#SundaySupper – Celebrating Independence Day with Family, Friends, Food and Wine!

I don’t necessarily think of myself as being very patriotic, but each year around this time we sing “America The Beautiful” at my church, and it chokes me up each time! I truly appreciate this great nation of ours, and feel blessed to be an American. And that’s what the Fourth of July is about for me. Okay – well that, and it’s a great reason to gather with family, and friends share great food and wine!

My food blogging friends have outdone themselves with this week’s #SundaySupper theme – Celebrating Fourth of July with Family and Friends. It’s big fun, and an honor for a self-described “Wino with latent foodie tendencies” such as myself, to offer some wonderful wines recommendations to match these great recipes!

Here’s a list of this week’s recipes and my recommended wines!

Pair these main course dishes with Zinfandel, an All-American wine if there ever was one! I recommend the 2009 Ridge Vineyard “Three Valleys” Sonoma Zinfandel Blend. It’s mostly Zinfandel with some Carignane, Petite Sirah, and Syrah invited to the party. It’s well-balanced with great fruit, acidity, and a bit of spice!

Tender & Sweet Crockpot Brisket Juanita’s Cocina
Baby Back Ribs with Balsamic Peach BBQ Sauce Damn Delicious
Bubblin’ Brown Sugar Baby Back Ribs In The Kitchen With KP
Texas Smoked Brisket Doggie At The Dinner Table
Grilled Chicken in a Blueberry BBQ Sauce Small Wallet Big Appetite
JuicyLucy and Blueberry Ketchup Pippi’s in the Kitchen Again

Pair these main course dishes with a Pinot Noir. I recommend the 2009 MacMurray Ranch Central Coast Pinot Noir. This one shows plenty of classic Pinot Noir red fruit flavors and acidity. And Pinot Noir can take a chill. Throw it in the ice bucket for 10-15 minutes and you’ll have a delightfully chilled food partner!

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Beef Mrs. Mama Hen
Firecracker Salmon Rolls Comfy Cuisine
Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen

What’s the Fourth of July without some sparkle?! A sparkling Rosé is a great wine for your Independence Day culinary festivities. It’ll do double duty with these salads/sides and main dishes. Try the Barefoot Bubbly Rosé Cuvée.

Patriotic Ranch Potato Salad The Meltaways
Roasted Red Pepper & White Bean Salad Are you hungry
Texas-Creole Crawfish Potato Salad The Weekend gourmet
Spicy Italian Peppers in Sauce What Smells so Good?
Red, White & Blue Grilled Pizza Momma’s Meals
Savory Patriotic Chicken Kabobs Big Bear’s Wife
Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Salad with Perfectly Grilled Chicken and Potatoes Daddy Knows Less
Finger Foods for the Fourth Pescetarian Journal
Bean Salad with Pickled Vegetables Diabetic Foodie

Riesling is the white wine version of a “Chef’s wine” because it’s so food friendly. The 2010 Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling will be a great match for these ethnic dishes!

Chicken Burgers with Curried Cabbage Slaw-Indian Soni’s Food for Thought
Grilled Pork Satays with Peanut Sauce Tora’s Real Food

Try these salads and sides with a Sauvignon Blanc. It’s one of the few wines that’ll be a good match for asparagus. Sauvignon Blanc (a.k.a. Fumé Blanc – it’s the same wine) is a very versatile wine, and has a bold and forthright personality. Look for the 2010 Dry Creek Vineyard Sonoma County Fumé Blanc.

Southwestern Corn and Black Bean Salad Supper for a Steal
Roasted/Grilled Asparagus with Parmesan Katherine Martinelli

For these salads and sides, Chardonnay, America’s favorite white wine, will be great match. Look for the 2010 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay.

Mexican Quinoa Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing Dinners Dishes and Desserts
Tomato and Mozzarella Appetizer Family Foodie

Here’s another bubbly that’ll do double duty. Try an Extra-Dry Sparkling wine with these salads/side and desserts. The Chandon Extra Dry Riche has got a bit of sweetness that partners well with spicy fare as well as fruity desserts.

Stuffed Black Olive Cookistry
Low Fat Pasta Salad Basic and Delicious
Strawberry and Cream Cake Cupcakes and Kale Chips
Fourth Sticks In the Kitchen with Audrey
Individual Red White and Blue Triffles Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence

As for the last of the salads and sides? This one needs no wine pairing because it’s made with one of my favorite Fourth of July beverages – Sangria!

Sangria Fruit Salad Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

These desserts will be a pair nicely with a late harvest Riesling. Late harvest wines, as their description implies are wines produced from grapes that are picked late in the season The extra “hang-time” means the grapes have a higher sugar content, and are therefore sweeter. I recommend the 2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Late Harvest White Riesling.

Red White & Blueberry Ricotta Cupcakes Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
Caramel-filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream The Messy Baker
Red White and Blue Coconut Rum Cake Family Spice
Mini Carrot Cakes Mama’s Blissful Bites
Plum and Apple Pies Cositas Bonitas
White Chocolate Berry Tart Vintage Kitchen Notes
Red, White and Blue Firecracker Cupcakes Chocolate Moosey

For these desserts, I recommend a Port. Look for Graham’s “Six Grapes” Port.

Red Velvet Brownies Magnolia Days
S’mores Pastries Daily Dish Recipes

I hereby raise a virtual glass, and I say to you – “Here’s to making memories!” – because that’s what family, friends, great food and wine are all about! – Cheers!