Enjoy high summer outdoors with these flavourful wines, chosen to cope with all the spices and smoke you and your barbie can throw at them.
Beef
Don’t go for powerful reds. Best bets are medium-bodied Italian reds such as Chianti Classico or Dolcetto, or Cabernet Franc from France. For burgers or steaks served with hot mustard, easy-going Southern French red or Aussie Shiraz are ideal. BBQ beef recipes.
Domaine du Colombier Chinon 2008, France £5.99, Sainsbury’s. Good-value Loire red with pippily fresh raspberry fruit and hints of green pepper and blackcurrant leaf. Perfect for simple, barbecued steaks.
Peter Lehmann Shiraz 2008, Barossa Valley, Australia £8.69, Majestic. Great if your steak is very peppery or comes with mustard. Soft on the finish, it also works well with burgers.
Chicken
With herbs and a squeeze of lemon it goes with all kinds of wines, but my favourite match is Chardonnay. Try an affordable Burgundy version such as a Mâcon-Villages. For sweetish marinades you’ll need the richer flavours of a New World Chardonnay. BBQ chicken recipes.
Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Macon-Villages 2009, France £5.99. This has a rounded buttery note, as well as plenty of fresh citrus fruit. Great with simple barbecued chicken.
Nottage Hill Chardonnay 2009, SouthEast Australia £17.99 for 2.25 litres, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. This pineapple-flavoured Chardonnay is bang-on with sticky marinated chicken. The FreshCase winebox is great for a gathering.
Lamb
Barbecued lamb is made for red wine. Spanish Tempranillos, such as Rioja, go well with chops basted in garlicky olive oil with rosemary. Lamb kebabs with green pepper and onions suit a red with a fresh lift on the finish. Try Barbera from Italy. BBQ lamb recipes.
Cune Rioja Crianza 2006, Spain £8.99, Majestic. There’s a spicy note to this, as well as loads of wild strawberry and a subtly oaky, vanilla finish. A classic partner for lamb.
Vinchio-Vaglio I Tre Vescovi Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2007, Piedmont, Italy £7.99, Waitrose and waitrosewine.com Succulent red cherries and strawberries give this a summer berry style. There’s nutty oak and a clean finish – good with lamb and green peppers.
Pork
A herby, flame-grilled pork chop is ace with a southern French Merlot, but brush on barbecue sauce and an off-dry white is better – try medium Riesling, or demi-sec Vouvray. Barbecued sausages go well with high-quality, cherry-ish Beaujolais. BBQ pork recipes.
La Croisade Merlot Reserve 2009, vin de pays d’Oc, France £5.99, Majestic. The fruity Merlot grape suits barbecued pork chops. Here’s a great-value example from southern France, which delivers a gorgeous flavour of ripe, red plums.
Morrisons ‘The Best’ german riesling NV, Mosel £6.29. This slightly honeyed but lemony Riesling is typical of fine German white wine. It’s a clever choice for pork with sweeter barbecue sauces.
Seafood and fish
Salmon or tuna steaks go well with a rich white such as Chardonnay, or lightly chilled, delicate reds, especially Beaujolais-Villages and the less costly young Pinots. For prawns, crack open a bright, vivacious rosé – maybe a sparkler. BBQ seafood recipes.
Tierra y Hombre Pinot Noir 2009, Casablanca, Chile £6.49 (down to £4.99 until 5 September), Marks & Spencer. This refreshing young cooler-climate Pinot chills well – great with chargrilled salmon steak.
Blason de Bourgogne Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé NV, France £12.99, Waitrose. An appealing pink sparkler, mainly Pinot Noir, with a distinct raspberry tang. Wonderful with king prawns.