Wine Pairings for Your Memorial Day BBQ
Jeff & Sally Toister Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 7:47PM 
As the somewhat official start to summer, it’s pretty much a requirement to fire up the BBQ on Memorial Day. Truth be told, a nice cold beer (especially Shiner!) is my usual go-to beverage to enjoy with meat fresh off the grill. However, a tasty wine also puts a smile on my face. Whether you like your meat simply smoked, or with sauce, you can’t go wrong pairing an Australian Shiraz or a California Zinfandel with any kind of BBQ.
Here are a couple of readily available wines under $20 you may want pick up for your BBQ ~
Layer Cake Shiraz (~$12)
Bold spice, black plums and dark chocolate, with a long creamy finish that hangs around in the mouth for a while. It would hold up to the spiciest sauces around!
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz (~10)
Full of juicy blackberry fruit aromas and flavors, chocolaty, smooth ripe tannins and some savory oak nuances. Pass me the spare ribs, please!
Cline Zinfandel (~10)
Smooth structure with rich, berry flavors finishing with a touch of spice and hints of vanilla. This easy drinker pairs well with a variety of smoked meats.
Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel (~20)
The 2009 Lytton Springs scored 95 points with Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. We’ve always said you can’t go wrong with Ridge, and this is no exception. Black fruit, plums, licorice and smoke. Bring on the brisket!
2009 Ridge Ponzo Zinfandel. (~30)
Ok, so this goes over the $20 qualifier, but… if you’re willing to splurge a bit and can get your hands on a bottle, this is one of the best wines we’ve tasted this year. Highly recommend. It may just be the star of your BBQ. MMMMM….
All wines available at BevMo and Specs
Reader Comments (2)
Had a nice Old Vine Carignane from Clos Du Bois with our BBQ steak.. for the holiday and to celebrate a very special day for us!
Carignane?! Wow - that's a varietal you don't see very often. I bet it was perfect with the BBQ steak, though!