Wines For Your Fourth Of July Celebration

Fourth of July is a time for celebration. Picnics, cookouts, clam bakes and fun with the family. At these events you will certainly have great food and hopefully have some great wines. In this brief post, I will share with you some easy to find tasty wines that you can pick up for your festivities on Wednesday. I hope you enjoy the wines and have fun with them at your 4^th of July celebration.

We will start with the whites. The first recommendation is from Portugal. The 2011 Esporao "Duas Castas" for $13 is a steal. It is a perfect wine for a clambake. It is made from 50% Semillon and 50% Viosinho. I awarded it 90 points. You will find its mineral infused Anjou pear flavors with notes of white pepper and a hint of green apple go perfectly with steamers or mussels with drawn butter. Yum!

Sauvignon Blanc is a classic summer wine. The 2011 Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa is a perfect option to consider. At $15 it is also a good value. The flavor profile is a tasty green apple, lime, and pineapple blend and nicely integrated minerality. It is a pleasant offering and it is rather refreshing, which makes it perfect for summer. I would pair this lively Sauvignon Blanc grilled garlic chicken or previously mentioned steamers with drawn butter.

We always have to recommend a Chardonnay. This one from Joseph Carr is very enjoyable and a real crowd pleaser. The 2010 "Josh" Chardonnay is medium bodied, balanced, and round. We really enjoyed its gentle pear flavors with hints of apple, light oak, and some apricot towards the end. We would suggest that you serve it cool, not cold for the maximum benefits. It is also a deal at $14.

On the red side, we will start with the 2009 Columbia Crest "H3" Merlot for $15. This good value merlot is perfect for barbecues. I found it to be medium bodied, balanced, and easy to drink. Its flavor profile is a mild blueberry with notes of plum and vanilla oak. Pair it with a bacon burger smothered with sautéed onions and provolone cheese.

Another good burger wine with an Old World personality is the 2009 Perrin et Fils "Cotes du Rhone Villages" for $15. This tasty wine is made from 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. It is medium bodied, smooth, and also very easy to drink. I enjoyed its many complex flavors. Those were mild black currant with notes of mineral, old oak, black olive, and a touch of fig as well. With this one, I would change up the burger a bit and go with a grilled Angus bacon burger with sautéed mushrooms and Swiss.

Our final wine is a bit on the pricy side, however, it is Excellent! It was by far the best Zinfandel based wine that I covered this year. The 2009 Paraduxx "Z Blend" for $48 would be a perfect match for many foods. However, if you are planning on stepping up your Fourth of July celebration and serving some high end steaks, look no further than this wine as the perfect option. It is full bodied, ridiculously smooth and silky. I loved its delicious blueberry flavors with nicely integrated mild oak with notes of black cherry, plum, and a dash of black pepper. This wine will certainly make your Fourth of July one to remember.

You can pick up many of these wines at Colonial Spirits in Acton. Enjoy the Fourth!

Cheers - Ken