Even though I treated my barbecue with kid mitts, last weekend saw the passing of my nearly five-year- old gas fired girl. Sadly, modern grills seem to have the staying power of a Jennifer Lopez marriage so I had to say hello to a shiny new addition to my back deck.
I like nothing better than a nicely prepared burger so a plethora of patties was the best way to christen my latest investment. It was also a great opportunity to experiment with a barbecue-ready wine.
The Rhone Valley is the home of the syrah grape (a.k.a. shiraz) to the north and the grenache grape to the south. Those reds labelled Côtes du Rhône come from vineyards throughout and are often a blend of both.
Ogier’s 2009 Héritages Côtes du Rhône ($14.95 – $17.99) is a well-balanced combo of ripe, black fruit (from the grenache) and subtle pepper spice (thanks to the syrah), which makes it a perfect grilling wine with enough fruit to work nicely with milder sauces, marinades and a cornucopia of condiments.
Prices reflect the range across canada. Some products may not be available in all provinces.
