Barbecue Wines
With a wet and cold May behind us, glorious weather has arrived. And I’m sure the barbecues are out. This can present a dilemma for wine-lovers: how do we select wines to match such a wide range of barbecue food? Here are a few tips:
Rosés: Much maligned even by some of my closest friends, rosés can provide a good match for chargrilled chickens, salmon, halloumi and dare I say, even a burger. I always avoid the confected strawberry flavours of sweeter rosés, but as long as you stay with dry or off-dry styles, they can be both refreshing and good with food. Le Bijou Rosé de Sophie Valrose is a light one from the Languedoc was a delightful blush pink, dry with enough fruit to give it some body and interest. Great value. Waitrose, £5.99
For a more full-bodied rosé, the Basilicata Rosato Le Ralle, Alovini 2020 is an Aglianico-based southern-Italian wine which has a fascinating profile: the Wine Society website says that it matches well with dishes such as meatballs and lamb stew, and it delivers great punch. The Wine Society, £8.95.
But if all this talk of the pink stuff is too much and all you want is a full-bodied red, then you can’t go wrong with Argentinian Malbec. Widely available in all supermarkets, Morrison’s The Best provides the perfect foil for the well-cooked (or burnt!) meats that furnish most bar-b-cues. Doesn’t have to be expensive, but if you pay more, you’ll get more intensity and full flavours.
Try Morrison’s The Best Malbec, currently on offer at £6.50 but still good value at £7.75.