By Vic Poulos
It’s summer and time to throw the hotdogs, hamburgers and chicken on the grill! But what about your wine craving? Just because you are having hot dogs, hamburgers and perhaps grilled barbecue chicken does not mean you have to put the wine down and grab a beer. Wine pairs well with all three. Do you often see the “Juarez Dog” street stand and can’t resist the urge? Take a Juarez Dog home and prepare to eat that wonderful hot dog with the right bottle of wine.
Do you like a plain hot dog with mustard and ketchup only? Bring out the E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone to drink with it. A bold and peppery, yet not overpowering wine, the combination is fantastic.
Depending on the accoutrements, hot dogs pair well with light Barbera wines, Beaujolais, Gamay, Merlot and even a light Oregon Pinot Noir. If you like relish on your hot dog, then consider a Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio to pair. If you can, pair your dog with a German Kabinett Riesling. I think you will find the pairing remarkable! Lastly, if you are outside cooking and eating on a hot day, don’t forget the Rose wine, chilled nicely, as it helps open up the flavors of the hot dog and is a refreshing winner.
For the Chicago style hot dog with all the trimmings, including relish and pickles, I recommend a hearty Merlot or even a Zinfandel. But remember as well, that nothing is worse on a hot summer day than a hot, flabby red wine. Chill the wine to around 50 to 55 degrees to enjoy it with your grilling.
If you are flipping burgers as well, the toppings and side dishes make a difference.
Consider a properly chilled Beaujolais wine, especially if you enjoy your hamburger with ketchup. Even a nice Chianti pairs well, as does a Cotes du Rhone or light to medium Pinot Noir.
Adding cheese to the burger? This sometimes calls for a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Pinot Noir to balance the flavors. If adding bacon, then a Rioja, with its smokey flavor from Spain is a nice pairing with a hamburger. Heavy on the mustard, then actually consider a nice sparkling wine for a change.
No time to cook, so the drive thru Mac Donald’s Big Mac is being ordered?
Clearly pair that burger and sauce with a Beaujolais, Cabernet/Shiraz blend, or a nice Zinfandel.
Is grilled barbecue chicken being prepared for those who don’t like burgers or hot dogs? This summer favorite calls for a Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay or Riesling. Add a hot sauce to the chicken, then try a Shiraz, Syrah or Zinfandel. They all pair nicely! Again, the German Riesling is a never miss!
One must also consider summer side dishes when cooking on the grill.
After offering a wine that pairs with the hot dogs, chicken or hamburgers, if you are serving a potato salad (mustard based), then pair as you would your hot dog or hamburger or chicken.
Otherwise, with a mayonnaise potato salad, consider a German Reisling, Albarino, Pinot
Gris for Alsace or an Italian Pinot Grigio or Arneis.
Keep in mind that sweeter wines pair better with spicy sides and work well to offset the heat. German Rieslings or a Gewurztraminer hit the spot on all of the above. If you are dedicated to only red wines, then look for less tannic varietals like red Zinfandel or Beaujolais.
Are salads being served? As a general rule, salad with vinaigrette dressing is notoriously difficult to pair with wine. Vinegar is essentially over ripened wine – so it is difficult to pair with a good wine. Substitute a lemon juice based dressing or even ranch dressing to pair with wine. A great pairing on salad and ranch dressing– try Sauvignon Blanc or Albarino.
Most importantly, don’t let the grilling mean “beer only.”
Experiment and enjoy the wide varieties that work well. Just keep the wines chilled and flowing! Summer is still a great time to enjoy your favorite wines and give yourself an excuse to try some of those wines you haven’t tried!
Salud!
