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PrintRed, white and blue
Celebrate the Fourth of July with sips of every color.
The Fourth of July is upon us. On this special day, fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, baseball games and ceremonies will abound — and with them consumption of beer, ’ritas, cocktails and wine. The word “celebration” is translated to “it is perfectly OK to knock back a few of whatever strikes your fancy — in full public view — without being frowned upon.”
So, what to drink?
The Fourth of July celebration usually starts early in the day. The perfect picnic wines include lighter white and red wines.
Good choices for white wine are:
Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, Gruner Veltliner, Riesling and Chenin Blanc.
Great red choices include:
Pinot Noir, Grenache (from France, the United States, Australia and Spain), Tempranillo (Rioja from Spain), Sangiovese (Chianti from Italy) and Cru Beaujolais (Gamay grape).
My other top choices for pre-5 p.m. drinking are rosé wines, dry or off-dry, and beer. Rosé is killer in these summer months with lively flavors of strawberries and raspberries. There is also Marshall’s pale ale or a refreshing IPA.
After 5, you can move into the heavier styles of wine. The grills are lit, hickory and mesquite aromas abound, and where there’s smoke, there is wine standing by to enhance the experience.
Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are great choices for your evening meal because both can have lots of smoky overtones. Other choices are Syrah and red Zinfandel with their spicy and jammy-rich berry-fruit flavor profile.
Sips around town
Full Moon Café
1525 E. 15th St., 583-6666
General Manager Susan Butcher has a great summer recommendation — the Bluetini. It is made with Malibu rum, blue curacao, a splash of pineapple and a splash of grenadine for $8. It’s perfect for sitting out on Full Moon’s patio.
Lucky’s
1536 E. 15th St., 592-5825
Owner Matt Kelley loves the Big Fire Pinot Gris for $9 a glass and $36 a bottle. “It’s the perfect white wine for hot summer months,” he says. Kelley also raves about Charles Smith’s K Vintners Motor City Kitty Syrah for $90 a bottle. “It’s simply smashing,” he says.
Sips at home
Kaboom!
Boom Boom Syrah 2008, Washington state — $17.49
Get the evening’s excitement growing with this explosively rich and jammy Syrah from wild man Charles Smith. This will work well with grilled brisket, ribs and lamb chops and is also perfect with a big slab of steak with lots of salt and pepper.
Light a big fire tonight!
Big Fire R. Stuart Oregon Pinot Gris — $16.99
A beefed-up version of Italy’s Pinot Grigio yet the same grape. It’s like a cross between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. It has ripe apple and pear flavors and works well with any fish, chicken or pork dishes you plan to grill.
Feeling blue
Hiram Walker Blue Curacao cocktail mixer — $10.99
Don’t want wine or beer? What about a great blue-colored cocktail to start your evening celebrating the blue part of red, white and blue? My cocktail recommendation is called a “Blue Chill.” Here is the recipe:
Blue chill
1 part Stoli Blueberry vodka
1/2 part Hiram Walker Blue Curacao
1/2 part Triple Sec
1 part cranberry juice
1 part fresh lime juice
Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a blueberry.
