Drinks

Grilling is not the same without something good to drink. It can be ice cold water, soft drinks, beer and wine or a pink cocktail with an umbrella in the glass. A personal favorite is iced tea, but soft drinks and of course beer, are regulars. That said, here are some thoughts about wind and our favorite food:

Wine & BBQ

A backyard barbecue party is not complete without good drinks. Although we often primarily think of beer when it comes to grilling, wine is an ever more popular choice. Most grilled foods work well with wine. Some of my favorite "barbecue wines" are white wine grapes are made from riesling and chardonnay grapes, but there are lots of other possibilities: albariño from Rias Baixas in Spain or a good Vinho Verde from Portugal. When it comes to red wines, zinfandel from California is my go to grape. I would also recommend some of the wonderful food-friendly Italian wines from Tuscany, Piedmont and Campania, and I am crazy about the great red wines from the Côtes du Rhône in Southern France.

There are many differing opinions about which wines are best suited to a dish, but a wine that I think is good, will not necessarily suit your tastes as well. People experience taste differently, and have different preferences.

There are many factors that affect the way we perceive the taste of a wine: the season and of course the food being served. Last but not least is your personal taste. My best advice is to make great food from the grill and serve it with wine you really like, preferably with nice people seated around the table. That is always the best formula for a successful meal!