Be Sure to Include Wine at Your Next Barbeque

2008 has been kind of a bizarre year for weather in the Northwest, hasn’t it? Snowfall in April, a fairly gloomy spring, and then plenty of cool, drizzly days earlier this month. To top it off, skyrocketing gas prices make it difficult to justify any kind of travel to a warm-weather getaway.

But summer has arrived – at least the calendar says so – and one way to make it at least feel summery is to fire up the barbeque and pop the cork on a good bottle of wine. Before you begin, keep this barbequing tip in mind: don’t slather too much hickory smoke sauce on your meats or overdo your other seasonings and spices. By keeping these down to a reasonable level, you’ll be able to enjoy a much broader range of wines to accompany the foods you serve.

For starters, grill up some vegetables such as zucchini or corn on the cob and pair them with a chilled white wine. I suggest the Waterbrook Winery 2007 Pinot Gris (about $12) from the Columbia Valley. It has a beautiful aroma of fresh pears, plenty of bright, melon flavors, and a big, brisk finish. The wine is well distributed and available at several local grocers.

The Gouguenheim 2006 Malbec (about $12) from Argentina’s Mendoza region is a super barbeque wine. Loaded with dark, spicy fruit flavors and backed by firm tannins, it pairs nicely with a variety of grilled meats such as burgers, steaks or ribs. I picked up my bottle at the Old World Deli in Bellingham, located at 1140 North State Street.

And what would a barbeque be without a nice bottle of syrah? Dusted Valley Vintners 2006 Stained Tooth Syrah (about $24) is a real treat from the Walla Walla winery. This tasty, medium-bodied red wine has layers of dried cherry flavors followed by nuances of smoke and spice. It’s a natural to pair with lamb chops or can easily be enjoyed on it’s own; so kick back and dream about sunny days to come. Dusted Valley wines can be ordered through Compass Wines in Anacortes and area Haggen stores.