Wines For Summer Grilling

As the seasons change, our food  and wine pairings change. Summer is no different. This is a season where you can truly appreciate the fruity flavors of wine accompanied by some wonderful foods cooked on a grill. To assist you with a wine and food pairings this summer, we found some useful suggestion that you can use.



Grill-friendly Red Varietals to Consider:

Zinfandels will be able to handle a wide variety of red meats. This bold red wine bellies up to meaty, smokey flavors – allowing the varietal’s black pepper spice, acidity and ripe tannins to carry the meat’s fats and texture to a new dimension. A Zin will also work well with barbeque sauce, steak sauce and mild salsas – if there is too much spice in the sauce the two will compete and both the wine and the sauce end up as losers.

Merlot is the spicy sauce answer to the above dilemma. 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 another varietal that makes the grill-friendly wine list. This varietal is delicious with just about any red meat. Offering dynamic, somewhat aggressive fruit flavors, balanced with more mellow tannins and a softer-fuller body – this wine’s place to shine is definitely at a barbecue gathering! Rhone Syrahs tend to have a smokier flavor characteristic and lend themselves extremely well to smoked brisket.

Cabernet Sauvignon is made for steaks with a higher fat content and burgers of beef or turkey will pair equally well. The tighter tannins are significantly mellowed by the meat’s fat, producing a palate pleaser to remember! Top your burgers with bold cheeses, like blue or sharp cheddar and this varietal gets even better!

Pinot Noir a flexible varietal that is known for being extremely food-friendly. Can go from grilled fish to a juicy burger in a single sip! Pinot Noir is an ideal candidate for grilled fish – especially salmon, burgers and chicken both bare their best in the presence of Pinot Noir. If you aren’t sure if what wine will work with your grilled dinner, Pinot Noir will likely be your best bet.

Grill-friendly White Varietals to Consider:

Chardonnay will work wonderfully with grilled fish (including shellfish), chicken with creamy sauces, and grilled corn on the cob with lots of butter!

Riesling the perfect varietal for grilled brats, shrimp, barbecue chicken, grilled pineapple and a variety of grilled veggies.

Sauvignon Blanc has a herbaceous quality that supports marinades and sauces with similar attributes. For example, grilled chicken that has been doused in Italian dressing or a citrus marinade will be unbeatable with a Sauvignon Blanc. Likewise, roasted peppers, veggies in fresh herbs, grilled fish with dill and lemon will all be highlighted in tandem with a Sauvignon Blanc.

Gewurztraminer often offers a balance to spice with its slightly to moderately sweet character. This varietal would be a great choice to go with blackened Mahi Mahi, or grilled Cajun chicken with fresh mango salsa.

In very, very general red wines go well with grilled red meats - we’re talking your basic burgers, steaks, ribs and the like. These meats can be somewhat salty, a bit smokey and tend to be a touch sweeter if grilled due to marinades, sauces, condiments, cooking times, etc. The lighter meats and sauces are more apt to flow better with white wines that share similar flavors as the foods they are meant to accent. 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 flavor pairs 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 your seeking to please by the wine pairing.

This should get you started on appreciating grilled food and wine pairings. Thank you to about.com for their information concerning this topic. If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting!
Joseph A Jones & The WellLife Team

Fall Wines

Fall is right around the corner. It is amazing that it is now approaching September. Fall, a very special time of year when the weather gets colder and leaves start to turn. With this changing season, it is imperative as the seasons change so does your wine selection. So, we found fall wines that you can choose to match this time of year.

Light and bright:

2009 Mark West Pinot Noir, California, $12
It’s tough to make Pinot Noir that falls into the well-priced category, but Mark West has done it. With red berry zip and a hint of earthy aromas, it’s a Pinot that will please.

2009 Arrogant Frog “Lily Pad Noir” Pinot Noir, Languedoc, France, $10
 A beret-clad frog with a jaunty grin adorns the label of this wine that offers a bit more weight than other affordable Pinots. Juicy and easy-drinking.
 
