Do not -- I repeat -- do not give up on barbecuing just because it's winter.
Year-round, you'll find me standing in front of the grill, glass of wine in one hand, spatula in the other.
The only differences, of course, are that in the summer I'm in shorts, not a care in the world, in the winter, it's a puffer jacket and sometimes brushing snow off the old Weber before getting down to business.
As my wife, Kerry, will no doubt attest, the only time I cook is when I barbecue.
So, she encourages it in order to get a break and I enjoy it as the time-honoured tradition it is -- the grilling of meat by the man of the house.
Barbecue is also another prime opportunity for inspired food-and-wine pairing.
You don't want to limit that just to the summer, so, fire up the barbecue in December.
Here are nine spectacular wines with just-as-spectacular barbecue matches.
- Actually, this is our pre-barbecue ritual.
While the grill preheats, Kerry and I have a glass of bubbly as an aperitif.
The Evolve Effervescence ($23) from Penticton is an easy and affordable sparkling for such sipping for its fresh melon-and-lemon profile and quick-access crown cap.
- For many, steaks and barbecue are synonymous.
Fulfill the stereotype by grilling up a filet mignon, flat iron, ribeye or New York strip medium-rare and eating it with a big, bold and silky red such as the Intrigue Damitz Good ($29) Bordeaux-style blend from Lake Country, Fort Berens 2021 Small Lot Merlot ($33) from Lillooet or Gabriel Meffre 2020 Plan de Dieu Cotes-du-Rhone ($17) from France.
- Pinot Noir is the type of light, delicate and flavourful red wine you can pair with either red or white meat, even fish.
As such, try the Kim Crawford 2021 Pinot ($20) with barbecued pork tenderloin marinated in olive oil, honey, lemon juice and dried herbs.
Or, grill a salmon filet with a simple marinate of sun-dried tomatoes in oil and pair it with 2022 Fort Berens Pinot Noir ($35) from Lillooet.
- My favourite marinade for barbecued chicken breast is maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, mustard and minced garlic.
Grill that up and eat it with the Blasted Church 2022 Blaufrankisch Rose ($26) from Okanagan Falls.
The sweet-and-savoury of the chicken is the ideal match for the pink wine's classic aromas and flavours of strawberries and cream.
- The lightly oaked Intrigue 2022 Chardonnay ($23) from Lake Country is what I pour when I've just barbecued skewers of prawns in a lemon and garlic rub.
- Don't be afraid to barbecue white fish fillets.
First lay a bunch of lemon slices on the grill and cook the fish on top so there's not a sticking or falling-apart culinary disaster.
And then pair that fish with a glass of Intrigue 2022 Pinot Gris ($22) from Lake Country.
Sip into the Season
On Sunday, Sip into the Season on the Westside Wine Trail.
From noon to 5 pm, follow the sparkling lights and holiday decor on your own self-guided tour amongst wineries for tastings and Christmas-themed artisan pop-ups.
Tickets are $15 each at https://www.eventbrite.ca/
While there are 12 wineries on the trail, it's recommended you hit up three to six for the most immersive experience.
Participating wineries are: Beaumont, Grizzli, Volcanic Hills, Little Straw, Mt.Boucherie, Quails' Gate, Mission Hill, The Gallery, Niche, Off the Grid, Kalala and Ciao Bella.
All wineries will also be collecting donations for the Central Okanagan Food Bank.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
