From The Money Matters Desk: A Consumer Report on Buying Wine
On this week's "Money Matters" – our regular look at how to improve your bottom line– we've got some beverage tips just in time for your Labor Day celebration. If you are sick of picking up a six-pack when the invite says BYOB, why not choose a bottle of wine instead? Kai asks Randy Clement, the co-owner of Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles, for help in selecting wine.
Randy Clement from Silverlake Wine suggests the following for a summer BBQ:
Hot Dogs – Rose’ is a great pick. I’d choose Protocolo Rose’ 2003 from Castilla, Spain, which is mostly made of Tempranillo, the most widely cultivated red wine grape in Spain. I’d call it one of the best truly affordable wines available. A dry Rose’ is particularly suited to be paired with the salty richness of hot dogs.
Hamburgers – Hands down the most likely suspect for this is an American syrah. Being from Los Angeles, I can think of no better choice than Qupe Syrah from Bien Nacido, California. Not only is the winemaker, Bob Linquist, a huge Dodger fan but he’s also a California Central Coast viticulture pioneer. Qupe wines have both power and more importantly grace to be paired with such simple yet potentially complex items such as hamburgers.
Salmon- This is a rich fish that needs a wine to pair well and not overwhelm. We sell a beautiful light Pinot Noir from Napa called Carneros Creek. The vintage is 2001 and the wine has a great lightness to it without seeming thin – one of the best affordable Cali Pinots.
Ribs – Powerful flavor will need a powerful wine. The wine is called The Wishing Tree. The grape is an Australian Shiraz.
Anything goes – Bring old reliable Merlot. I’d choose a wine from Friuli in Northern Italy. It’s one of the world’s most cutting edge wine regions. The wine is called “di Lenardo” and the vintage is 2001.