This July 4th, let’s celebrate our freedom from boring food and drinks. We’re rolling into the holiday weekend the only way we know how: with wine! Meet us in the backyard for a menu of simple summer staples with wines that will wow.
The suggested pairings below were inspired by the red, white and blue of the American flag as well as ingredients that are at their best this time of year.
Red
Tarapacá Carmenère with salmon
For our first “red” pairing, red wine with grilled protein was the obvious play. While we’ll never turn down cabernet and a nice steak, we want to start off bold.
The expressive and intense Tarapacá Carmenère has fresh vegetal notes and ripe fruit aromas. Plums, black cherries and blackberries dance with fresh violets, cloves, dill, vanilla and black pepper. This Carmenère comes from Maipo province, the finest wine-producing region in Chile.
Pair this wine with a nice oily fish like salmon and watch for fireworks!
Moon Tree Moscato D’Asti and strawberry shortcake
Let’s flip the script for wine number two! We have a delectable red dessert with the always delicious Moon Tree Moscato D’Asti.
Take advantage of the end of strawberry season and get some fresh berries. Strawberry shortcake is an exceptional summer dessert. The sweet and tart strawberries interplay with the light and delicate flavors of the shortcake.
Bring in a glass of Moscato D’Asti for even more summer bliss. Moon Tree Moscato D’Asti is gently sweet with peach, mango and lemon notes. This is a dessert pairing so irresistible your guests will be lining up for seconds.
White
Moon Tree Sauvignon Blanc and grilled veggies
Add some simple, seasonal bliss to your menu with fresh vegetables on the grill. Your guests will appreciate a healthier option, especially one that tastes this good with wine.
A mix of flavors and textures like zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper and onion will pop with a lemon-based marinade. Before your guests even arrive, chop and marinate your veggies. When it’s time to cook, throw the lot on the grill until lightly charred on both sides.
Next, pour some glasses of Moon Tree Sauvignon Blanc and enjoy. The crispness and tropical fullness of the wine will happily play up the fresh liveliness of the grilled veggies.
Unico Pinot Grigio and a patriotic ice pop
Warning: This pairing may cause extreme nostalgia for the ice cream truck of your childhood. Our next white wine is paired with a classic red, white and blue ice pop. These tri-color treats — known as Bomb Pops or Firecrackers — have refreshing cherry, citrus and blue raspberry flavors.
The fragrant and crisp Unico Pinot Grigio is up to the challenge of this tart and unconventional Fourth of July pairing. This Pinot Grigio — grown in northeast Italy — is bursting with ripe fruit and apricot aromas.
Blue
Brotherhood Riesling and berry salad
Our first “blue” pair features a double whammy of blueberries and a blue bottle. Well, more than blueberries. In the same vein as the grilled vegetables, we’re recommending a summery fruit salad. It’s healthy, but by no means boring. Fruit like blueberries, blackberries and strawberries meld together nicely with a juicy combination of sweet and tart.
Now onto that blue bottle: Brotherhood Riesling. This Finger Lakes riesling expertly balances its off-dry character and crisp finish. Plus, it has all the characteristic fruitiness of its namesake grape. Brotherhood Riesling will complement and enhance the dark, tart berries.
Moon Tree Petite Sirah with Camembert cheese
There’s nothing actually blue in this pairing, but our wine has strong blueberry notes, so that counts. Moon Tree Petite Sirah leads with blueberry, blackberry and a touch of cranberry. The 2018 vintage was aged in a French and American oak, which coaxed out warm spices and vanilla.
A good rule when pairing wine and cheese is to match intensities. A sharp cheese will override a muted wine, just as a bold wine will steamroll a subtle cheese. For our Fourth of July pairing, we’re going with an offering that’s as courageous as declaring independence.
Baked Camembert with garlic and thyme is funky and full of umami. The Petite Sirah brings its own earthiness to the pair, but rounds out the combination with its berry-forward flavor.
We hope you have a safe and happy July 4th!