Happy Memorial Day! Do you have special plans for this weekend? Are you lighting up the BBQ for the first time? Are you having outdoor get togethers? Are you honoring people who served our country? Are you remembering loved ones? Are you watching car races? Are you taking short trips?
There is a lot to keep us busy this long weekend. Whether you’re planning to lay low or have a crazy busy weekend, I wanted to recommend the five wines that I think will be most likely to pair well with your activities.
Syrah – This is the quintessential BBQ wine. In The Wine Bible, Karen MacNeil writes, this wine is “rustic and manly yet elegant.” I think of it as a cowboy in a tuxedo. It will go perfectly with anything you grill on the BBQ. Plus, it works well with brownies.
Petite Sirah – As you may have read in my Que Syrah Sirah article, Petite Sirah and Syrah are different grapes. But Syrah is one of Petite Sirah’s parents. So there are some commonalities. If you think of Syrah as a cowboy in a tuxedo, think of Petite Sirah as a cowboy in fine leather. Petite Sirah is the hearty cousin to Syrah. It’s another great BBQ wine, and it’s a good match for blue cheese and dark chocolate.
Muscat – When I think of spring, I think of Muscat. The floral aromas of this wine are incredible. If you’re having an outdoor gathering, this wine is a perfect fit. I recommend serving it with light appetizers and fruity desserts.
Rosé – Nothing says it’s time for “holiday” (Europe’s wonderful term for vacation) better than Rosé. Last year, Rosé surpassed white wine to become the second most popular type of wine consumed in France (after red wine and before white wine). So as you’re drinking Rosé this weekend, think about sitting at a lovely French café with your dog, your friends, a good book and a buttery croissant – or two ☺ Without a doubt, this weekend is the perfect opportunity to stop and smell the Rosés. (If you want to visit France, please check out Martine’s wonderful trips to France.)
Sauvignon Blanc – As summer sizzles in, refreshing wines are the name of the game. With its wonderful acidity and freshness, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most refreshing wines around. It’s also one of the food friendliest white wines. If you’re serving a wide variety of dishes this weekend, you will definitely want to have some Sauvignon Blanc on hand, since it’s easy to pair with just about anything you’re serving.
I hope you find my suggestions helpful. I would love to hear about your weekend wine adventures. Please share them with us here.
Have a safe, relaxing, fun Memorial Day weekend.
Cheers!
As an independent wine consultant with WineShop At Home, I absolutely enjoy bringing a taste of the Napa wine country home to you one sip at a time. Whether you simply love to drink wine, seek a special personalized wine gift, or are in search of a new wine jobs opportunity as a wine consultant, feel free to contact me for a truly unique wine tasting experience!
Cheers,
Betty Kaufman, WineShop At Home
4 comments
“Rustic and manly yet elegant”
I’m gonna look for a Syrah to take to the BBQ’s this weekend! 🙂
Thanks for the help Betty!
Adam
Yay! And Syrah is perfect for you, since you are a cowboy!
Which wine should I think of as Steve Jobs in a black turtleneck and blue jeans? I’d say that this would be an unpretentious wine that presents itself extremely well! 🙂 Likely a fruit forward wine, such as a late harvest zinfandel with an elegant finish? What do you think, Betty?
While I love late harvest zin, I don’t see that as a black turtleneck/blue jeans wine. I think a better fit for Steve Jobs would be an elegant, seemingly understated deep red that has layers of complexity and ultimately builds up into something glorious. Maybe a nicely aged Cabernet with a lot of earthiness.