There's nothing like firing up the grill to enjoy one of the last warm days of summer, whether you're making grilled pork chops, grilled ribs, or something else entirely. And, to complete the meal, a glass of wine can make the perfect accompaniment. The only catch is knowing which wine to pair with which meat can be a bit of a challenge.
Daily Meal spoke with Andrew Elder, sommelier of Washington, D.C.-based Jônt , to provide some essential wine pairing tips and insight into which wine to pair with grilled meats.
Elder explained that even if you're using all barbecue-style meats, the wines you pair with them can differ quite a bit. He notes that red wines can work particularly well with pork and beef flavors, while if it's white meat you've whipped up on the grill, a rosé might be a better pick . With pork and beef, red is your best friend One succulent choice to cook on the grill is barbecue ribs, a meat with an unexpectedly recent history in the United States .
Andrew Elder says that a zinfandel can work well if this is your meat of choice. Zinfandels are red wines with fruity and smoky tasting notes that can bring out the smoke from the grill and the sweet taste of the pork. They also have prominent black fruit flavors, such as plums, blackberries, and cherries, among other fruity flavors.
Elder notes that when choosing a zinfandel, you'll want to pay attention not just to the tasting notes but also to the age of the wine, suggesting you look for one that's 3-5 years o.