Fun Wines for a Memorial Day BBQ
By: Sarah Chappell
Published: May 27, 2011

It's time to put aside your work and get ready for a weekend in the sun. As you grab some last-minute wines for your Memorial Day cookouts, consider these fun cookout pairings:
Gewürtztraminer
If your ideal BBQ is hot and spicy, try this crisp white wine. Mostly from Alsace, Germany, and Northern Italy, Gewürtztraminer's spicy and floral notes will pair well with robust grilling sauces, and it has plenty of refreshing acidity.
Rosé
A big, ripe and fruity rosé, even one with a hint of sweetness, is ideal if you have a sweet marinade or BBQ sauce on your meat. The small amount of sugar in the wine will help it to stand up to the hefty grilled meat, while being cool and refreshing for outdoor drinking. Look for one made of Nerello Mascalese from southern Italy or Sicily.
Pinotage
This grape, engineered specifically for South Africa, is noted for it's smoky aromas. While they can be overwhelming on their own, a Pinotage is perfect with some charred or pit-smoked meat.
Syrah
Going the hamburger route? A Northern Rhône Syrah with it's leather and tobacco notes wrapped up in blackberry fruit is an ideal match. It you prefer your wines richer and with more luscious fruit, try Syrah's Down Under version Shiraz.