Barbecue Food and Wine Pairing by Grape Variety
Barbecue food and wine matching is great fun. Due to those smoky flavours and strong marinades that we tend to use for barbecues, wines need to match up to those knockout flavours. Barbecue food has many variations from the traditional burger to fusion inspired cuisine and barbecued shellfish so the wines we choose can be equally varied.
There is a myriad of of barbecue recipes, so for this section we have chosen to list specific grape varieties to match with your barbecue food. Here's a few suggestions:
White Wines
Red Wines
Rose Wines
WHITE WINES:
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- Albariño
Albariño originates from the Galicia region of Spain and is often used as a component in Vinho Verde wines. Albariño wines are very aromatic, with scents of almonds, apples, peaches, citrus and flowers or grass. Albariño wines are known for their razor sharp bracing acidity.
Try Bodegas Lagar de Pintos Albariño, Galicia
Food Match: Seafood. Try Albariño wines with grilled or barbequed tiger prawns, dressed crab salad, lobster claws and mussels.
- Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer originated in the Alsace. Gewürztraminer wines can have sweet and dry characteristics. It is quite full bodied for a white wine, with lower levels of acidity and big juicy, lychee notes.
Try Cave Vinicole A Hunawihr Gewurztraminer Reserve, Alsace
Food Match: Oriental Marinated Chicken, Fish or Seafood. Use flavours such as coriander, lemongrass, lime.
- Riesling
Riesling has a German homeland but is being grown successfully in the New World. Riesling wines are often described as 'racy', and their powerful aroma contain notes of apple, pears and lemons when young. As Riesling wines mature they develops a kerosene or petrol style of nose.
Try Sibarita's Selection (Cono Sur) Riesling, Chile
Food Match: Grilled Halloumi, Sausages, Trout. Sausages can be plain or spicy. Also try wrapping trout in foil with a knob of butter and popping it on the barbecue
- Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a classic grape with crisp clean fruit, higher levels of acidity, bouncing aromas and makes very refreshing wines.
Try Mahi Francis Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Food Match: Spicy Chicken, Seared Tuna. Sauvignon Blanc goes well with spicy flavoured salads and marinades.
- Viognier
Viognier originates from the Northern Rhone Valley. Viognier wines are aromatic, full bodied with notes of spiced lychee and peaches. Viognier wines are normally dry towards off-dry and are a nice alternative to Chardonnay.
Try Mil Piedras Viognier, Argentina
Food Match: Barbequed Veg or Fusion Inspired Cuisine. Try spicy giant crevettes drizzled with a mango jus.
RED WINES:
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- Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is amongst the five dominant varieties in the Medoc, (Bordeaux) region, as well as producing successful red wine in the New World for example California. Cabernet Sauvignon is a favourite, dependable grape variety with distinctive blackcurrent aroma and intense colour. Cabernet Sauvignon wines contain nuances of cedar and violets developing leather, earth and cigar box aromas as they age. Cabernet Sauvignon wines are perfect for BBQ food, as they tend to be medium or full bodied: perfect for hearty dishes such as steak and burgers.
Try Perez Cruz Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
Food Match: Steak, Lamb Chops, Spicy Sausages, Pork, 100% Beef Burgers. Buy quality meat, keep it simple and slow cook on your barbecue.
- Gamay
The primary black grape of France's Beaujolais region where it is at most successful. Soft, juicy and gluggable it also has potential to be more serious too. Chill lightly.
Try J Lohr Wildflower Valdiguie, USA
Food Match: Spare Ribs and BBQ Sauce, Burgers, Salmon, Tuna. For the vegetarians try with BBQ's Aubergines and a minty yoghurt dip.
- Malbec
Malbec is undergoing a renaissance due to its success in Argentina. Malbec wines produce red wine with luscious intense colour, good structure and loads of fruit.
Try Bodegas Pascual Toso Reserva Malbec, Argentina
Food Match: Absolutely perfect with a Steak and 100% Beef Burgers. Serve with new potatoes and a salad.
- Merlot
Merlot was originally used as blending material in Bordeaux but due to its earlier ripening and softer qualities it has created its own fame, especially in the New World. Merlot wines are dry but soft with plum and cassis types of flavours.
Try Mil Piedras Merlot, Argentina
Food Match: Another big wine that will stand next to barbequed meat. Steak, Burgers, Sausages, Pork Chops. All cooked slowly and simply over the BBQ grill.
- Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a difficult grape to tame. Pinot Noir originates mainly from Burgundy but is now grown all over the world. Pinot Noir wines tend to be light to medium-bodied in style with soft coating tannins when young. Pinot Noir wine can mature into a sublime soft, velvet like, smelly, leathery scented all round delicious creature. Pinot Noir can be drunk young as a vibrant silky juicy red too.
Try Les Temps Perdus Pinot Noir, Burgundy, France
Food Match: BBQ'd Mushrooms, Chicken marinated in red wine, Burgers, 'meaty' fish such as Salmon or Marlin. Don't overdo the spice which can overpower the delicate aromas of Pinot Noir wines as well as accentuate the alcohol.
- Syrah/Shiraz
Syrah was originally mainly found in Northern and Southern Rhone but is now grown successfully around the globe. Syrah makes big earthy stinky wines. Syrah is a big juicy grape that is capable of the highest quality wines. Syrah wines have an intense colour, almost black, are dry with rich bramble, blackberry, licorice, black pepper and cassis flavours.
Try Cotes Du Rhone Villages Domaine Berthet Rayne Cairanne, Rhone, France
Food Match: Syrah/Shiraz quite simply goes with most BBQ dishes including thai or mexican inspired dishes. Keep it out of the sun because if it gets warm, the alcohol will become too over powering.
- Zinfandel
Zinfandel's origins are unclear but it has become synonymous with California. Red Zinfandel can be made light and fruity, or lively and complex. Zinfandel wines have spice, are jammy, rich in soft juicy fruit, usually high in alcohol and whilst dry, can have a rich, sweet edge to them.
Try Nepenthe Zinfandel, Australia
Food Match: Again most BBQ'd Meat complements this variety. Try it with dishes that include fruit such as Honey and Mustard Pork Steaks with Glazed Apple Rings.
ROSÉ WINES
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- Rosé
There are numerous Rosé wines on the market. Made from various varietals including Grenache, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon as well as from blends of various types of Grapes. Rosé wines can be dry or sweeter with the lightness of white wine but with the deep fruit flavours and alcohol of red wine. They are therefore very adaptable with food and are a credible addition to any barbecue or garden party.
Try Bodegas Martinez La Orden El Talud Rioja Rosada, Spain
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