Most people think of barbecuing as a summer-style meal. For me, it does not end with Labor Day weekend. I barbecue all year long. In the cooler weather I tend to choose heartier foods and match them with wines that will stand up to them and play nicely together. Here are a few of my pairing considerations:
My Pairing Considerations When Barbecuing
- Red Meats vs Chicken or Seafood (without sauce I prefer reds with the former and whites with the latter).
- Sauce vs No Sauce vs Sweet or Spicy; With tomato-based BBQ sauces I lean toward red wines, even with chicken or pork. With spicy entrees I pull out a big Syrah or Malbec (red meat); Gruner Veltliner and Gewurtztraminer do the same for chicken and seafood with a spicy sauce. Rieslings are also a good option.
- Fat content – the more fat, the more tannins are welcomed. Think Cabernet Sauvignon with a marbled Ribeye.
Here are a few of my favorite BBQ Wines:
Reds
- Hawk Haven Vineyards Flying Press Red-One of my favorite wines with a grilled burger or a pizza. It has just a touch of sweetness, which opens up spicier foods as a good pairing as well. 85% Merlot, 9% Cab, and 6% Petit Sirah. It’s a perennial best buy for me.
- Hawk Haven Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Franc-One of our state’s best, medium to full-bodied, with strawberry notes and some spice.
- Turdo Turis 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon-A super version, full-bodied, filled with black cherry notes, a bit of cocoa and vanilla, and smoother tannins than most.
- Beneduce Vineyards 2017 Blue 2 Blaufrankisch-Estate grown, with delicious black cherry notes. It can handle spice and smoke and offers an elegant spiciness of its own. Great with grilled meats.
- Old York Cellars 2019 Malbec-A nice medium-bodied wine with ripe blackberries and a bit of spice.
Whites
- Bellview Winery 2017 Gruner Veltliner-It will handle spice with a little spice (pepper) of its own, apple notes on the palate, and copious acidity.
- Hawk Haven Vineyards 2019 Gewurtztraminer-Still my favorite Gewurtztraminer, period. Just a hint of sweetness and notes of ginger and lime make it a great pairing with Thai cuisine.
Another Shout Out
This one was another one of my futures purchases at Amalthea Cellars. The 2018 Europa Legends Series (IV) is a delicious red blend of Cab Franc and Merlot. It is medium to full-bodied with a luscious mouthfeel, lots of ripe fruit, velvety tannins and a long finish.
I only wish I had ordered more of this amazing wine. This delicious, beautifully crafted red blend explodes with berry flavors and velvety tannins. This was one of the best wines I’ve had all year.
Want to learn more about New Jersey wines and wineries?
You can still download a copy of my book, New Jersey Uncorked: A Snob-Free Taste of NJ Wine for only $8.99 at the Apple iBook App. Good on any iOS device. You need to use the coupon code WineNot.
Coming Attractions
- FLX Revisited
- Versa Vino Wne Bar
- Iron Plow Vineyard’s
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