Memorial Day Weekend is officially here, and outdoor drinking season has commenced once and for all. Enter barbecues, patio hangs, and every possible excuse to sip beneath the sun. As you gear up for grilling with friends this weekend, make choosing which wine to bring the easiest part of your plans. Stick with one of these seven bottles. All of them perfectly pair with your favorite barbecued treats. In fact, we’d recommend grabbing a few.
Tajinaste Blanco 2015
Crafted from 100-percent hand-harvested Listan Blanco grapes, this delicious dry white bursts with notes of green apple and tropical fruit. The wine’s bright acidity is sure to keep you refreshed while sipping in the heat. A gorgeous example of the unique wines coming out of the Canary Islands.
Berroia Txakoli 2015
The ripping acidity in this Txakoli is the perfect aperitif wine. Hailing from the Basque region of Spain, this Hondarrabi Zuri-dominant blend shows gorgeous notes of salinity and minerality. This bottle was made for warm- weather sipping.
Paumanok Dry Rosé 2015
Whoever said Provence was the only place for rosé has clearly never tasted Paumanok’s pink juice. A blend of 45 percent Cabernet Franc, 35 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20 percent Merlot, this low-alcohol sipper is deliciously refreshing, full of bright red fruit flavors.
Stolpman ‘Love You Bunches’ Carbonic Sangiovese 2016
Sangiovese from California made via carbonic maceration? We know, sounds crazy. However, this wine has seriously been some of the best juice we’ve tasted all year. Extremely light and crunchy, full of bright cherry and cranberry flavors. The high acidity in this red wine makes it a stellar choice for summertime guzzling.
Clos de Los Siete 2013
We know, we know — a big, bold red wasn’t exactly what you expected for a warm, summer weekend, right? But this robust red was made for all of those meats on the grill. This Malbec– dominant blend’s dark fruit and peppery notes pair flawlessly with ribs, brisket, and burgers.
Brendan Tracey ‘Le Capitalisme Rouge’ 2013
Not all reds need to be big and bold! This funky, natural red from the Loire bursts with flavors of tart red fruit; slight herbaceous notes make this wine a dream with vegetables on the grill. Throw a slight chill on it to really let the bottle shine.
Bodegas Garzon Tannat 2015
Despite being on the fuller-bodied side, this 100-percent Tannat from Uruguay is insanely juicy, brimming with flavors of ripe black fruit and tobacco. While delicious on its own, the wine is insane with smoked meats and tender steak.
