Wines to Grill By 

By Holly Falk

                The temperature is rising and many are gearing up to spend their summer on the Lake. Hot, lazy summer days are meant to be enjoyed relaxing with family and friends. 

                After a day of boating, skiing, wakeboarding and relaxing in the hot sun, everyone has worked up an appetite. Do you really want to turn on that hot oven? You gassed up your boat, what about your grill? 

                Grilling is the perfect way to complete your day spent at the Lake. Tired of your usual burger and beer? Consider a bottle of wine instead! Not sure what to serve?  There are plenty of great, reasonably priced wines that will go perfectly with your grilled meal. 

                Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect summertime white. Dry, crisp and light-bodied, Sauvignon Blancs have a grassy, herbaceous quality that goes beautifully with marinades with similar flavors. Shellfish, grilled fish, vegetables and chicken that have been marinated in a citrus marinade or in the classic Italian dressing will brighten when served with a Sauvignon Blanc. 

                Chardonnay varieties range from medium to full-bodied wines with a wonderful balance of fruit, acidity and texture. Some Chardonnays have flavors associated with figs, apples or melons, while others infuse flavors of vanilla, toasted oak and butter. Salmon, shellfish (including lobster), chicken and grilled corn on the cob all are wonderful paired with a Chardonnay.

                Gewurztraminer and Viognier are both wines with a slightly sweet character that provide balance to spicy grilled foods. Viogniers have hints of peach and apricot notes on the nose while Gewurztraminers have a beautiful nose and a rich, silky texture. Chicken and pork with a spice rub – or blackened fish – will all complement these two wines. 

                Pinot Noir has gained popularity since being featured in the Oscar-winning film “Sideways” in 2004. A light to medium-bodied wine, Pinot Noir shows elegance and finesse. With cherry and spicy notes, a Pinot Noir goes beautifully with grilled salmon, chicken and even hamburgers. 

                Merlot is a medium-bodied red wine characterized by hints of plum, berry and cocoa. Merlots are soft and yummy and work extremely well with barbequed chicken, ribs or grilled pork. 

                Although the same grape varietal, Syrah and Shiraz have very different flavors – but both are exceptional with almost any grilled meat. Syrahs are more Rhone in style showing bouquets of spice and black pepper. Syrahs soar with ribs, briskets and smoked pulled pork. Shiraz, on the other hand, tends to be full-bodied with lots of big jammy, peppery fruit. Ribs, marinated flank steaks, or any other juicy piece of meat is great when paired with a Shiraz.

                Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, rich, full-bodied red wine – the king of reds! (I guess you may have figured out my favorite.) Cabernet Sauvignons have rich berry flavors with black currant, chocolate and tobacco with tannins. They are truly a steak lover’s dream!  Cabernets are equally fabulous with a grilled blue cheese burger. 

                Wines are meant to be enjoyed. All of the wines mentioned are just suggestions. Learn to trust your own palate, have fun, and, most importantly, drink what you enjoy. There are no rules with wine, so experiment and try new things. Cheers!

Holly Falk works in wine retail in Northern Virginia and is a wine consultant and educator. She visits Smith Mountain Lake often with her husband and two children. To submit a question on wine, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Wine Pairings

These recommended wines are available at Westlake Kroger

Bogle Sauvignon Blanc  $10

A crisp and vibrant sauvignon blanc with notes of citrus, lemon and pineapple fruit.

Mak Sauvignon Blanc $15

Aromas of gooseberry and passionfruit with citrus on the palate.

Estancia Chardonnay $16

Rich fruit flavors of ripe melon and pear with a soft creamy finish.

Oxford Landing Chardonnay $9

Aromas of melon, vanilla and hints of butterscotch followed by peach and nectarine flavors on the palate.

Smoking Loon Viognier $9

Beautiful jasmine aromas on the nose with flavors of apricots and peach nectar with spice on the finish. 

Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer $10

An aromatic medium body wine with aromas of melon and grapefruit followed by a delicate spicy finish.

Concannon Pinot Noir $12

A rich, spicy, pinot with aromas of strawberry and cherry finishing with white pepper, chocolate and oak.

Mondavi Pinot Noir $12

Burgundian in style, this pinot has bright strawberry and plum flavors with aromas of sandalwood and spice. 

Fetzer Merlot $9

This merlot has soft tannins with ripe plum and berry flavors.  It is rich in the mouth with a balanced amount of toasty oak.

Columbia Crest Merlot $9

A fruity wine with aromas and flavors of blackberry and raspberry with cocoa and spice on the velvety finish.

Oxford Landing Shiraz  $10

Clove and cherries on the nose with flavors of rich, ripe berry fruit and hints of mocha.

Ravenswood Cabernet

Sauvignon $10

This wine has a mouthful of black currant and cherries followed by beautiful soft tannins.

Hess Select Cabernet

Sauvignon  $16

A fruit-forward cabernet with aromas of black cherry and berries with cedar and pepper on the palate.