Food and wine were meant to go together. In my big Italian family, no gathering was complete without plenty of both. Winter feasts were easy for the food and wine lovers among us - a hearty red table wine is the perfect foil for most southern Italian dishes. A pitcher of table wine drawn from the cask in the basement was the typical accompaniment to our everyday meals.



Red, white or rose, Italian table wines are meant to be imbibed in the casual atmosphere of a family dinner. They are light enough to be enjoyed even by the casual food and wine enthusiast, and robust enough to complement the full-flavored richness of smoked and barbecued food. Which leads us to the subject of this little soliloquy - mixing and matching food and wine for the barbecue. My own tastes run to Italian jug wines, and if it was up to me, I'd tell you to just go out and buy a jug of Chianti and a jug of Lambrusco. It's what I grew up with, and I happen to love the little sparkle that a good Lambrusco (yes, they do exist!) adds to food.



In the interests of presenting a fair and educated view, however, I decided to check with an expert. Austin Liquor has been voted Best Liquor Store in Worcester for the past 5 years, mostly on the strength of its weekly wine tasting. A Friday night tradition in Worcester since the late 1970s, each tasting offers food and wine based around one or two specific vintages. I was directed to Richard Beams, Austin Liquor's resident wine expert, and directed my question to him: "What food and wine combination would you recommend for a summer barbecue?"



I did get my recommendations - but I also got a wonderful overview of Rich's philosophy of choosing wines, especially for fun or everyday occasions.



"I don't think it's necessary for people to spend more than $12 for a bottle of wine for an everyday dinner," he told me. "For a special occasion like an anniversary dinner, sure, you can spend $20 or more for a bottle. A barbecue is a fun occasion, though. For a barbecue you can get really good quality wine for under $12."



That may come as a surprise to those of us who have been intimidated into believing that the only true quality wines come with corks and high price tags.



Said Rich to that: "I like wine to be fun. It should be fun. Too many people try to snob it up and break down the flavors so far that it's not fun anymore. I advise people to find something they like and enjoy it. I like to steer people to the less expensive wines that are excellent quality."



So what does Rich recommend to go with the food at a summer barbecue?



"I like to recommend a nice, light Riesling, " he told me. "Something crisp and fresh."



In fact, he told me, several of their recent wine tasting afternoons have featured barbecued food and wine that complements it. He recommended several wines that he feels are 'fun wines' with good value.



Flaio Primitivo (Salento, Italy) Primitivo is a grape varietal grown in the heel of Italy's boot. It's very similar to a good California Zinfandel - in Rich's words it's "almost an exact copy". It retails for about $7 a bottle and is a great accompaniment for burgers and ribs.



Bonny Doon Big House Red (California) Bonny Doon has a lot of fun with their wines, according to Rich, and he does believe that wine should be fun. Big House Red is a blend of 7 or 8 grapes. According to Bonny Doon's own web site, those varietals include syrah, petite sirah, Grenache, barbera and malbec. It retails for about $12 a bottle and its robust licorice and raspberry-accented bouquet stands up to the spiciest barbecued ribs.



Monte Antico (Tuscany, Italy) - "very similar to a Chianti Sangiovese," said Rich. At $12 a bottle, it's got great fruit, balances a barbecue, holds up well, and has a very Italian looking label." To quote Monte Antico's own press, this wine is "Dark ruby in color, its bouquet of leather, earth, herbs, black cherries, licorice and plums is confirmed on the medium to full-bodied palate - round, spicy, elegant, attractively fruity and extremely versatile with any fare from pasta or risotto, to meat, fowl and cheese."



Rich's final recommendation was another 'fun' wine, one that he says is a great 'food wine'. The top in his book is:



Three Thieves 2002 Zinfandel was voted #8 as one of the Hottest Small Brands of 2005. The wine comes in a 1 liter jug with a screw top, and is marketed as a 'fun thing', says Rich, but the wine inside is a full bodied red zinfandel that goes great with burgers or eggplant parmagiana.



"The wine is excellent, and it's about $11," Rich added. He also added the following advice for would-be wine fanciers. "You don't have to spend a lot to find excellent quality wines. If you find something that you like, make a note. You can go into a store and tell someone there that you liked 'this brand' and they'll steer you to other similar wines for you to try."



Final analysis? Good food and wine that's fun are the cornerstone of a great summer barbecue. Skip the fancy labels, vintages and price tags and pick out a wine that you like. Who cares what the noses think as long as your nose is tickled pink?

About the Author

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Visit this Food Website and Majon's Food directory.

Riesling Wine and More

Food and wine choice advice from an expert wine taster


Food and wine were meant to go together. In my big Italian family, no gathering was complete without plenty of both. Winter feasts were easy for the f...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Riesling Wine Items For Viewing

Riedel Sommelier Zinfandel/Chianti Wine Glass (1)


The Riedel Sommelier wine glass line is the top-of-the-line series of stemware from the legendary Riedel. Wine experts agree that glassware makes a profound difference on how wines taste. Riedel Sommelier wine glasses are the benchmark and the most successful series of hand-made glasses in the world. Each Sommelier wine glass is individually made of 24% lead crystal: the wine glass bowls are mouth-blown into a mould the stem and base are handcrafted using ancient glass-making methods. The shape of the Riedel Sommelier Zinfandel / Chianti Wine Glass brings out the best characteristics of full-bodied wines rich in minerals and tannins while highlighting its delicate qualities. The wine glass helps the wine gain fruit and suppleness on the palate alongside the acidity and tannins making for a complex finish. Recommended for: Bardolino Beaujolais Nouveau Carignan Chianti Côtes du Roussillon Cótes du Ventoux Dolcetto Lambrusco Montepulciano Patrimonio Primitivo Sangiovese Zinfandel. 8 7/8' 13 3/8 OZ Attention California residents. Proposition 65 WARNING.


Price: 60.00 USD



Current Riesling Wine News

Trader Joes' is one of the best grocery stores ever!

Sat, 17 May 2008 07:27:58 PDT
I hate to even call it a grocery story, because the experience is WAY different than a traditional supermarket. They work to keep overhead down, so the cost is generally quite a lot less...and although they have fewer choices, I love the choices they have. It is the most affordable place to buy wine...and the produce is great!

The Complete Directory for Wine in Florida

Mon, 19 May 2008 06:31:40 PDT
Find all your wine needs in one place: wine stores, wine storage solutions, wine delivery services, wine gifts, wine gift baskets, wine accessories, wine coolers, wine cabinets and more.

Dirty John's in Iowa City Celebrates 60 years

Tue, 20 May 2008 06:38:29 PDT
If you've ever been through Iowa City, home of the University of Iowa, you probably have visited John's Grocery, referred to as "Dirty John's" by the locals. It is an amazing store full of history, tons of incredibly hard to find beer and wine, and a friendly corner grocery store atmosphere.

Drinking Wine is Good for Everyone - I AM Modern Magazine fo

Tue, 20 May 2008 20:11:29 PDT
Drinking wine is good for your health, it enhances the flavor of foods and is a great way to relax and enjoy time with friends and family, and now it can also be good for your community. How, you ask? An article written by Neil Smith, owner of Wine Smith Store in Ashburn, VA


Dessert Wines
Wine Barrels

Labels: Wine Magazine | Wine Magazines

&type=page">