Our Developer, Marina, has been on the front lines of keeping WineExpress.com free of pesky Technical Issues and full of seamless shopping experiences. So when we found out she was preparing a barbecue-filled weekend at the same time a shipment of new wines were being delivered into our warehouse, setting up a BBQ wine pairing was a no-brainer! Marina was planning on grilling a Game Sausage Sampler which included lamb, wild boar, duck & Armagnac, rabbit & ginger, and venison & cherry sausages. Clearly she would need more than just one wine! She also found a Salad Recipe and prepared some grilled veggies on the side. So Josh, our Wine Director, chose three new wines and left it up to Marina to pair them best! Here are the results…

Treana 2012 White Blend, Central Coast

This Treana was a favorite! The tropical notes of this wine went well with the delicate and mild rabbit sausage which had a hint of ginger. This blend of Viognier and Marsanne had notes of honey and vanilla which complimented the sweetness of the wild boar sausage with a hint of sherry. It also paired well with the salad and grilled veggies!

Slow Press 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

The brightness of Slow Press Cab cut the sweetness of the venison & cherry sausage and accentuated the black cherry flavor that wine carries. It’s a great value at under $13 a bottle from one of the hottest regions for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chateauneuf Du Pape 2012 Secret de Léonce, Domaine Barville, Brotte

The density and richness of Chateauneuf Du Pape stands up to the rich duck & Armagnac sausage, especially with the duck liver that’s added to the meat. The intense flavors of the lamb sausage needed a full-bodied wine like this Chateauneuf Du Pape with its sweet spice-driven bouquet. It’s a big wine with big scores! 92 Points from both Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate.