white. Good choices for your barbequed chicken would be Chardonnay, White Zinfandel, Rose, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, or any sparkling wine that is slightly dry and lightly sweet (Yes, you can insert “pink champagne” here, if you like if you’re feeling extra festive). The highly aromatic, sweet and spicy Gewurztraminer, often overlooked in favor of better known wines, enhances the enjoyment of both grilled pork and chicken immensely with its medium to low acidity. For lemon chicken, Sauvignon Blanc (one of the most popular white wines in the U.S.), is a great choice because of its refreshing dry crisp qualities. To add a little (or a lot!) of extra personality to your party, don’t forget to shop our cool, fun, versatile wine accessories and add your own personal touch to punch up your party.

Grilled fish can be an extremely tasty alternative to meat, and when paired hot off the barbeque with a light, dry Champagne, Chablis, Chardonnay, Rose, or crisp Sauvignon Blanc, you have a party! If you like fruity wine, Sangria also works well with grilled fish, and when served chilled with fresh fruit slices, can be very fresh and festive. Believe it or not, you can also drink a red wine such as Shiraz, Gamay, or Pinot Noir with grilled salmon, as it is a “meaty” fish and can hold its own when paired with a hearty glass of red.

Although most people associate beer with hot dogs and grilled bratwurst, it is not impossible to serve wine with these popular backyard barbeque classics. Due to the higher fat content of this type of meat, a dry wine such as Riesling, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, or Shiraz makes a great choice, and helps to cleanse the palate between juicy bites.

There you have it, some of the top summer barbeque wine choices to consider for your next backyard party. And although the best wine choices for your grilled sensations are good to know, it’s really the people who make the party, so no matter what you barbeque or what you imbibe, enjoy the time spent with family and friends. If you have a favorite wine enthusiast with a birthday coming up, check out what we think is probably the best gift ever for taking the party with you.