Some of my fondest memories in life come from a time when a hamburger or a hot dog (often both;-) was the quintessential summer eats  for me!  

And whenever I reminisce about that time of my life,  one of the first thoughts that comes to mind  is the minutes before my favorite –  a cheeseburger (with processed American cheese) with the works was served.  I knew it wouldn’t be long before it was in my belly. But before I could see it,  I could sense it because I could smell it, and I could hear it sizzling on the grill.    A hot dog wasn’t  nearly as visceral, but I loved them just as much.  My favorite was a hot dog with mustard, relish, ketchup, and perhaps a few onions, if I was lucky.

Add a side of Jay’s potato chips with either, and that was my little slice of heaven on earth!

I don’t eat many hamburgers and hot dogs these days because of that pesky whole “grown-up, healthy” thing.  But  I do,  I try to make sure they’re “worth” the calories and fat, and I prefer a glass of wine rather than the more traditional beer.

Here are my recommended guidelines for enjoying a glass of wine, instead of other adult beverages with your hamburgers/hot dogs.

• Don’t over-think it.  It’s a burger  or a hot dog, not a prime rib.  You can always drink what ever wine you like and if it doesn’t pair well with burger or hot dog, you can always enjoy each on its own!
• Pair with an easy drinking, inexpensive (less than $20) wine.
• If the burger or hot dog takes center stage (i.e. it’s more about the protein than the toppings) then go with Cabernet Sauvignon, or full-bodied Chardonnay for the burger and Riesling, Gewürztraminer or Sparkling wine for the hot dog.
• If the burger or the hot dog is just as much or more about the toppings, then pair to the topping rather that the protein:
  • For spicy toppings, look for a wine with a bit of sweetness that’s lower in alcohol and tannins. Spicy foods tend to like sweetness and a lower alcohol wine won’t clash with the topping and exacerbate the heat of the spice.
  • For big and bold toppings (blue cheese, bold sauces, grilled onion, etc.), look for a wine with some spice.  Zinfandel, Malbec, Côtes du Rhone, and Petite Sirah (especially for beef) fit the bill.
• Rosé is a great option for both hamburgers and hot dogs.   A dry or off-dry rosé is your best bet for overall pairing versatility, but a  sweet White Zinfandel, could be just right for a burger or a hot dog with a spicy character.  And since rosé is served chilled, it offers cooling refreshment to beat the heat.
• Sparkling wine is a great option, especially for hot dogs.  Not only does its effervescence and acidity cut the fattiness (the same as beer) of the hot dog,  since it’s served chilled it also offers  cooling refreshment.

Here are my wine recommendations for this week’s superb lineup of tempting hamburgers and hot dog being served at the #SundaySupper table.  Now these are some burgers and hot dogs that make me want to forget about the”grown-up, healthy” thing!

Pair these burgers and hot dogs with a sparkling wine, which I love at the table.  Sparkling wines find their soul mate with salty and crunchy fare, and(ever had a Sparkling wine and potato chips or popcorn?  Yum! Look for the Segura Viudas Gran Brut Cava.  It’s sparkling wine from Spain made of Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo grapes that over-delivers for the price.  It crisp apple, toast and floral character with an appealing creaminess. 

• Chicago Style Hot Dog by The Culinary Compass
• Fish Taco Burgers by Pies and Plots
• Hot Dog Maki Roll by kimchi MOM
• Idaho Dogs by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Pair these imaginative burgers with a Sauvignon Blanc.  Look for the Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc.  It has a delightful light, refreshing and tangy lime, melon and peach character. 

• Guacamole Cilantro Lime Cheeseburger by Life Tastes Good

Pair these flavorful burgers with Riesling. A perennial favorite of mine is the Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Eroica.  It offers calamansi, mandarin orange, and tropical fruit aromas.  On the palate it’s off-dry (slightly sweet) with mouth-watering acidity and tropical fruit, citrus, and honey flavors.

• Caprese Burgers with Balsamic Sauce by The Redhead Baker
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Burgers by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Chicken Sate Burger with Peanut Sauce by Baking Sense

Pair these enticing burgers and hot dogs with Gewürztraminer.  Look for the Pacific Rim Gewürztraminer from Washington State. It has a beautiful lychee, rose and spice aromas with passion fruit, melon, tangerine and spice flavors.

• Chicken Tikka Burgers by Sunday Supper Movement
• Salchipapas (Peruvian Hot Dogs with French Fries) by Tara’s Multicultural Table
• Spicy Shishito Dog by Brunch-n-Bites

Pair these burgers, hot dogs and the like with a rosé.  Look for Charles and Charles Rosé.  It’s  a blend of (mostly) Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Counoise.  It’s a rosé with enough weight to stand up to a meat burger.  It has a black cherry, wild raspberry, blood orange character with hints of rhubarb and Herbes de Provence to give it a nuanced herbal edge.  It also has a nice bit of minerality.  All in all, delightful! 

• California Burger Bowl by Simple and Savory
• Cheeseburger Salad by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
• Miso Glazed Chicken Burgers by Sew You Think You Can Cook

How about a “B &B” – Burgers and Beaujolais?  Beaujolais is a wine for the eponymous region in France. The wines are made from the Gamay grape.  The wines tend to have a light-bodied, fruity character and are often compared to Pinot Noir – except they typically cost much less.   Look for the Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages.  It has a bright and sassy dark cherry, raspberry, and spice character with a bit of earthiness.

• Brown Rice & Lamb Burgers with Spinach by Wholistic Woman
• Chicken Parmesan Burgers by A Mind “Full” Mom
• Greek Lamb Burgers with Blistered Tomatoes and Tzatziki Spread by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Meatball Parmesan Burgers by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• The Perfect Lentil Burger by Food Lust People Love
• Portuguese Hamburger by Family Foodie

Pair these burgers and hot dogs with Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel. It has a wonderful dusty raspberry, blackberry, vanilla and spice character with hints of coffee and dark chocolate.  

• Baby Back Rib Burger by The Freshman Cook
• Blue Cheese Burger with Fig Jam by Garden Matter
• Bourbon BBQ Bacon Burgers by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Bourbon Onion Bacon Dogs by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
• Cheddar Stuffed Taco Burger by My Life Cookbook
• Copycat Guberburgers by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Dominican Chimichurri Burgers by The Crumby Cupcake
• Miso Tuna Burgers by Caroline’s Cooking
• Philly Cheesesteak Dog by Palatable Pastime
• Smoky Sliders with Chipotle Mayo by Cooking on the Ranch
• Whiskey Burgers by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

Pair these All-American burgers and Dip with a classic burger companion – a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Look for the Kirkland Signature Columbia Valley Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon with a big, juicy ripe blackberry, black cherry, black currant and spice character. 

• BLT Burgers by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Pimento Cheese Burger by Magnolia Days
• The Best Ever Bacon, Egg and Cheese Burger by The Chef Next Door
• The SmashBurger by Monica’s Table
• Southern Seasoned Beef Burger by April Go Lightly

Dessert Burger

• Gluten Free Dessert Hamburgers by Gluten Free Crumbley; Pair with the Emilio Hidalgo “Morenita” Cream Sherry.  It has a sweet date, brown sugar, mocha, candied orange peel, ginger and spice character. 

How to

• How to Pan-fry Bratwurst by Cosmopolitan Cornbread; Pair with the Gewurztraminer!
• How to make Salmon Burgers with Mango Salsa by Asian In America; Pair with the Beajolais!

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