With Summer in full swing, crisp whites and cool roses rule the day. But Summer is also the season for grilling red meat, typically a red wine food. So what's the best choice on those hot days when most red wines would be too much? These four reds are just what you need.
Festejo Tempranillo
La Mancha, Spain ($7.99)
Festejo Tempranillo is a great easy going wine to get to know. Medium bodied, lush and fruity, with a sippable low acidity. You can pretty much throw any food at this wine, but we think it works best with medium hard cheeses, backyard snacks, and even burgers. At $7.99, it's the perfect base for your next Sangria recipe too.
Rosso Ribelle Sangiovese
Maremma Toscana, Italy ($16.99)
Tuscany is famous for it's Sangiovese based wines, most notably of course Chianti. This is the other Sangiovese. Rich, earthy, yet fairly mellow, with a high toned cherry fruit note, but without the tart acidity found in many Italian wines, this one is right at home with a fresh caprese salad, cold tortellini, pizza, pasta dishes, and good friends.
Iby Blaufrankisch
Burgenland, Austria ($17.99)
Never heard of Blaufrankisch? Sure you have, the rest of the world calls it pinot noir. What many people don;t realize is that this grape has grown in Austria for ages. This wine boasts a robust smokiness, a good deal of earth, and a lot of depth, all on a deceptively light frame. Grab a bottle and throw a little chill on it if you dare. Show up with this at the next cook out you're invited to and be the guest who brought something so much more interesting than just another six pack.
Domaine Guillot-Broux "Beaumont"
Macon-Cruzille, France ($29.99)
The sub-region of Macon in Burgundy, France is known almost exclusively for it's classic whites from the chardonnay grape, but historically this wasn't always the case. Domaine Guiloot-Broux hearkens back to a time before Maconnais reds all but disappeared. Made from the historically accurate 100% Gamay, this wine is soft and delicate, but with a woodsy feel redolent of rosemary and sage. This makes the perfect choice when you're looking to splurge a little. Great with more refined grilled fair, such as marinated flank steak, pork tenderloin in mustard and herbs, or lamb shops with rosemary. Grab a bottle next time you feel like a little bit of celebrating.
Whites and roses may quench the thirst with their cool ease, but theirs nothing like meat cooked over an open fire with a great red wine. Get to the butcher, light the charcoal, call some friends, and grab a bottle or two today.
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ReplyDeleteDo you know a good sangria recipe?
The beauty of sangria recipes is that there is no "right" one. It's more of a concept, something to play around with until you hit what you like. Personally, I do a fruity Spanish wine with a splash of Cointreau, a little orange juice, some club soda to lighten it up with some fizz, and any seasonal fruit we may have around.
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