🧃Juicy wines for every MDW activity

Wine recommendations to pair with your long weekend vibe

May 26, 2023

I am so ready for this long Memorial Day weekend. With official start to summer season, I am here to help you kick it off with the perfect glass (or bottle) in hand. No matter your weekend vibe, I’ve got you covered — whether you're firing up the grill, passing out on the beach, picnicking in the park, planning a dinner party, or scavenging a suburban grocery store for a passable bottle to bring to your parent’s house. From juicy reds to crisp whites and refreshing rosés, I’m handpicked the ideal bottles to pair with your weekend plans.

Firing up the grill

It’s finally rooftop season — or I suppose backyard season for those who don’t live in a 600 sqft apartment. The best pairings really depend on what you are grilling but here are some good guiding principles:

Burgers and steaks

We are looking for a fuller bodied red with fuller fruit and pepper notes as a complimentary pairing. The tannins and body of these wines can stand up to a fatty and salty cheeseburger burger.

Chianti (which is made from Sangiovese)
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Rioja (which is made from Tempranillo)
Northern Rhône regions of Saint-Joseph or Crozes-Hermitage in France (which is made from Syrah)

Chicken

Chicken can be a bit of a blank canvas so you should really think about complimenting whatever seasoning or sauce you are using in your dish. For example, BBQ chicken is great with a rosé or an off dry riesling — the added body and slight sweetness can help cut the spicy and richness of the BBQ sauce. As a more general recommendation, chicken is a great match for a dry white wine with some citrus notes like a Grüner Veltliner or Sauvignon Blanc an unoaked Chardonnay.

Fish & seafood

For grilled fish, shellfish, and other seafood, look for zippy, high acid whites

Albariño from Portugal or Rias Baixas, Spain
Friuliano is a great option for Sauvignon Blanc lovers - typically from the northern Italian region of Friuli or Slovenia
Crisp Austrian Grüner Veltliner (bonus points since this one is typically sold by the liter!)

Beach

There is nothing better than enjoying a bottle (or can!) of wine with your sand between your toes. Rosé is definitely a go-to for me. They are dry, super drinkable, and a fantastic color compliment to the scenery (it’s a vibe). Rosé also offers a great spectrum of flavor profiles, giving you a bit more vibrancy and punchiness than what you typically find in a white wine.

Avaline Rosé ($24) is fairly easy to find and a great refreshing option
Ramona! Wine Spritz is a fun, refreshing beach option - and you can’t pass up the ease of canned wine at the beach
Meinklang Prosa Sparking Rosé ($17) - such a good value, I buy this again and again
Vichingo Vermentino Macerato ($25)

Picnic or aperitivo time

I am bee lining for chilled reds this weekend. These are so much easier to pack along for a picnic because they really just need a light chill to make them pop. I’m stressed just thinking about keeping a Sauvignon Blanc at temperature for hours in a park. Unless you’ve got one of those overpriced Yeti coolers, a chilled red feels like the safer bet.

Recommendations

Beaujolais (or any Gamay) for something fairly easy to find
Pinot Noir from France or the Willamette Valley

Here are some more specific bottles I love if you are in a more well stocked wine shop

Orange wines are also great - the added body make these pretty versatile and food friendly while still having enough uniqueness to enjoy on their own!

Get all my 🍊 wine recommendations here if you missed my previous post!

Desperate in a grocery store or bodega

During holidays visiting, I too frequently find myself desperately wandering the aisles of a big box grocery store looking for something passable to drink. Getting out of the city for a relaxing weekend has its benefits but wine selection is not typically one of them. Next time you are out in the suburbs looking for a low risk crowd pleaser, here are some of my more reliable go-tos.

Provence rose is a go-to for me. It is consistently bone dry but with fruit notes like raspberry and current to keep things more interesting than what you will find in a $12 Pinot Grigio
Cava (or other sparkling wine) is the other reliable option I grab. They are great on their own or even better as a spritz. I’m loving a Spritz made with Lillet lately!
Other whites I’ll grab if I see them: Muscadet, Grüner Veltliner, or Albariño. These are all consistently dry and refreshing, even at lower price points.
Reds can be trickier in my experience. I’ll typically look for a Nebbiolo blend (like a Langhe Rosso) or a Beaujolais Village or Pinot Noir from Louis Jadot. I like throw them in the fridge for 10-15 mins before serving, especially if I end us with something a bit sweeter than I wanted (the colder a beverage, the less we perceive the sweetness!)

Hosting or attending a dinner party

I’ve got one word: Magnums! This is my go-to party trick. who doesn’t love showing up and being greeted with a comically oversized bottle of juice? Magnums can actually be a good value and they are the fastest way to set a fun and rowdy (in the best way) vibe.

Raventós I Blanc Anoia de Nit Rosé, 1.5 L ($60) - another go to, this is a fantastic value for $60
Envinate Lousas, 1.5L ($92), incredible Mencía from Spain, pairs incredibly well with food, complex but light/medium body.
Domaine de la Patience, 1.5L ($25) 🚨You read that right! $25 for a mag! This is a funky, natural, light bodied red, best served chilled

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