Summertime means being outdoors, and barbequing is the quintessential summertime outdoor activity.  The wafting scent of beef, chicken or fish grilling is unlike any other cooking aroma and when you have a great bottle of wine open and ready to accompany the meal, it is a sensation that can transcend all others.  However, having the perfect food ready to eat does not mean picking any wine to serve.  Some of the same guidelines that steer us throughout the year still apply to BBQ.

Sparkling wines are seemingly always associated with a celebration of some sort whether it is a wedding or New Year’s Eve.  Actually, they are well suited for summertime enjoyment, seemingly able to quench the thirst and give more pleasure particularly ones produced by the Charmat method.  Their effervescence, crisp acidity and lighter weight make them wonderful dinner companions.  The sparkle gives an added element that counterbalances the spiciness in hot peppers and its crisp acidity cuts cleanly through dishes that are rich or a little oily.

Summer white wines fall into the same criteria as sparkling wines…they should be crisp, clean wines with vibrant, racy acidity that borders on a mouth-watering, thirst-quenching texture.  Leave behind those heavy, oak-dominated Chardonnays and try a crisp Sauvignon Blanc from BC or New Zealand.  A Riesling from BC or a Pinot Grigio from Italy or goes well with almost any grilled meat such as chicken, veal, pork, pheasant, turkey or quail.

Not so long ago, many wine-geeks looked down their noses at rosé or blush wines, describing them as “simple” and “lacking complexity”.  While this may be somewhat true in that they are not full-bodied red or lush white wines, the better rosés do have a complexity not found in other wines.

Rosés should fruity, with snappy acidity and have the freshness of a white wine with some of the tannins and depth of a red.  Crisp, dry rosés are becoming the trend and they are fantastic with typical summer fare, barbecues and picnics.  They are easy and light, perfect for a casual atmosphere, with a mild flavour and good acidity levels, allowing for pairing with a wide variety of foods.  They are best enjoyed chilled and therefore are refreshing on a warm/hot afternoon.  Try with mushroom caps stuffed with cream cheese, diced ham and chives.

Red wines are still the favourite for the backyard B-B-Q but instead of the heavy reds of winter opt for some of the lighter style reds that are available.  Zinfandels are the perfect summer red with most being soft and fruit-driven wines.  For grilled chicken or salmon fillets, go with a Pinot Noir.  Or try a Gamay if you having burgers, pasta or grilled Panini sandwiches.  It even goes with fish.

When choosing the wines, try not to make the mistake of picking wines that are too heavily oaked, or those with a combination of oak, smoke and spice.  These wines have a tendency to overwhelm the taste buds.  What you are aiming for is wines with ripe, juicy fruit flavours.

Wine Tip:

The main problem with summertime barbecues is keeping white wine and other drinks cool.  A couple of large buckets filled with ice, cold water and a ½ cup of salt should do the trick.  What the salt does is causes the ice to melt at a lower temperature so it stays colder longer.  Also, no wine tastes great if you leave it out in the sun so keep all your bottles, even reds, in the ice bucket.

Wine Picks:

The non-vintage Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir ($33) is a fantastic blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Revealing beautiful scents of sweet rhubarb, raspberry and cherry on nose with fresh, clean strawberry and cherry flavours and a consistent bead, this is an excellent match for fried appetizers such as calamari or light desserts such as crème brulée. Excellent on its own or with fresh fruit, the finish is clean and crisp and begs for another sip.

One of my fav Sauv Blancs is the 2011 Viña Chocalán Sauvignon Blanc ($16). It is loaded with aromas and flavours of very fresh, crisp pineapple, grapefruit, kiwi, passion fruit, peach and lime with racy acidity on the finish.  It’s a perfect match for goat cheese or a shellfish medley of oysters, clams, scallops, mussels, crab and shrimp.

One of the best white bargains around, the 2011 Cantina Tollo Pinot Grigio ($13/L) is the perfect Pinot Grigio for summer. A brilliant, straw yellow colour with a fresh floral bouquet combined with crisp red apple, citrus, mineral, white peach, creamy pear and toasted almonds. This is a light-styled Pinot Grigio, fresh and well balanced with good depth, fine acidity and balance with a long, attractive finish. Serve with shellfish, Paella, pasta or chicken salads.

The 2010 Orofino Riesling ($25) is sourced from the winery’s own 21-year-old vines and two neighbouring 3-4 year old Riesling vineyards.  A great tasting Riesling, look for buckets of fresh green apple, lime, white peach, pear, nectarine with hints of honey, clover, orange and mango.  The palate and texture is lush and juicy with intense orchard and tropical fruit and an almost creamy mouth feel due to some lees contact.  The finish is tart and crisp making this a perfect wine to pair with spicy Asian dishes or Indian curries.

The 2010 Calliope Rose ($17) is a delicious blend of Syrah with just a splash of Viognier.  Boasting fresh aromas of ripe Bing cherry, cranberry, red plum, with hints of orange blossoms, watermelon, and pomegranate, the palate has just a hint of sweetness but balanced by crisp acidity allowing the fresh citrus and red fruits to shine through.

The 2009 Jackson Triggs Rose ($13…reduced by $4) is a beautiful dark salmon colour with aromas of vibrant red cherry, plum, ripe strawberry aromas and hints of sweet red licorice, grapefruit, violets and orange blossoms.  The texture is soft, lush and juicy with the delicate fruit flavour of the better quality roses that can be found on the market.  Excellent as an aperitif or with simple barbeque or picnic fare.

A better than average barbecue red at a fair price, the 2010 Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel ($22) displays aromas of clove, white pepper, blueberry, and blackberry jam that leads into a mouthful of fruity blackberry, licorice, cedar, and sweet spice.  With the addition of little Petite Syrah, which gives it the characteristic supple tannins and concentrated fruit flavours, the wine displays more heft while maintaining an appealing, easy-drinking quality.