The right red wines to uncork with your BBQ

  • By S. Irene Virbila Los Angeles Times
  • Friday, October 2, 2015 10:19am
  • Life

Who doesn’t love barbecued ribs? When that craving hits, there’s nothing to do but give in to it.

Object of desire: a massive slab of pork ribs suffused with smoke and char. So they wrap it up for you and you tuck the bag tenderly into the backseat of the car, careful not to spill any of the extra sauce. Riding home, the smell of those ribs calls up waves of hunger. You can’t get back fast enough. Home at last, you slide the ribs out of the bag, lay them out on a platter, grab a stack of paper napkins and uncork a bottle of red – because not everybody pairs ribs with beer.

But what wine? It should be something big and burly, with some spice and heft to stand up to the smoke, the rich, fatty meat — and that sticky sweet hot sauce. This is a case for zinfandel or a zinfandel blend. How often do you get the chance to trot out a zinfandel these days? A Mencia from Spain is a terrific match with some pork ribs too. Here are a few reds to enjoy with your slab of ribs.

2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine California Zinfandel, California: When Bedrock’s Morgan Twain-Peterson and Chris Cottrell say old vines, they mean old, averaging 80 years old from small vineyard sites scattered across Northern California. Some of the oldest come from Bedrock Vineyard, planted in 1888 — and that was for the second time. The wine is deep and complex, loaded with intense dark berry flavors plus a good dose of black pepper, spice and earth. Full-bodied is an understatement. A great match with meaty pork ribs and an outstanding buy at $25.

2013 The Prisoner Wine Co. “The Prisoner,” Napa Valley, Calif.: Italian immigrants who originally settled the Napa Valley planted field blends of what’s known as “mixed blacks.” That’s the inspiration behind winemaker Jen Beloz’s take on the Prisoner’s proprietary red blend. The dominant grape is zinfandel, but there’s also cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, syrah and more in the blend. The result is a lush, rich red with the character to stand up to those smoke-laden ribs. Great with a burger too. From $32 to $40.

2012 Raul Perez Mencia Vico Bierzo, Bierzo, Spain: Spanish wine aficionados are always on the prowl for Raul Perez wines, but of all the many wines this extremely talented winemaker makes — most in minuscule quantities — this red may be the best value. That doesn’t mean it’s inexpensive, but for the towering quality, it’s a buy. Made from vines close to a century old, the 2012 Raul Perez Mencia Vico Bierzo is a big, juicy red with tightly woven dark berry flavors, pepper, spice and wild herbs. If you can’t snag this bottle, keep an eye out for anything else from the Spanish winemaker. The wines don’t tend to stay on wine shop shelves very long. About $36.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.