Picture this: you’re manning the grill as July’s fire radiates from every surface while your guests clutch the same tired Sauvignon Blanc everyone brings to every barbecue. There’s got to be a better way to cool down – and there is, if you’re brave enough to ditch the wine comfort zone.
Sure, any chilled bottle offers relief when the thermometer soars, but only a rebellious few can transform your backyard grill session into the kind of party people still talk about come September.
You’re already grilling comfort food – why play it safe with comfort wines? It’s July, the coals are glowing, and it’s time to raise a glass to culinary adventure.
My recent treasure hunt with Stephanie Miskew at Highlands Wine Shoppe yielded these gems – proof that our Plateau shops harbor secrets worth discovering.
Yes, there’s comfort in reaching for Beaujolais rosé or the usual brut, but alongside these crowd-pleasers lurk genuine wine rebels: bottles crafted from grapes like Vernaccia, Müller Thurgau, Grignolino, and Zweigelt. These varieties ruled their European homelands for centuries while remaining America’s best-kept secrets. Time to spill those secrets.
Toscolo Vernaccia di San Gimignano arrives with serious pedigree – this Tuscan troublemaker was already legendary when Dante was scribbling poetry. One sniff unleashes saffron staging a coup against coriander, while cumin tangos with toasted pine nuts. Kiwi and pear join the chaos.
Oregon’s Anne Amie Estate Müller Thurgau produces liquid sunshine: key lime doing cartwheels with star fruit while orange zest applauds. The dry mineral finish cuts through barbecue sauce like a sommelier’s secret.
Domaine Dupeuble Beaujolais Rosé needs no introduction—just add summer and watch cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb, and thyme throw their garden party.
Austria’s Paul Achs Zweigelt Burgenland breaks all the summer rules – red, bold, and utterly refreshing when chilled. This Burgenland maverick delivers raspberry grenades and red plum fireworks with enough forest floor mystery to make your steak jealous.
Italy’s Gignolino D’Asti Machesi Incisa Della Rocchetta from Piedmont whispers cranberry poetry and wild strawberry prose. This is simply fun drinking, with punchy, bright flavors that deserve to be chilled.
Paula Kornell Brut Rosé brings Napa Valley swagger where citrus high-fives peach while brioche provides the elegant backdrop.
Remember: different shops across our Plateau guard different secrets. Today’s discovery could be tomorrow’s dinner party legend. Why settle for predictable when rebellion tastes this good?
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