Hamburger Reds!

It is hard to believe that the fourth of July holiday is upon us and in my business it feels as though everyone already has one foot out of the door! No matter where you end up celebrating, I'm sure you are eagerly anticipating a great meal. Some of my best 4th holidays have been spent casually with friends usually starting in the late afternoon or early evening. I like a slow progression of food and wine to roll out as people dip in and out of the pool with a great selection of music (usually a rock and roll mix), permeating the area. The first wine most certainly to be poured would be a crisp, dry, chilled Rose' which is refreshing and goes great with chips and salsas. As the evening wears on, (and more people arrive), I would have opened up a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay (but not too oaky)...I like to keep the first wines I serve a little lower in alcohol, preferably in the 13% to 13.5% range so that everyone can enjoy the rest of the evening without killing our palates! The part I have the most fun with is deciding which red wine to serve with the burgers especially as there is no need to go over the top with pricey stuff!
Typically, I think the trend leans towards serving a nice big Cabernet or Merlot with and I have loved pairing Bordeaux style blends with big fat, juicy burgers (please melt some Stilton cheese on mine and cook it medium rare!). This year, however I am switching things up a little and recommending that you try a Pinot Noir or a Zinfandel! The range of Pinot's available is staggering and you do not have to spend an exorbitant amount for a good result...I like the idea of a peppery Pinot Noir with my burger and fixings to counter balance the Dijon mustard I will smother on the bun. The Zins are very reasonable and offer a little fruitier zest to the mix. With some, I get the added earth tone flavors, berries and also have a pepper finish, delicious with grilled ground sirloin! As the meal is consumed and I see smiles all around the table, and then its time to settle back and watch the fireworks display over the valley floor!!!

Here are some hamburger red suggestions:

Pinot Noir:

Byron 2008 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir - $26.00
Aromas of dark cherry and plum with earth and brown spices.

Decoy Anderson Valley Pinot Noir - $20.00
Bright red-fruit flavors of Bing cherry, raspberry and toasty oak.

Rodney Strong 2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - $19.00
Rose petal and red fruit aromas and a hint of spice.

Cambria 2008 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard - $19.00
Strawberry, blueberry front with spice and earth on the finish.

Zinfandel:

Seghesio Sonoma County 2008 Zinfandel - $22.00
Vibrant expression of raspberry and black current with smooth, lush finish.

Murphy-Goode 2007 Liar's Dice Zinfandel - $17.00
Rich black cherry and black current...big wine.

Valley Of The Moon 2007 Zinfandel - $13.00
A blend of Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek valley fruit...jammy aromas with toasty oak.

Cline 2008 Zinfandel - $12.00
Select fruit from the Lodi region...showcase array of dark berry fruit, spice and oak.