BBQ & Wine Pairing

It is a fact that when most people think of a barbeque outing with friends they automatically think of beer.  Although, especially during the summer months, beer is great, you will be surprised to find out that there are several wines that go well with a barbecue and you can surprise your friends by offering wine with the bbq instead of beer.  They will discover how pleasantly it goes with your grilled food…

Like the hot weather in Cyprus, think of grapes that grow in hot climates. 

One main difference from the colder climates is that are grapes are ripen easily resulting to full-flavored wines that taste sweeter.  There is more residual sugar in wines from hot climates, these characteristics match with those found in barbecued food. The ripeness or sweetness in some wines also will balance the flavours of smoke and any heat or spice – just as sweet chutney balances hot curry.   

Wines that match barbecued food can match a multitude of foods, they are easy to find and are also inexpensive.  Moreover, you can chill most of these wines and still have enough punch to push with any food that has been above the coals for a length of time.  Being able to chill makes them suitable for summer too! 

According to Decanter magazine the top matches for classic barbecue dishes are:

Steak – Malbec, Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel

Burgers – Touriga Nacional, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Côtes du Rhone.

Sausages – Beer, Malbec, Southern French, Tempranillo

Chicken – Warmer climate Chardonnay

Pork Chops – Cider, Valpolicella, Barbera, New World Pinot Noir, dry rosé, Riesling

Salmon – Rosé Champagne or Cava, New World Pinot Noir, Gamay, dry rosé, New World Riesling, Pinot Gris

Halloumi – Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Chenin Blanc, Chablis, Friulano, Verdejo, Assyrtiko, New World Riesling, dry rosé, Prosecco

The Decanter magazine also recognizes that is not possible to have so many wines to cover all the dishes.  They propose some good all-rounders that tick many of the boxes needed to match a great barbecue and it can match a multitude of foods.  These are:

Malbec

New World Pinot Noir

Vins de pays whites and reds

Dry Rosé

New world Riesling

Methode Champenoise sparkling

Cypriot varieties, growing under the hot climate of Cyprus, tick all the boxes too… 

Spourtiko in its simple character, herbaceous and low alcohol is excellent especially during lunch time with salads and dips as is any Xynisteri with chicken and fish dishes. 

For a more complex matching and adding grilled meats to the equation, try a Promara or a Morokanella. 

Most Marathefitko can be chilled a bit and drunk young.  Its tannin will love the meat protein, and its acid can break any fat. 

Yiannoudi is a contender also for the Best Red for BBQ too. 

Moreover, one must not forget our intense pink colored rosés with ripe red fruit and spice!