Although we still haven’t seen much BBQ weather, we Irish do live in hope and love nothing more than a good BBQ when the sun does shine. Below are some wine suggestions which will make a good BBQ great and make for a lovely evening aperitif!
On the BBQ: Seafood, Fish, Light Vegetarian accompaniments
What to Drink? Wolf Blass Yellow Label Sauvignon Blanc
Tell Me More… The fresh citrus and passionfruit notes are complemented by vibrant, refreshing flavours of lemon, grapefruit and passionfruit, all pulled together with a mouth-watering acidity and a bright, juicy finish.
What’s the Damage? €14.99, available from O’Brien’s, nationwide; Next Door Off-Licences, nationwide; Martins of Fairview, Dublin; Gerrys Supermarket Skerries, Dublin; Carpenters Off Licence, Castleknock; Dunnes, nationwide; Tesco, nationwide.
On the BBQ: Meat, meat and more meat!
What to Drink? Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes-du-Rhône
Tell Me More… Côtes-du-Rhône is one of the most classic barbecue wine matches out there, and Chapoutier’s Belleruche is one example that is far superior to some of the disappointingly bland generic Côtes-du-Rhône. Made mostly of Grenache and Syrah it has aromas of red morello cherries, liquorice and pepper. Its silky while also quite robust and is ready for any grilled meats thrown at it!
What’s the Damage? €15.49, available from O’Briens Wines; Molloys Off-Licences, Dublin; Next Door nationwide; Martin’s of Fairview, Dublin; The Vintry of Rathgar, Dublin; good independent off-licences nationwide
On the BBQ: Fish, White Meats, Vegetarian
What to Drink? Graham Beck Brut
Tell Me More… This South African sparkling wine has the same level of quality and depth as Champagne for a fraction of the price. It has a light yeasty aroma with tones of limey fresh fruit on the nose and a rich creamy complexity on the palate. It was enjoyed by both Nelson Mandela in 1994 and Barak Obama in 2008 to celebrate their respective inaugurations, and hey, if it’s good enough for them…!
What’s the Damage? €26.99, available from The Corkscrew, Dublin; Molloy’s Off-Licences, Dublin; Next Door Off-Licences, nationwide; and other good independent off-licences nationwide.
For the Splurge BBQ
What to Drink? Masi Costasera Amarone
Tell Me More… This is a wine that can be enjoyed with chunky barbecued meats but also on its own after a meal as a “contemplative” wine. The uniquely beefy dry wine can be enjoyed with grilled meats but also with hard cheeses and, of course, on its own late into the evening.
What’s the Damage? €45, available at O’Brien’s, nationwide; McHugh’s of Howth & Kilbarrack, Dublin; Fine Wines, Limerick; Molloy’s Off-Licences, Dublin; TheWineShop.ie; Dunnes, nationwide; Supervalu, nationwide.
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