4 wines to pair with grilled chicken, salmon, lamb and steak
Wine Master Barbara Philip shares her tips for pairing wine with your summer BBQ
This time of year there's nothing quite like the thrill of the grill.
For a lot of people, tossing just about anything on the barbecue and giving it a smokey char encapsulates the taste of summer.
But then there's the task of choosing a wine that stand up to deep, bold flavours of grilled meats, fish and poultry.
"When it comes to pairing with those strong flavours — the char, the grill, that blackened flavour, often with a very spicy or sweet sauce on top of it — you really need some wine with some power," said Barbara Philip, On the Coast's resident wine expert.
"The alcohol levels are going to creep up here, but that's just part and parcel with cutting through, with standing up to the flavours."
Keep reading for Philip's recommendations.
4 wines pairings for the summer barbecue
Jackson Triggs 'Reserve' Chardonnay. Okanagan Valley. 2014. $10.49
Philip recommends this wine with a roast chicken or a white fish.
La Crema Pinot Noir. Sonoma Coast. U.S. 2012. $28.29
"I really believe that pinot noir and salmon, particularly sockeye, is the way to go." This selection is a little spicy, roasted, but smooth and well-balanced, Philip said.
Tommasi Valpolicella Ripasso. Veneto. Italy. 2012. $26.29
If you're serving a heavier red meat, like ribs or lamb with a slightly sweet sauce, opt for this spicy wine with ripe cherry flavours.
Wynn's Cabernet Sauvignon. Coonawarra. Australia. 2012. $20.99
This one is a pure classic that stands up beautifully next to a rib steak, which is Philip's personal favourite off the grill.
To hear the full interview with Barbara Philip, listen to the audio labelled: 4 wine pairings for your barbecued meats this summer.