Welcome to the final article in our series about how to pair wines with your traditional grilling favorites. We round things off with grilled vegetables, BBQ sauces, and rich sauces and dips.
It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. And here at Honest Cooking, we don’t shy away from challenges like tasting through hundreds of bottles of wine to find out which wines pair the best with grilled foods.
Follow this article series to learn more about which bottles you should be drinking with grilling favorites like Medium Rare Steak, Grilled Shrimp, Quick Fired Tuna, Pulled Pork, and Grilled Vegetables, BBQ Sauces, Rich Sauces and Dips. 
While the proteins are generally the star of the show when it comes to grilling, let’s not forget the accoutrements. Vegetables like asparagus, carrots, eggplant, zucchini, broccoli and many others give additional depth to the grilling experience, and with the increasing focus on eating plant based – there’s no denying that this will most likely take up more and more space on our dining table.
And then, there’s the sauce. From the tangy and spicy, to the smooth and rich – the sauces, marinades and dips are usually what takes “just another grilling evening” to unexpected places. Whether you’re going for vinegar and tomato based, Asian-umami packed sauces or cream or mayonnaise focused dips – obviously you still want the wine you’re drinking to match the flavors you are cooking up.
So without further ado – our last guide in the Grilling Wine series!
GRILLED VEGETABLES
Splurge for World-Class:
For when you sold your company and you want the neighbors to know that not only can you afford the good stuff – you actually also know what the good stuff is. These wines are incredible, and you will want to share them with people that know how to appreciate the best.
Château Fuissé
Pouilly-Fuissé Le Clos Monopole 2018
$109
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (La Crau) Blanc 2020
$101
Big and Delicious:
For when you’ve bought an incredible piece of tuna you really can’t afford, and you realize you need a bottle of wine you also can’t afford to accompany it. These wines are very high quality and will make even the most stubborn of wine snob accept you as their peer.
Champagne Henriot
Rosé NV
$80
HdV
Chardonnay (Hyde Vineyard) 2019
$74
Weingut Rudi Pichler
Ried Kirchweg Riesling Smaragd 2019
$72
Crescere
Richie Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019
$59
Punching Above its Weight Class:
For when you want your guests to think you’ve spent 100 bucks on the wine, but it really is about a third of that.
Cakebread
Sauvignon Blanc 2021
$35
Markus Molitor
Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese 2017
$35
Great Value:
For when your uncle who claims he knows about wine comes over, and you don’t want to spend a shit ton of money but still want him to say “this is good stuff”. These awesome wines will make your shrimp shine without jeopardizing your bankroll.
Firestone Vineyard
2020 Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County
$24
Louis Jadot
Mâcon Chardonnay 2020
$15
Hess Select
Pinot Gris 2020
$13
Winebow
2020 Clean Slate Riesling
$10
BBQ SAUCES AND MARINADES
Splurge for World-Class:
For when you sold your company and you want the neighbors to know that not only can you afford the good stuff – you actually also know what the good stuff is. These wines are incredible, and you will want to share them with people that know how to appreciate the best.
Crescere
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
$200
Big and Delicious:
For when you’ve bought an incredible piece of tuna you really can’t afford, and you realize you need a bottle of wine you also can’t afford to accompany it. These wines are very high quality and will make even the most stubborn of wine snob accept you as their peer.
Booker
My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
$50
J Lohr Vineyards
Cuvée PAU 2017
$45
Punching Above its Weight Class:
For when you want your guests to think you’ve spent 100 bucks on the wine, but it really is about a third of that.
Ettore
Red 2018
$40
Schug
Pinot Noir Carneros 2019
$38
Querciabella
Chianti Classico
$32
Cakebread
Vin de Porche
$30
Great Value:
For when your uncle who claims he knows about wine comes over, and you don’t want to spend a shit ton of money but still want him to say “this is good stuff”. These awesome wines will make your shrimp shine without jeopardizing your bankroll.
Kunde
Cabernet Sauvignon
$28
Roth
Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
$25
Swick Wines
BBQ
$22
Lincourt
Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir 2018
$22
Chalk Hill
Pinot Noir 2019
$20
Firestone
Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
$15
RICH SAUCES AND DIPS
Splurge for World-Class:
For when you sold your company and you want the neighbors to know that not only can you afford the good stuff – you actually also know what the good stuff is. These wines are incredible, and you will want to share them with people that know how to appreciate the best.
Cakebread
Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
$90
Spire
Mt. Brave 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
$105
Big and Delicious:
For when you’ve bought an incredible piece of tuna you really can’t afford, and you realize you need a bottle of wine you also can’t afford to accompany it. These wines are very high quality and will make even the most stubborn of wine snob accept you as their peer.
Etude
Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
$65
Goldeneye
Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2018
$50
Punching Above its Weight Class:
For when you want your guests to think you’ve spent 100 bucks on the wine, but it really is about a third of that.
Lincourt
Rancho Santa Rosa Chardonnay 2020
$35
Ferrari Carano
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
$30
Great Value:
For when your uncle who claims he knows about wine comes over, and you don’t want to spend a shit ton of money but still want him to say “this is good stuff”. These awesome wines will make your shrimp shine without jeopardizing your bankroll.
Scout and Cellar
Conte de la Terre Èdition Limitée Pinot Noir 2020
$27
Broc Cellars
Love Red 2019
$25
Hess Select
2018 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
$20
Ferrari Carano
Chardonnay 2020
$20