 2009 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages, France, $12One of best vintages for Beaujolais in recent history has given this wine depth and character. Made with Gamay grapes, there’s an appealing lightness and succulence.

2009 Rioja Vega, Rioja, Spain, $12Slide into fall with this lovely red. Hailing from the classic Spanish region, Rioja, it’s made from the Tempranillo variety and is vibrant and elegant.
2009 Mandolin Syrah, Central Coast, California, $10A Syrah for Pinot drinkers, this lighter, brighter style is one to pop with pork or even with fleshy fish.


2008 Finca Constancia “Altozano” Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain, $10A Tempranillo and Syrah blend that captures the racy side of red. Red berry fruit notes are topped off with a hit of peppery spice on the finish.

2009 Banfi Chianti Classico, Italy, $12It’s normally a challenge to find simple Chianti that fits the $12 price point, much less one from the highly-regarded Chianti Classico zone, but Banfi has managed to produce a structured yet sleek version at a surprising price.

Smooth and supple:

2009 Torres “Sangre de Toro” Catalunya, Spain, $10A deliciously silky red that over-delivers quality for the price. Made with Garnacha (Grenache) and Carinena in Spain’s northeastern corner. With crowd-pleasing freshness, you’ll want to stock up on this one.

2009 Kenwood “Vintage Red” California, $9Kenwood is a Sonoma winery known for top bottlings (like their Jack London label) that you may want to crack open on weekends, but the quaffable “Vintage Red” is a Zinfandel-based blend for weekday sipping.

2009 James Oatley “Tic Tok” Shiraz, Mudgee, Australia, $12The name is an ode to the family patriarch – a clockmaker and this is a red worth twice the price. From the cooler climate area of Mudgee, it’s a Shiraz with style.

2008 Waterbrook Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington, $11Located in the hot spot of Washington, Walla Walla, Waterbrook crafts pricey reds, but this supple, sippable Merlot tucks in at a cool price.
2009 Cellar No 8 Red wine, California, $10A mélange of eight varieties including Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Grenache, this just may become your house red. Fruit-driven and juicy, it’s a happy-maker.

2009 Naked Earth red, South of France, $12Made with organically grown grapes, this blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache is not overly serious but offers good drinking with burgers or pizza.

2009 Bota Box Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $5 (500ml)A to-go wine that can slip in a purse or pocket, this eco-friendly mini-box holds three glasses of smooth Cabernet. It’s ideal for the beach, outdoor party, or just when you want a little glass without the glass.

Full-bodied and fleshy:

2009 Dancing Bull Zinfandel, California, $12With dark berry fruity flavors  underscored by a kick of smoky aromas, this hearty Zin is made for fall sipping. Try alongside a wood-fired pizza or last of the season BBQ ribs.

2009 Healdsburg Ranches Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast, California $12This Cab over-delivers in quality. It showcases intensity of fruit and mouthwatering vibrancy. Sure it will pair with a steak, but try roast chicken or grilled eggplant.

2008 Purple Cowboy “Trail Boss” Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, California $12Named for some rodeo dudes who enjoyed vino and showed off their purple teeth, this plush red has power. The brand also supports the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” organization for breast cancer awareness.

2009 Concannon Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, California $10Making wince 1883 Concannon ranks among California’s most historic producers. This affordable but still fairly complex Cab is the real deal.

2010 Bodega Elena de Mendoza Malbec, Argentina, $11Malbec is known for its saturated dark fruit character and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s rich, it’s ripe yet balanced with a whack of freshness making it ideal to saddle up to the dinner table.
 
2009 Yarden Mount Hermon, Galilee, Isreal, $12Yes, this wine is kosher but it’s so much more. Made from Bordeaux varieties, it delivers complexity that belies the price. Lush but with an edge of tannic grip it’s one to pair with grilled meat dishes.

We give a big thanks for the Today program in compiling such a wonderful list of fall wines to choose from. If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting!

Joseph A Jones & The WellLife Team