Five burger-friendly red wines for your weekend BBQ

As summer season kicks off, think big, bold and fruity for al fresco dining

Our expert's pick of barbecue-perfect reds

Aoife Carrigy

As we dust off those barbecues for the summer season and ahead of tomorrow’s International Burger Day, I’ve been thinking about what red wines might pair best with an unapologetically meaty burger.

These are not necessarily reds for drinking all day at a barbecue, as most weigh in at around 13-14pc ABV (alcohol by volume). Of course I could have included some reds from, say Bordeaux, at more moderate alcohol levels — whether something left bank and Cabernet-led for its meat-friendly tannins, or right bank and Merlot-led for generous fruit profile. Or a crunchy Cabernet Franc from the Loire, with those slightly sappy green notes that bring refreshing bite. However, while I do personally tend to prefer a more restrained red wine in terms of body and alcohol, when it comes to a big, juicy burger, the wine styles that come to mind tend to be big, bold and fruity.