The Secrets of BBQ Wine Pairing
Nothing brings people together like the sizzle of a late summer BBQ and a glass of unforgettable wine. For those who love wine and food, a summer BBQ is a chance to make casual get-together even better with thoughtful wine pairings. The right wine can highlight smoky flavors, tame spicy marinades, and add something special that lingers long after the last bite. But choosing the right bottle for a diverse crowd in the heat of summer takes more than instinct; it calls for a little planning.
Start with the backbone of every BBQ: the food. It’s not just the protein, whether it be chicken, steak, seafood, but how it’s seasoned and served. Are you serving a citrusy marinated chicken breast? Pour a crisp white. Slather that same chicken in tangy BBQ sauce or Cajun spice, and you’ll want a wine with more body and depth. The same applies to everything on the grill: it’s the interplay of seasoning, smoke, and sauce that guides the pairing.
The second pillar of a great BBQ lineup is crowd appeal. Not everyone shares the same taste in wine, so look for bottles that are fruit-forward and versatile. A Montepulciano d’Abruzzo offers ripe fruit and a touch of oak, making it complex enough for aficionados, but approachable for newcomers. A Niagara Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend, brimming with black cherry and spice, pairs beautifully with both steak and stuffed peppers. And for those who lean bold, an Okanagan Syrah with plum, pepper, and smoky richness is an ideal partner to pepper steak or smoked sausage.
Don’t forget whites. While reds often dominate BBQ tables, a two-to-one ratio of reds to whites should match the preferences for your guests. Crisp whites with bright acidity, like Vinho Verde, shine with grilled seafood or citrusy marinades. Meanwhile, balanced reds with fruit, tannin, and a touch of oak (like those mentioned previously) can flex from burgers to mushroom kebabs.
Practical touches matter, too. Chill reds slightly (about 20 minutes in the fridge) so they stay refreshing in the late summer heat. Whites should be cool (take them out of the fridge 20 minutes before serving), but not icy to preserve their aromatics.
At the end of the day, wine pairing at the BBQ isn’t about rules; it’s about enjoyment, discovery, shared flavours, and laughter around the table. So the next time the grill is fired up, make the wine as memorable as the company.
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Ratings: 5 stars: Outstanding; 4 stars: Very good; 3 stars: Good; 2 stars: Moderately good; 1 star: Not very good, but not bad; No stars: Poor.
Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2023 ★★★½ $15.00 (LCBO)
Vinho Verde is Portugal’s gift to your gathering! Seek out bottles made with Loureiro and Alvarinho grapes; Alvarinho adds extra structure and integrates more fruit character. This particular wine is crisp and citrusy, finishing with a refreshing saline minerality. It’s delightful as an aperitif, pairs well with citrus marinated grilled chicken, and truly shines alongside BBQ seafood.
Niro di Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2021 ★★★½+ $18.95 (Vintages)
This red from Abruzzo delivers typical regional character with attractive aromas of ripe dark plum, stewed blackberry, and vanilla spice, underscored by earth and leather. On the palate, it’s a hair shy of full-bodied and dry with silky tannins. Pair it with grilled sausages with sautéed onions and peppers or a meat lover’s pizza cooked on a grill stone. For a vegetarian pairing, try it with BBQ mushroom kebabs.
Leaning Post Cuvée Winona 2020 ★★★★ $28.95 (Vintages)
Make your BBQ standout with this excellent Niagara red. It’s a beautifully crafted blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc bursts with layers of black cherry, plum, tangy red currant, a hint of white pepper, and subtle cigar box spice. It’s dry, just shy of full-bodied with smooth tannins that make it a pleasure to grace your get together. Match it with marinated BBQ sirloin or grilled stuffed peppers.
Tinhorn Creek Oldfield Reserve Syrah 2018 ★★★★ $40.00 (online or winery)
This red shows why the Okanagan is gaining a reputation for Syrah. It’s dark, full-bodied, and delicious, offering layered notes of plum, dried berries, smoked meat, cracked black pepper, vanilla, balsamic, and aged leather. After Sandra Oldfield sold the estate a few years ago, it was renamed Tinhorn Creek Reserve Syrah. The 2018 is sold out, but 2021 is available shipped from the B.C. winery. Amazing with BBQ pepper steak or smoked cheddar sausage.
Sidewood Stablemate Shiraz 2021 ★★★½+ $17.95 (Vintages)
This bottle is a throwback to the Shiraz styles we fell for in the 1990s. Redolent with blackberry, plum jam, and black pepper, it layers in hints of basil and nutmeg for added intrigue. Full-bodied and fruit-forward, it’s dry with moderate tannins and a friendly dose of vanilla rounding it out. This is a guaranteed crowd pleaser for your next BBQ. Bring on the burgers and steaks.