6 American Red Wines Perfect for Your Fourth of July Weekend Celebration Chris Lehoux, July 2, 2024 Many classic American holidays have a specific feel and certain rituals about them. Thanksgiving’s all about the midday family feast and lazy afternoons on the couch. Christmas can be a frenetic, exciting extravaganza, especially when there are children and presents involved. Halloween’s all about the candy and the crisp, creepy, cool night air. New Year’s Eve? Anticipation, excitement, then the kiss. And for many of these holidays – with the exception of Halloween perhaps – wine often plays a role in many of them for many people. (That being said, I did write a Halloween candy wine pairing story last year.) New Year’s Eve is easy. But what about all the other holidays? You can’t have champagne all the time, although it would be fun to try. Opinions vary from one person to the next. Some people prefer big, bold red wines like cabernet sauvignons or malbec on certain holidays. Others prefer more subtle white wines like sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio. But what about the Fourth of July? What wines go great with Independence Day? For some people, nothing. Go to many backyard barbecues and you’ll likely find hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken and beer. This week, I want to make a case (and not the beer kind) for adding American red wines to this annual celebration. Don’t freak out hop heads. I’m not trying to take away your beer. Believe me. I love an ice-cold beer on a hot summer afternoon just as much as anyone. I’m simply suggesting serving some great red wines to go with all that great food that often gets grilled in backyards across the country. So here are six suggested American red wines for Independence Day. And if you can’t find these specific wines, don’t worry. You can’t go wrong with many California cabernet sauvignons, malbecs and red zinfandels – all of which go great with many grilled meats and other hearty holiday foods. Hope you enjoy. Wine Tasting Notes 2021 Franciscan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($19 Suggested Retail Price) Region: Various vineyards, California Grape: Cabernet sauvignon Tasting notes: One of the reasons why I’m recommending several California cabernet sauvignon wines is because they’re perfect for summer barbecues, where the flavors of many foods (especially grilled meats) can be big and bold – two words that perfectly describe many California cabs. This particular one has a plush, velvet-like finish with hints of roasted cherries, caramel and toasted almonds. 2021 Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles ($27 SRP) Region: Paso Robles, California Grape: Cabernet sauvignon Tasting notes: Put down your pencils and pay attention, class. This Paso Robles red wine is, well, a textbook example of why cabs from this part of central California can hold their own with many better-known wines from Napa Valley. Paso Robles has mineral-rich soil, which gives its wines a nice structure and density. Flavor-wise, this one’s filled with hints of black cherry and plum notes along with a few dashes of vanilla, pencil shavings and chalkboard erasers… OK, I’m kidding about the last two, but you get my point. This wine gets top marks. Class dismissed. 2021 Markham Napa Valley Vineyards Merlot ($30 SRP) Region: Napa Valley, California Grape: Merlot Tasting notes: Easily one of the most overlooked California wine grapes is merlot. It’s mellower than many of the other wines on this list, especially some of the cabernet sauvignons. But that’s why I think merlots deserve a seat at any holiday table. Not everyone loves an over-the-top red wine. Sometimes, understated is better. Here, the fruit flavors (especially plum and raspberry) are subtle, delicate and linger after each sip, like a great conversation with a cherished old friend beside a bonfire long after all your other guests have slipped away into the night. 2022 The Vice The House Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley ($36 SRP) Region: Napa Valley, California Grape: Cabernet sauvignon Tasting notes: What’s so nice about this vice? The price? Perhaps. Its spice? Maybe. Suffice it to say, anyway you slice it, this wine is twice as nice, especially without ice… Ok, I did my best but there’s only so many things I can say about this delightful wine that ends in “ice.” Not really a big fan of cheeky wine names like The Vice. But I’m willing to look past that since this California cab has a vibrant finish with a wonderful blend of subtle fruit flavors and aromas, especially cherry and blackberry. 2021 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon ($55 SRP) Region: Napa Valley, California Grape: Cabernet sauvignon Tasting notes: If you’re looking for a big, bold yet elegant California cabernet sauvignon, I definitely recommend these last two wines on the list. This one has a robust yet velvet-like texture with hints of smoked cherries, cedar, vanilla, pepper, and black licorice. Give this wine a little time to open up before serving it to family and friends. It’s worth the wait and goes great with many hearty barbecue staples, especially grilled steaks. 2020 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve Red Wine ($65 SRP) Region: Napa Valley, California Grape: Blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec, cabernet franc, and petit verdot Tasting notes: If you love big, elegant wines, this blended red wine from California’s Napa Valley should hit the bullseye for you. I’ve long been a fan of this well-established California winery that nowadays sometimes unfairly gets overlooked. This particular wine weaves a wonderful array of complex flavors in each glass – from hints of blackberry and raspberry along with dashes of dark chocolate and roasted cherries. No wonder this Bordeaux-style blended red wine is called tapestry. It’s a work of art in a glass. Sports viewing recommendation for wine lovers On Friday, July 5 starting at 6:30 a.m., Stage 7 of the Tour De France bicycle race makes its way through some of the most gorgeous wine villages and vineyards in Burgundy, France. This day’s race starts in Nuits-Saint-Georges (which you can read more about soon in this column), finishes in Gevrey-Chambertin and passes through Chambolle-Musigny. Each cyclist will leave one at a time so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see the winding, stonewall-lined roads in this charming part of France throughout the morning. Television coverage is available streaming online on . Cheers! “`html Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. “` About the Author: Chris Lehoux Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored! Wine