Explore Grenache, a versatile red grape known for ripe red berry flavours, warming spice and silky texture, producing wines that range from elegant and fresh to rich and powerful.
Choose a fresh, medium-bodied red for steak and ale pie, textured Chardonnay for creamy chicken and mushroom, and dry sparkling wine or fresh Chardonnay for fish pie. For blue cheese, try Sauternes or sweet Chenin Blanc.
The easiest way to pair wine with BBQ is to match the food’s character with the wine’s structure.
Smoke → Syrah or Rioja; Lemon & herbs → Sauvignon Blanc or Albariño; Sweet BBQ → Zinfandel or Primitivo; Seafood & veg → crisp white or rosé; Dessert → lightly sweet wine
Sangiovese is generally regarded as Italy's most widely planted red grape and is the foundation of wines such as Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. It typically produces dry, medium-bodied wines with flavours of sour cherry, plum, dried herbs and spice.
Syrah and Shiraz are two names for the same dark-skinned red grape. It typically produces dry, full-bodied wines with flavours of blackberry, plum, black pepper and spice. It is most famous in the Rhône Valley and across Australia, where styles range from elegant and savoury to rich and powerful.
Gamay is a fresh, aromatic red grape best known in Beaujolais. Expect red fruit and gentle tannins, from juicy early-drinking wines to more structured crus.
Grape Guide•11 min read
A note worth opening
One useful wine idea, occasionally.
Second Glass
Are you of legal drinking age?
Second Glass writes about wine. Please confirm you are old enough to view alcohol-related content in your location.