By Andrew B. Campbell

Drink wine with BBQ! We all know a bottle of suds tastes great on a hot day after mowing the lawn on a steamy hot Saturday afternoon, but wine should be served with your BBQ.

My standard rules apply when matching wine with BBQ (white with seafood, red with everything else, rosé with both), but really there are no rules! Drink what you like! Don’t make your wine pairing with BBQ complicated!

Drink what you like with the food you are preparing on the grill. If you like white wines, then drink white with virtually anything this summer. If you like red wines, then do the same. Probably the best wines to pair with BBQ would be rose, or blush wines. Some are lighter in style, with vibrant citrus flavors similar to crisp whites. Others are heavier, with red fruit flavors and tannin (to go with those stick-to-your-ribs babybacks).

Here are some of my favorites to match with your BBQ fare:

Wyndham Shiraz Bin 555 2005 (Australia) $10 Dark blueberry and bright cherry flavors linger on this outstanding value from down under! A ton of wine for the money, this will go great with a variety of grilled meats!

BR Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon “Silver Label” 2005 (California) $20 Racy black currant, plum and blackberry flavors make this North Coast a dandy! It has firm structure to stand up to grilled lamb, but also a soft, smooth finish. Again, a very versatile wine to match with many grilled foods, but especially good with steaks!

Edna Valley Chardonnay 2007 (California) $12 Bright tropical fruit flavors, with pineapple, citrus and a balance of cream and crispness on the finish. This is one of the Northwest’s best-selling chardonnays for a reason…Try this with your grilled halibut!

Brazin Zinfandel Old Vines 2006 (California) $20 Plum, raisin and dark cherry notes make this a great match with BBQ ribs, and especially the sauce the ribs are slathered in!

Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel “Heritage Vines” 2007 (California) $15 A different style of zin: more complete and round. It has smooth, up-front flavors of raspberry and cherry that are focused and linger all the way through the long, velvety finish. The excellent length and balance make this a great match with anything from grilled pepper steak to BBQ chicken.

Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio 2007 (Italy) $9 Made in the town of Trento, though the grapes are from the “Dolomiti” region surrounding the town, this little gem has great viscosity, crisp lemon and almond notes and a zippy, tangy finish. Great with grilled prawns!

Terrazas Malbec 2007 (Argentina) $12 One of the many gems from Argentina these days, I like this for the bright berry and vanilla notes, with a finish of chocolate. Superb with a juicy steak!

Hugel Gentil 2006 (France) $12 A blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Pinot Gris and Muscat grapes, this is a dry white blend from Alsace. “Gentil” translates to “field blend”. It is France’s version of a popular “puzzle” wine that will not disappoint! It has floral notes and spicy apricot, citrus and mineral flavors that will pair nicely with shrimp and salmon.

Jaboulet “Parallel 45” Rosé 2008 (France) $12 Crushed cherry and peach flavors are fantastic on this medium-bodied rosé from the Rhone. Great viscosity, a nice touch of tannin and firm acidity make this an exquisite match with almost anything from the grill! Chill, grill and chill!

Kestrel Rosé 2007 (Washington) $14 A full-bodied brute, this is made from Sangiovese and has a full cherry and berry note, with a tannic spine the finishes nice and soft. A stunner!

Chateau d’Esclans “Whispering Angels” 2008 (France) $20 From one of the most beautiful regions in the world, Provence. This has a beautiful salmon hue, with notes of delicate white peach and citrus, with a smooth, mineral-laden finsh. Believe it or not, this is the entry level to this estate, with rosé ranging from this fabulous one at $20, all the way up to an oak-aged colossal at $140!

Cheers!

Andrew Campbell is Executive Editor for WineSquire.com