By TOM MARQUARDT and PATRICK DARR
As we head into the Labor Day weekend, it’s hard not to think about food and wine. Some holidays are built for the grill, for tables set under the sky, for the easy company of those you love. Memorial Day may open the season, but Labor Day doesn’t have to close it. Let’s ignore that idea. Keep the coals glowing and open a bottle of wine.
The long weekend also kicks off football season, where the television becomes as essential as a cold drink in hand. We lean into appetizers—snacks made for grazing from a comfortable perch in front of a big screen TV. Think of meatballs, simple to prepare and perfect for spearing with a toothpick, or wings designed to be lifted ungracefully with just two fingers.
At halftime, you can take it up a notch with grilled burgers and hot dogs. They are relatively easy to make in large batches. Chicken pieces take a little more time. We also like to smoke a pork butt the day before and have plenty of pulled pork ready for a slather and bun.
No matter your choice, wine for a crowd can be simple and inexpensive, but below we offer options: inexpensive wines for hot dogs or expensive wines for steaks.
We like zinfandel, grenache and syrah for burgers. The fruity character of these wines marries well with tomato-based sauces and ketchup. Another good match is Côtes du Rhône, a blend of syrah and grenache. These wines often cost less than $20. Or consider a tempranillo from Spain.
Hot dogs pose a greater challenge due to their salt content. But the toppings are what demand your attention. A Coney Island dog, for instance, calls for a light red wine, while mustard, pickles, and onions call for a crisp white wine, such as sauvignon blanc or pinot gris.
You have more choices with chicken. Citrus sauces point to white wines, such as Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. Tomato-based sauces give you an opportunity to pair with syrah and grenache.
Ribs pair well with fruity reds with sweet fruit flavors, such as zinfandel and merlot.
If you have a charcuterie or vegetable plate, consider a rosé—our favorite and most versatile wine for summer pairing. The crisp acidity and easy flavors pair well with vegetables and most cheese.
Here are some examples of wines to kick off football season:
Starfield Vineyards “The Miner’s Inch” 2023 ($38). This is an electic blend of grenache, aglianico, tempranillo, petit sirah, morvedre, cinsault and roussanne—wow, what a mouthful. The wide assortment of grape varieties creates a lot of layers of fruit, ranging from red to black fruits in an easy-drinking style. From the El Dorado AVA, it is a perfect wine with barbecued foods such as chicken and burgers.
M. Chapoutier Belleruche Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2025 ($19). We loved the fresh acidity and abundant aromas in a Rhone blend. This one unites grenache blanc, roussanne, vigoneir, clairette and bourboulenc grapes to create an expressive and refreshing white wine with stone fruit notes.
Domaine du Chene Vert Crozes-Hermitage 2023 ($25). Sweet, ripe cherry and blackberry flavors with spice and a touch of smoke. This is an excellent wine, reasonably priced, to serve with burgers and ribs.
Famille Perrin Signature Rosé Côtes du Rhône 2024 ($16). This dry rosé from the highly reputable Perrin family is a blend of cinsault, grenache noir, mourvedre and syrah. Beautiful peach color with generous strawberry and cherry notes. Round in the mouth.
Brandlin Estate Sauvignon Blanc Mount Veeder 2024 ($50). It’s not common to find sauvignon blanc grown in mountain vineyards, but Brandlin has an extraordinary and brilliant rendition here. If you want to take your sauvignon blanc game to a new level, this is it. More concentrated than most SBs with stone fruit and citrus notes. Not overly acidic, it has a rich mouthfeel.
Hoopes Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2022 ($50). This family owned property in Yountville ages its sauvignon blanc in amphora vessels, giving it some unique flavors and texture. Bright acidity with floral aromas and pear, stone-fruit flavors with a dash of citrus.
Maison Robert Wessman Raven Blood 2020 ($27). This is an incredible quaff for the price. A blend of merlot (60 percent) and cabernet sauvignon, it exudes delicious blackberry, plum and black currant flavors in a medium body. Very drinkable now and with a lush mouthfeel to draw you back for a second glass.
Dominio Fournier Ribero Del Duero 2020 ($30). A remarkably easy to drink, ready now, tempranillo from this classic Spanish region. A hint of the typical aged oak is offset with ripe plum and cherry fruit notes. A real winner.
Charles Krug Merlot Napa Valley 2023 ($31). A classic overachiever from Napa Valley. Charles Krug continues to put out quality wines at reasonable prices. This is a smooth, elegant package with black cherry and plum notes. Very appealing.
Steak on the grill
There’s nothing like a sizzling steak over coals to seal a waning day of summer. Here are some terrific red wines that will dispatch summer with a bang:
Tom Gamble of Gamble Estates in Napa Valley has several special cabernet sauvignons that demonstrate Napa Valley’s leadership in red wine. The Gamble Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2023 ($250) sources grapes from two sites—the Family Home Vineyard and the Cairo Block surrounding the winery. Very dark and dense with black cherry and plum notes. The 2023 Gamble Estates Mount Veeder Red ($225) draws grapes from an estate vineyard at 1,900 feet. A Bordeaux blend, it exudes blackberry and cherry flavors with big tannins.
Far Niente Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 ($130). This well recognized producer has unveiled a reimagined, historic Great Hall and tasting center. This spectacular cabernet sauvignon is a salute to the producer’s reputation for making great wine—and not just chardonnay.
Larkmead Firebelle Napa Valley 2023 ($100). This powerful blend of merlot (63 percent), cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and petite verdot has layers of opulent cherry and plum fruit flavors with a good dose of spice and mineral.
Charles Krug Family Reserve Generations Red Blend Napa Valley 2021 ($85). Fourth generation winemaker Angelina Mondavi has pulled together a dense and delicious estate grown blend of Bordeaux grape varieties to honor the winery’s legacy. Her father, Marc, launched his inaugural vintage in 1991. Merlot and petit verdot join this mostly Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Black cherry and blackberry flavors with hints of vanilla and tobacco.
Less expensive red wines for that steak:
Marchese di Borgosole Salice Salentino Riserva 2021 ($14). Earthy and ripe texture with blackberry and plum notes. Hints of black pepper and dark chocolate.
Terra d’Uro La Enfermera Tempranillo Toro 2021 ($12). Fruity and ripe with plum and blackberry flavors with a touch of vanilla, oak and gritty tannins. Medium to full bodied.
Kirkland Rioja Reserva JME Selection 2021 ($8). One of the best red wine buys in Costco’s vast Kirkland portfolio, this gem has a lot of red fruit flavors and just a flash of tannin to make it a universal wine to serve alongside barbecue fare.
Wine picks
Alma Rosa Vin Gris of Pinot Noir El Jabali 2025 ($40). This rose from Sta. Rita Hills is characterized by delicate red fruit flavors, a dash of citrus and balanced acidity.
Maison Robert Wessman Raven Blood 2020 ($27). This is an incredible quaff for the price. A blend of merlot (60 percent) and cabernet sauvignon, it exudes delicious blackberry, plum and black currant flavors in a medium body. Very drinkable now and with a lush mouthfeel to draw you back for a second glass.
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