To us, nothing feels like "summer" more than an evening spent grilling on the patio. Growing up, this meant all of our cousins driving out to our sunny Carmel Valley house to escape the Carmel fog. We've grilled just about everything that comes into season during the summer months and are always trying to find creative yet balanced wine pairings for each dish. Here are some of our go-to pairings featuring wines from one of our all-time favorite wineries from home, Morgan Winery. Now, grab those grilling tongs, a glass of your favorite wine, and let's get grilling!
xxx Ivy & Eve
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Chicken - Lightly Oaked Chardonnay
Nothing beats a lightly oaked Chardonnay with grilled marinated chicken. We love using refreshing citrus marinades and fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil to keep the flavors light, especially on hot summer evenings. Lightly oaked Chardonnay pairs great as it complements the mild flavor of the chicken and the slightly toasty flavors from the grill!
Veggie Skewers - Sauvignon Blanc
It's not summer without grilled veggie skewers! We love including fresh veggies from Ivy's garden, like summer squash, peppers, and tomatoes. A nice chilled Sauvignon Blanc pairs so well with grilled veggies because of its high levels of vegetal pyrazines, the compound that gives grassy or "bell peppery" notes to some wines.
Our pick: Morgan Winery 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
Salmon - Rosé
Rosé is the perfect companion to grilled salmon or any seafood, really! The fresh acidity from rosé cuts through the rich fattiness of salmon, while the lightly fruity notes complement (and don't overpower) the delicate flavors of many seafoods. Rosé also pairs well with lighter sides like fresh watermelon salad, pesto pasta salad, and lightly dressed greens!
Our pick: Morgan Winery 2022 Rosé of Grenache
Burgers - Petit Sirah
A massive juicy burger's bold, beefy flavor deserves to be paired with an equally bold wine like a Petit Sirah. This wine's dark fruit and heavy tannins can handle the fatty meat from a beef burger. Petit Sirah also pairs well with mushrooms, so a portobello mushroom burger works perfectly if you need a vegetarian option.
Steak - GSM
We love a classic tri-tip on the grill, and nothing pairs better than a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre blend) or another Southern Rhône-style red blend. GSM blends incorporate a nice balance of brambles, rosemary, and baking spice that enhance the flavors of the steak, while the acidity and rich tannins of the wine cut through the fattiness.
Our pick: Morgan Winery 2020 Cote Du Crows
Sausages - Syrah
Grilled pork or beef sausages are an excellent pairing for Syrah as the Syrah's punch of dark fruit on the palate and peppery afternotes match the bold flavors and spices in most sausages. We love pairing Syrah with spicy/sweet Italian sausages or something savory like garlic rosemary or cheesy portobello sausages.
Our pick: Morgan Winery 2021 G17 Syrah
BBQ Meats - Zinfandel
For those of you who love BBQ meats, we suggest pairing your meal with a glass of full-bodied Zinfandel. The Zin's rich and fruity palate balances the intensely smoky flavors of the BBQ. Zin's typically have higher alcohol content (14-17%), allowing them to hold up to the deeply hearty, fatty BBQ meats.
Mushrooms - Pinot Noir
We love grilling our favorite fungi, as grilling mushrooms enhances their savory, earthy flavors. This is a wonderful food pairing for our favorite varietal, Pinot Noir! A bright and fruit-forward Pinot Noir will lift the savory flavors of mushrooms, while a more terroir-driven Pinot will heighten the umami of the mushroom. Either way, we're game!
Our Pick: Morgan Winery's 2021 Twelve Clones Pinot
Fruits - Riesling
You can grill so many great summer fruits, but peaches are definitely our favorite! You can add them to salads, as a side to your grilled chicken and fish, or serve them alongside your favorite ice cream! We think grilled peaches and vanilla ice cream are the perfect ending to our summer meals. Riesling is a good pairing option for grilled fruit since it has harmonious notes of honeysuckle, citrus, and stone fruit. Depending on your mood, food course, or sweet tooth, you can purchase dry, off-dry, or sweet rieslings to pair with your dish.
