PRP wine to pair with 4th of July barbecue recipes

June 26, 11:18 PMSan Diego Food ExaminerAlice Louise Karow

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the San Diego Food Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

While wine may seem like an unlikely partner to smoky ribs, chicken or burgers on the barbecue grill, this weekend, PRP Wine in Mira Mesa, offers a wine tasting event just in time for 4th of July.

For marinating meats before grilling, wine is a perfect solution since the acidity will help tenderize meats and also help accentuate their flavors. Wine is also great as an ingredient in barbecue sauce. Barbecued Chicken with Mustard calls for a tablespoon of white wine and barbecue pro at About.com, Derrick Riches makes a Chipotle and Red Wine Barbecue Sauce that calls for 1/3 cup of red wine. As always, when cooking with wine, if it’s unfit for drinking, it’s unfit for cooking! Inexpensive “cooking wine” may seem like a bargain, but the results will likely be disappointing.

When choosing a wine to drink with barbecue, consider the sweetness, acidity and spice in the barbecue sauce. Another consideration is how formal the occasion may be. A casual table wine may be better suited to a backyard barbecue than a high end, collector's wine! In addition, consider what kinds of wines your guests already enjoy. The time of year also comes into play: during summer's warm weather, a chilled white wine may be the perfect choice!

White wine varietals with broad appeal that will pair nicely with barbecue include Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Riesling. Among reds, Rhone wines or wines containing Syrah (Australian Shiraz), Grenache (Spanish Garnacha) or bold California Zinfandel will work nicely. German late harvest whites, Spatlese and Auslese and Hungary’s Tokaj are naturally sweeter and will pair beautifully with robust and spicy barbecue flavors.

The best way to choose wine for any occasion is by tasting it first. This Thursday through Sunday, June 25 - 28, PRP Wine is holding a casual wine tasting and clearance sale at their Mira Mesa location, 6150 Lusk Blvd. #B-105, San Diego, CA 92121. For a $5 tasting fee, guests can sample over 40 wines from around the world and make their purchase by the bottle or the case.

For more information, and to schedule a private wine tasting call Richard Stone at 858-866-0880.