Red, White & Blue – Fruit Wines to Celebrate the Fourth

The Fourth of July is celebrated as Independence Day in the U.S.  It’s the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted, declaring America’s independence from Great Britain. 

It is celebrated throughout the country with BBQ’s, picnics, concerts, festivals, parades, family reunions, and fireworks.  And with numerous gatherings planned, what better time to celebrate your independence from grape wines and try some patriotic fruit wines instead.

Of course, we want to stay with the Red, White and Blue theme, so let’s consider what fruits fit in this category and what foods pair well with them.

Red -

When searching for red fruit wines the options are numerous – Cherry, Cranberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, and Watermelon.  All can be great choices for pairing with 4th of July meals.

Enjoy a Cranberry wine served with roasted (or fried) chicken. Also nice with grilled turkey burgers and BBQ pork.

  

Cherry wine can make pork and ham stand out.  Or for an excellent dessert idea, take a Cherry or Strawberry wine and serve with Cheesecake! 

Strawberry also works well with salmon and salad. Or save for a dessert of biscotti or Baked Brie. 

Raspberry wine is made for chocolate desserts – light or dark. 

Watermelon wine paired with Feta cheese and a salad is amazing.

White -

White fruit wines can include Pear, Apple, Peach, Apricot and Banana. 

A dry Pear wine goes well with seafood and poultry.  A sweeter pear wine works with spicy foods and cheese.

Apple wine goes with cheese dishes, pork, brats, and warmed apple tarts.  Try the spiced Apple wines with pound cake.

Peach wines work well with spicy meals, and don’t forget to pair with Peach Pie alamode!

Apricot wine is a go-to for BBQ dishes and Baked Brie.

Banana wine, (rare, but it exists : ) is great with an Angel food cake or a banana cake.

And Blue -

Those Blue wines might be tough to think of at first, but they are out there.  Consider Blueberry, Plum, Blackberry, Current, and Elderberry wines.

Pair a Blueberry wine with pork chops or steak. 

Plum wines go well with Asian Cuisine or with a hearty steak.

Blackberry wine and roast lamb or duck.  Also serve with hard  cheeses and nuts.

Current wine goes well with beef or pork as a main dish.

Elderberry wine can be served with smoked Salmon or other grilled white fish.

Consider these Food – Wine Questions When Pairing:

Is the food flavor mild or savory?  Is the meal fatty or lean?  Is the dish acidic or rich?  Once you can answer these questions, you can locate a fruit wine that will go well with your dominant dish.  Basically mild wines go with milder foods, and spicy, bold wines will lend more flavors to spicy, robust foods.

Just remember that fruit wines can vary tremendously, depending on how they are crafted and the sweetness.  Be adventurous with your fruit wine parings, and you’ll discover some excellent options along the way.

Have a Happy Fourth and Enjoy!

~ Joy