WINES FOR SUMMER

Let’s face it- with a back yard full of free-loading relatives who never manage to reciprocate your gourmet, three fire pits, star spangled BBQ’s, you don’t want to bring out a hundred dollar bottle of wine. On the other hand, you also don’t want to come off as a tight wad, so you don’t take out the $4.99, “look-at-what -I- found-in-a-bin-at-Costco” bottle of kosher wine. What to do?

Well, here are a few suggestions from KosherWine.com:

Kosher Wine provides the suggestions as well as the commentary.

Carmel Private Collection Chardonnay 2002
Justifiably many people have a negative view of Carmel wines. In past years, they were known for over production of tasteless wines. Today they are putting all of their energy into changing this stereotype and they are actually succeeding. This Chardonnay is medium to full bodied, smooth and flavorful. Expect to be surprised by this well styled wine.

Bartenura Soave 2002
Crisp, clean and delicate on the palate, with flavors of slightly under-ripe pineapple, and bright green apples, with hints of pear, grapefruit, and mango. This wonderful light to medium bodied dry is excellent with fish dishes or cold meats, and should hold up rather nicely to lighter poultry dishes, and other standard summer brunch fare.

Kolobarra Hills Shiraz Cabernet 2002
Barbecues require full flavored wines that compliment the smoky meat flavors. This wine is medium bodied, smooth and flavorful. With deep garnet color and soft lingering flavors, it is redolent with black cherry, spice and pepper and fine silky tannins.

Yarden Katzrin Chardonnay 2000
Yarden Katzrin Chardonnay, which is fermented and aged in new French oak barrels, exhibits the depth and richness of Chardonnay grown in the coldest reaches of the northern Golan Heights. The richness begins with its nose, which exhibits an aromatic blend of characters: ripe pears and apples, tropical fruits, hints of flowers, all layered with opulent oak. The intensity follows through in the flavor, which shows great concentration and leads to a long, satisfying finish. This wine can stand up to most full flavored barbecued meats. This one is also not so cheap, so serve it when the good friends come over, not when the family is glomming your food and lining their pockets with take-home goodies.

Finally, our own suggestion: when the company is good, break out the bottle of Blacksburg Pinotage. Well worth the cost, and your friends will ooh and ahh as they drink it.

Happy BBQ’ing!