BBQ Wine
Help!
My husband and I are having dinner with family friends. They are grilling (or bbq-ing, as they say) and when we asked if we could bring anything, they said, "sure bring some wine!" Problem: we don't really drink wine very often. (OK, almost never. Ok, the last time I had wine was my wedding- over a year ago)
What can we bring that will go with almost anything meatwise that can be slapped on a grill?
2nd Problem: we live in PA. (I still don't understand why it's so hard to get a bottle of wine at the grocery store, but that's my issue.) So we need something easy to find.
If one of you lovely serious eaters could recommend an inexpensive and tasty wine, we would greatly appreciate it.
thanks!
Kate
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11 Comments:
My favorite BBQ wines are fairly simple, for reds, Red Zinfandel or Merlot. For whites, Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling.
jonfoxx at 7:09PM on 06/23/08
Yeah, red zinfandel is perfect barbecue wine. It goes with the spicy barbecue sauce fabulously. If they are people who only think they like wine get a white zinfandel, too. It's the best wine for people who don't really like wine, but true connoisseurs will look at it like it's sour milk .
Calichef at 7:18PM on 06/23/08
Riesling is the perfect cookout wine. Even the drier ones are sweet enough, yet acidic enough to stand up to all the typical cookout foods, which tend to be sweet and tart. Plus, it'll stand up to the spiciness if you use a lot of rubs and/or chile seasonings. And, since it's typically chilled, it's a refreshing drink in cookout weather. Final bonus -- most rieslings are very reasonably priced!!! woo hoo!
You also might want to try making a traditional wine sangria. Again, the fruit and sweetness can stand up to all the BBQ flavors, and it's a cool and refreshing drink. Plus, it's fun and colorful... like its own party in a pitcher (or punch bowl)!
LoCo at 7:32PM on 06/23/08
What state borders you? Then I will tell you where to go. Not the State store.
JerzeeTomato at 7:51PM on 06/23/08
heh PA....paid a visit there late last year...the liquor/wine/beer selling system killed my brain.
Argentinean malbec, if you can find it, for grilled meats. Very smooth and mellow. Not expensive as an import wine in the U.S. too. I think one of the roundup articles here at Serious Eats linked to an NYTimes article about them.
Asado at 8:03PM on 06/23/08
Never mind -- I thought this was about some new BBQ Flavored Wine.
Hey, I'm from Texas. It's possible. :)
FastFoodCritic at 8:09PM on 06/23/08
Sangria.
smile at 9:24PM on 06/23/08
@JerzeeTomato- I'm trapped on the Mainline. According to my husband, the distance is evenly divided between NJ & DE. But our friends live in NJ, so that's where we're headed on Saturday.
@Asado- Disclaimer: PA, not my home state. I've lived here 3 years and I still don't understand the liquor/wine/beer selling system. In all the states I've ever lived in, I could always buy a 6 pack in the grocery store and be set for the next 3 months.
KDBlue at 10:29PM on 06/23/08
@KDBlue: There were so many beers that I wanted to try--outside of hitting up various bars, but to have to buy them by the case, instead of at least six-packs, was a bit too much.
This was during Thanksgiving holiday so it was very annoying to have to drive to one place to get beer and then make a 20 minute drive to another place that had a great selection of wines. Then, when the beer distributors were closed, we had to drive to some restaurant to buy a few six packs of crappy beer.
What's funny, or saddening, is that when I talked to a few people that recently transplanted themselves there, they used to just buy a six-pack and live off of that for a couple of days. Now that they have to buy beer by the case, they drink much more.
Anyway, sorry for taking your question off topic.
Asado at 11:35PM on 06/23/08
Have to agree with the Malbec! Failing that, I've never failed buying a blend; Cab Sauv/Merlot and Cab Sauv/Syrah are two of my favorites. If you can find a blend with Cab Franc in it, that will really lighten it up.
cowprintrabbit at 8:25AM on 06/24/08
@Asado - PA isn't half as bad as Utah!
@FFC - ;-D
izatryt at 9:07AM on 06/24/08