5 wines to match your grilled food, including two affordable rosés

Posted May 08, 2018 5:00 am

By Dave McIntyre The Washington Post

Are we grilling yet? Here are five great wines to match bold, smoky foods that fill our plates this season. They include a minerally French sauvignon blanc; a delightful curiosity of a red from Italy; a gritty, juicy Spanish red and two pink wines to get the meal started.

Pierre Prieur & Fils Sancerre 2017

2.5 stars

Loire Valley, France, $23

Last year was a tough vintage throughout almost all of Europe, with late-spring frosts decimating the early vine growth and drastically lowering the volume of the crop. But quality was frequently outstanding after that. This delicious Sancerre is sauvignon blanc at its minerally best. Enjoy this with just about anything, but here's an insider tip: The area around Sancerre is also famous for its goat cheese. Alcohol by volume: 14 percent.

Carlone Davide Croatina Colline Novaresi 2016

2.5 stars

Italy, $22

Croatina is one of those obscure grape varieties that fill Italy's amazingly diverse vineyards. This red wine is intriguingly delicious - savory, with mushroom and dried cherry flavors, and hints of forest leaves. Enjoy this with roast meats and a lingering, after-dinner conversation. Alcohol by volume: 13.5 percent.

GREAT VALUE

Legado del Moncayo Garnacha "Montaña" 2016

2 stars

Campo de Borja, Spain, $14

Spain's garnacha remains the source of some of the best bargains in red wines. This rich, intense version is made from 40-year-old vines grown on a mountainside. Enjoy this with meats from the grill or smoker. ABV: 14 percent.

GREAT VALUE

Les Alliés Grenache Rosé 2017

2 stars

France, $12

This is a textbook rosé from southern France, with spicy aromas and flavors of strawberries and cherries. ABV: 12.5 percent.

GREAT VALUE

Seaside Cellars Vinho Verde Rosé 2017

1.5 stars

Portugal, $10

Simple, fresh and zesty with a slight spritz, this is a tasty wine to get your summer evening started. ABV: 11 percent.

Three stars exceptional, two stars excellent, one star very good

Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.

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