Happy almost 4th of July!
Jack and I just got back from a long week in Chicago so didn’t have time to get my flag-cake on… (not that I’ve ever made a flag cake, but there’s always next year). Since the internet seems to be blowing up with food coloring, I thought I’d take a different approach to “red and white” and share a few of my favorite summer wines.
These are all very food-friendly. I’ve made some pairing suggestions but, really, they’re very versatile – perfect for any weekend picnic or cookout. (Also, they’re all under $20). Available at (wine-carrying) Whole Foods stores, now through mid-July:
Innovac!ón Chenin-Chardonnay 2013, Argentina $9.99
I’ve been a fan of Innovac!ón wines for a long time. This 70% chenin/30% chardonnay has notes of white flowers, apple, pears and tropical fruits. The flavor is fresh and soft with well-balanced acidity. (It’s also 1 liter bottle so it’s a super bargain).
pair with:
Heirloom Tomato Avocado & Chickpea Salad
Grilled Veggie Skewers
Edamame & Corn Succotash
Frey Agriculturist Organic Blanc 2013, California $11.99
This one wins my award for “prettiest bottle.” Frey Vineyards is America’s first maker of certified Biodynamic® wines. This organic white is a blend of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and riesling. It has notes of honeysuckle, tropical fruits and orange blossom.
pair with:
Mango Zucchini Lettuce Wraps
Grilled Peach Salad w/ Mint Pesto
Strawberry Quinoa & Feta Salad
Les Hauts de Bel Air Bordeaux Blanc 2013, France $10.99
A beautiful pale yellow Bordeaux Blanc… This white has delicate aromas of sandstone, rosemary and thyme backed up by pepper, fresh peaches, and grapefruit zest.
pair with:
Quinoa Apricot & Arugula Salad
Anna’s Tomato Gazpacho with Mango
Chickpea Niçoise Salad with Roasted Potatoes
Soleil des Garrigues Ventoux 2012, France $10.99
This one is our favorite red lately – it’s made up of 70% grenache, 15% syrah, 10% carignan, and 5% cinsault. Its aromatic bouquet features red licorice, white pepper, raspberry and sweet cherry fruit.
pair with:
Grilled Polenta with Zucchini Salsa
Rosemary Lemon Pasta
Feta & Harissa Fattoush Salad
Querciabella Mongrana Maremma Toscana 2011, Italy $19.99
A blend of 50% sangiovese, 25% cabernet sauvignon and 25% merlot, this smooth super Tuscan blend is vegan, spicy and full of juicy black fruit.
pair with:
Grilled Potato & Arugula Salad
Grilled Herb Garden Pizza
Grilled Panzanella with Poached Eggs
Sanford Flor de Campo Pinot Noir 2012, California $19.99
This medium bodied balanced wine delivers bursts of bright red raspberries and cherries with an earthy hint of pepper.
pair with:
Tomato, Feta, & Honey Toasts
Kale & White Bean Crostini
Slow Roasted Tomato Pasta
This post is created in partnership with Whole Foods.
Always looking for food-friendly wines. Great rundown!
I absolutely love this post! The flag cake looks very cool but I don’t like using food coloring. Your take on red and white suits me better. Thanks for the recommendations.
I am glad you got back too late to make the flag cake. I know I enjoyed this post more than I would have another cake. Fun choice of wines. It reminded me that I love Sangiovese and hadn’t had any of that for a while.
The Soleil des Garrigues Ventoux with Grenache being the primary grape is making me ask—-have I have tasted Grenache wine? If I have, I have forgotten. So I must rectify that missing link. Cheers to you too!!!!
Ha, well don’t tell anyone, but I would choose wine over cake any day :).
I love to hear about new wines and your pairing suggestions. Argentina is so well known for their Malbecs that I’m happy you suggested on of their whites because they get overlooked! Happy 4th!
thanks! Of all the wine regions we’ve been to, we loved the wines in Argentina the most. I love a good Torrontés. Rosé of Malbec is pretty tasty too.
What a great wine list! I love the prices and the pretty labels 🙂 it’s nice to have some good recommendations.
I just came across your seriously amazing blog based on a friends’ recommendation, wow, everything is so pretty and I can’t wait to check out all your amazing recipes! These wine ideas are awesome!
aw, thank you, welcome!
I love Innovac!on wines! I tried their Malbec at a Whole Foods wine tasting a few years back and I’ve been hooked ever since. I always need someone to tell me which wines are good because I really know nothing about them so thanks for these great suggestions!
I like their Malbec too 🙂
i can’t believe you didn’t make a flag cake. i was counting on you, jeanine. *shakes head in shame* *wags finger*
*stops caring and then goes and gets drunk…*
ha 🙂