Wines for Summer Grilling

Memorial Day kicks off the grilling season for many of us. So why not celebrate the beginning of summer
with a little bit of Latin sabor on the
grill and in your glass? Lighting the grill brings out the carnivore in many of
us, so we look forward to a long season filled with grilled hanger steak, skirt steak, and burgers, all
made with our favorite south of the border seasonings. These are definitely red
wine foods, but we also like to keep a cooler or big bucket filled with bottles
of white wine, which are perfect to start things off or to enjoy alongside
grilled mahi mahi or vegetable pinchos.

We often turn to the
California section in our local wine shop to find a wide selection of palate
pleasing white wines.

Voss Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2013: This is a sophisticated, slightly savory
Sauvignon Blanc, featuring crisp, clean flavors of pink grapefruit, lemon, and
passion fruit with a lemon rind finish.

Byron Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2012: Aged in oak barrels, this Chardonnay offers
flavors of white peach and green fig with nice toasty notes. It is crisp and
clean in the mouth, with a nice vein of minerality.

Wild Horse Unbridled Chardonnay 2012: Bright on the first sip, with rich flavors of
lemon custard, Granny Smith apple, and a light sprinkling of spice; there is
something slightly wild on the tongue, no doubt from the whole bunch pressing,
but wood aging adds rich mouthfeel and a long finish.

Cuvaison Estate Chardonnay 2012: From the Carneros region of Napa Valley, this
tastes of ripe peach, dried apricot, and lemon sorbet. Aging in wood adds a
touch of vanilla spice, but the bright finish is perfect on a warm summer day.

When the time comes to enjoy
meat fresh off the grill, we head to Chile and Argentina for soul-satisfying
red wines… [pagebreak]

From Chile:

Undurraga Aliwen Reserva Cabernet
Sauvignon-Syrah 2011:
Offering the rich tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon and the bright fruit and spice
of Syrah, this wine from Chile’s Rapel Valley has flavors of raspberry and
blueberry with touches of clove and black pepper.

DeMartino Legado Syrah 2010: Syrah is one of our favorite varieties for
barbecue season and the DeMartino does not disappoint. Flavors of wild
blackberry and black cherry with a whisper of licorice are enclosed in a
mouth-pleasing web of velvety tannins.

Emiliana Natura Malbec 2012: This is simultaneously intense yet fresh and
fruity, thanks to the fact that only 20% of the wine is aged in oak barrels. Black
cherry and blueberry flavors are backed by a light sprinkling of ground pepper,
and the finish offers a refreshing splash of brightness.

From Argentina:

Alamos Cabernet Sauvignon 2013: This Cabernet from Mendoza has flavors of black
currant and blackberry with the faintest touch of bell pepper. It is luscious
and full in the mouth, with nuanced vanilla and baking spice notes on the
finish.

Don Miguel Gascon Colosal Red Blend 2012: Made from mostly Malbec blended with Bonarda,
Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine features flavors of black cherry,
fruits of the wood and chocolate with just a hint of menthol. Silky tannins
endure through the long yet surprisingly lively finish.

Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec 2011: The deep red cherry color is your first clue to
the opulent flavors of blackberry, black pepper, lavender, and thyme you will
experience when drinking this Malbec from Mendoza. A nice ripple of
butterscotch makes its way onto your palate just before the lively close.