Ideal wines for your summer barbecue
WWMD – What would Margaret drink?
Margaret Pearman is a certified sommelier under the Court of Master Sommeliers and is responsible for curating the award-winning wine list at Charlie’s Coastal Bistro. Here are her sipping suggestions for July:
Refreshing reds
The heat is sweltering, the grill is blazing, and all you can think about is red wine. It’s a common conundrum for the red wine lover. But fear not! There’s no rule that says you must drink red wine at room temperature. In fact, reds are best enjoyed slightly cooler than room temperature (57-70 degrees is optimal). Even better, many red wines are excellent at lower temperatures (45-60 degrees). At this range the tannins mellow out, and the fruit flavors become more pronounced. Just pop your bottle in the fridge for two to three hours to achieve the perfect chill. So, which reds are ideal for cooling down? Generally, light reds like pinot noir from Burgundy or Oregon or Italian varieties like frappato or dolcetto, fit the bill. Here are three cool summer reds perfect for grilling out:
1. Alfredo Bertolani Lambrusco All’Antica, Emilia Romagna – This isn’t your grandparents’ sweet lambrusco of the ’80s. With only a slight fruitiness and 8 grams of residual sugar (for reference, Veuve Clicquot has 10 grams/L), the bubbles from the Charmat method create a sophisticated, refreshing finish. Ruby red and bursting with wild red fruits, it’s the perfect companion to a range of meat-based dishes, fitting for a wine from Italy’s gastronomic capital.
2. Bertrand Galbrun Antidote Grolleau, Val de Loire – From the Loire Valley, this low-alcohol blend of cabernet franc and grolleau offers bright plum, berry and savory notes. Aging in concrete with a touch of carbonic maceration lends a fresh, light character to the wine. This gem is a steal at under $20.
3. Lievland Vineyards Bushvine Pinotage, Paarl – Forget the bad experiences of late ’90s pinotage; this bottle shows what the grape can truly express. A cross between pinot noir and cinsault, it combines bright cherry fruit with rustic herbal notes of licorice, clove and spice. You can find this one for under $20 as well.