When I was growing up in central California, the Fourth of July meant ice cold watermelon, cookouts, a parade down Main Street, and fireworks at the community college stadium. And beer. Lots and lots of beer. I don’t remember anyone drinking wine with their burgers and ribs, even in California. But that was then. Today, wine is a familiar site at backyard barbecues across the country, and celebrating the birth of our nation in the nation’s capital with an assortment of red, white and sparkling wines is a great way to declare your own independence. Whether you plan on heading up to the lawn of the Capitol to listen to the National Symphony Orchestra and check out the amazing fireworks display on the Mall or kick back and enjoy the more intimate festivities of a local venue, it’s only fitting that wine come along for the patriotic ride. As Benjamin Franklin, one of our Founding Fathers put it, “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” I’ll drink to that.
Today, my sparklers are made up of bubbles instead of burns. The Non-Vintage Mumm Demi-Sec Sparkling Wine from Napa Valley, Calif., ($28) is a versatile and delicious bubbly. Just slightly sweet and sporting flavors of melon, creme brulee and bright citrus, it can stand alone as an aperitif or pairs beautifully with apple pie.
What better way to celebrate our independence than with a white wine that is all about liberty, like the 2009 Liberty School Chardonnay from Central Coast, Calif., ($12). The wine is made with a touch of new oak and the green apple and nectarine flavors stay bright and focused on the front of the palate. Notes of lemon/lime citrus lend a refreshing tanginess to the crisp finish.
Zinfandel is a great grape with characteristic of dark fruit and black pepper notes, it pairs well with grilled meats like steaks and ribs. Having just recently participated as a judge in the National Capital Barbecue Battle Rippin’ Ribs contest, I know I’ll be looking for the 2009 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi, Calif., ($12) the next time I cook up a batch of baby backs. Produced from tiny berries harvested from old “head trained” vines ranging in age from 35 to 80 years old, the wine features scents of blueberry jam and spicy pepper on the nose and flavors of black plum, dark cherry and vanilla in the mouth.
If you’re looking for a fun wine to enjoy with friends and fireworks, try the 2008 Bodegas Exopto Wine Cellars Big Bang from Rioja, Spain, ($18). This red wine is a blend of garnacha, tempranillo and graciano and offers up a nose of blackberry, dark cherry and cigar humidor. The explosion of flavor in the mouth features juicy notes of blackberry, cassis, tobacco, and earthy highlights. The bright acidity keeps the wine lively and fresh from start to medium-bodied finish.
The aptly named 2010 Ken Wright Cellars Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Ore., ($40) is another great choice. The fragrant bouquet of red berries violets on the nose is just a teaser for what’s in store for the mouth. This wine is deeply layered with intense-yet-velvety flavors of cherries, plums and baking spices throughout its wonderfully long finish. The medium-bodied frame offers just a touch of dark raspberry on the softly textured finish.
