Wine and Food Pairings for Outdoor Gatherings

Spending time outdoors with friends and family can be truly refreshing and can provide the perfect release for life’s stresses.  Make that experience even better by bringing along a bottle or two of wine.  Sipping wine, a product of nature just feels right when seated on a picnic blanket, in a patio chair, or around the bonfire.  Forget the fancy stems and the easily-shattered crystal.  Wine pairing for outdoors begins with an unbreakable tumbler or a simple plastic cup, and it finishes with sips of fantastic flavor paired with memorable conversation. 

Outdoor-Friendly Foods With Wine

In truth, in the right setting, nearly any food can be made outdoor-friendly, but choosing those that are easy to serve and to clean up is generally best when wine pairing for outdoors.  Bite-sized finger foods are the easiest.  Dress up traditional sandwiches with artisan bread, flavorful spreads, and colorful vegetable toppers.  The outcome is delectable for the eyes and the palate. 

Choose a Variety

The beauty of sandwiches is that they are relatively simple to prepare and can be made to reflect a wide array of flavors.  That means you open the door to several different wine and food pairings.  Make this not just a fun meal but also a sort of wine tasting. With heartier meats, such as roast beef, you’ll want to select a full-bodied wine—Bordeaux, Shiraz, or Cabernet Sauvignon, for instance.  For poultry sandwiches, a medium-body is better, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Sauvignon Blanc.  Fish sandwiches call for a light to medium-body, like Riesling, Pinot Grigio, or Sangiovese.  If you really want to keep it simple, you might even opt for sandwiches with various kinds of nut butter.  With peanut butter or cashew butter, choose a sweeter wine, such as Moscato, Zinfandel, or a sweet Riesling. 

Stay Supplied

In addition to making sure you have enough food and wine, you’ll also want to make sure you have napkins or wet naps to avoid sticky, bug-inviting situations.  You should also have bottled water, small single-use plates, and perhaps even notepads with pens on hand (It is convenient to keep track of what you like and what you don’t).