Grill-Ready Wines: 5 Bottles to Kick Off Summer Right
Grill-Ready Wines: 5 Bottles to Kick Off Summer Right
Let the sounds and smells of sizzling grilled meats fill the air.
While Memorial Day traditionally marks the start of summer, wherever you’re reading this from, I hope the weather has broken for the better. It sure has in my neck of the woods.
This week’s Saturday Search Party features five affordable wines perfect for anyone tossing a ribeye on the grill, smoking a pork shoulder or brisket or slow-cooking beef ribs.
And as for the great question posed by my buddy Mike:
What happens first — it hits 80 degrees, or the White Sox win eight games?
Well, Mike... it hit 88 at my casa yesterday. So, the weather beat your team in Colorado, anyway.
These wines are easy-drinking, versatile and picnic-friendly. You might pour them into a plastic wine glass or tumbler. You might enjoy them at a music festival or a neighborhood concert. They’re ready for the transition to summer.
If you take a break from sipping Azaleas and Transfusions this weekend — and put down the pimento cheese sandwiches and egg salad — run to your local wine shop and give one of these a try:
🍒 Rio Madre Graciano Rioja 2021 – $13
An under-the-radar varietal with cherry pie, wild blackberry, tobacco, and fresh-ground coffee notes. Grippy tannins and bold extraction make it a natural with steak, potatoes, and asparagus.
🍔 Cosentino Winery “The Zin” Zinfandel Lodi 2021 – $15
Fire up the grill. Fry some bacon. Shred some cheddar. This Zin was built for bacon cheeseburgers. It brings jammy blackberries, vanilla, black pepper, and a whisper of cedar on the finish.
🐖 Mendi Rioja Alavesa 2020 – $13
This crowd-pleasing Tempranillo was made via carbonic maceration, so it’s a bit lighter — juicy, fresh, and fruit-forward. Chill it slightly and pair with slow-cooked pork shoulder. Dry rub optional but encouraged.
🐟 Dow’s Vale do Bomfim Douro 2022 – $15
Not a red, despite the name — this Portuguese white blend is perfect for grilled red snapper, swordfish, shrimp, and grilled vegetables like carrots, zucchini, and corn. Zippy citrus and tropical fruit keep it bright and fun.
🍏 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2023 – $6.99
Yes, it’s under $7. Yes, it’s worth it. Rich with warm red and yellow apple flavors, this Chard has a creamy, buttery texture and toasted oak on the finish. Chill it, grab a plastic tumbler, and embrace summer.
Whether you’re grilling, chilling, or just catching some rays this weekend, these wines are budget-friendly, crowd-approved and built for the backyard. Let me know if you give one a try — or if your grill has a perfect pairing I need to check out.
Cheers,
—The One Minute Wine Guy
Let the sounds and smells of sizzling grilled meats fill the air.
While Memorial Day marks the traditional start to summer, wherever you’re reading this from, I hope the weather has broken for the better. It sure has in my neck of the woods.
This week’s Saturday Search Party features five affordable wines for everyone tossing a ribeye on the grill, smoking their pork shoulder or brisket or slow cooking beef ribs. As for the great question posed by my good friend Mike: what happens first, it hits 80 degrees or the White Sox win eight games?
Well buddy, it hit 88 at my casa yesterday. The weather beat your team in Colorado, anyway. These wines might be consumed out of a plastic wine glass or tumbler, they could be enjoyed at a music festival or a neighborhood concert. They’re ready for the transtion to summer. If you take a break from sipping Azalea’s and Transfusions this weekend and put down the pimento cheese sandwiches and egg salad; run to your local wine shop and give one a chance.
Rio Madre Graciano Rioja 2021 ($13): An unheralded and delicious varietal that is perfect for an outdoor gathering. There are flavors of cherry pie, wild blackberries, tobacco, fresh ground coffee and grippy tannins on a wine with pronounced extraction. Steak, potatoes and asparagus are calling.
Cosentino Winery “The Zin” Zinfandel Lodi 2021 ($15): Fry the bacon, shred some cheddar cheese and mix up some 80/20 ground beef for this Zin that’s begging to be paired with bacon cheese burgers. Jammy black berries, vanilla, black pepper and hints of cedar on the finish make this affordable-Lodi red great for the fatty cheesy meat stacked between buns.
Mendi Rioja Alevesa 2020 ($13): Slow-cooked pork shoulder awaits this juicy, dark fruit forward Tempranillo that is a crowd pleasing thrill ride. It was made via carbonic maceration, so it’s a bit lighter. Put a little chill on it and shake some dry rub on that pork.
Dow’s Vale Do Bomfim Douro 2022 ($15): A white wine blend from the house of Dow, this Portugeese red is ideal for your grilled red snapper, swordfish or shrimp. Grilled vegetables: carrots, zucchini, asparagus and corn would also mingle well with the zippy citrus and tropical fruit flavors of this Portugeese white.
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2023 ($6.99): Grab that plastic tumbler, chill this rich Chard with warm red apple, yellow apple and a buttery, creamy texture with toasted oak notes on the finish.