entertain0505

Uncover the lawn furniture and clean out the grill. Spring is here! It is time to start BBQ'ing! These longer daylight hours inspire casual food fare, and relaxing evenings at home with friends.

Today I want to tell you about some wines that will go great with your BBQ. I know, everyone has their regular standby big bottles of cabernet and what not. But there are two varietals of wine that perfectly compliment all those wild sweet, spicy and smoky flavors that come from your grilling.

First, cracking open a big, bold, buttery, and oaky California Chardonnay with your grilled chicken, salmon, and veggies. This white wine won't over-power your meal. Most of the time California Chardonnays area bit too full-flavored to be paired with dinner. But with all the bold flavors of a cookout, a Chardonnay will stand up wonderfully.

Now, for a rich, wild, and bold red wine to match to your BBQ: Try a California Zinfandel. No, not the pink stuff you're probably thinking of. A Zinfandel is a most sumptuous and sexy red wine. It is from a grape that is purely American. Its rich flavors of berries, black pepper and raisins will be a big hit with your steaks, kabobs, sauces, and burgers.

A few to try:

TOASTED HEAD Chardonnay, price about 12.00
SONOMA CUTRER RANCHES Chardonnay, price about 17.00

LALONIS Zinfandel, price about 15.00 (Organic too!)
RANCHO ZABACO DANCING BULL ZIN, price about 11.00

Champagne and Appetizers:
Let the Celebration Begin
by Bogdan Voicu

Are you preparing a romantic dinner? A party? Want to feel great eating alone? Whatever the reason, champagne is a definitely must. What to serve it with before the main meal, though?

There are some appetizers that suit with champagne better than with any other beverage or alcoholic drink: caviar, as an example, is so well known it doesn't even require presentation.

What more?

Foie gras
OK, liver. I just used the French term that chefs will use; please don't shoot me for that. I mean, champagne is French, isn't it? Anyway, try goose or duck liver. This soft, smooth type of dish will certainly increase your drinking experience.

Raw Oysters
A good combination but you should not use it if you prefer the oysters with lemon or vinegar. These are serious taste decreases when regarding champagne.

Sushi
Just a perfect combination. Almost everybody likes sushi and champagne will surely be the catalyst to a great dinner or party.

Stuffed Mushrooms
Every appetizer that uses mushrooms is a good match for champagne. Of course, do not use any heavy sauce. Cheese filled mushrooms are a great appetizer.

Raw Shrimp
Shrimp is a good appetizer for champagne at any time. Raw shrimp, especially, will make the taste of your drink a lot better. This is of course, when you avoid the heavy sauce.

Cheese
Well, one of the most sought for appetizers with champagne is cheese. But - yes, there is a but- there are so many types of cheese that I chose to give them a full new page here. Check it out if want to find out what champagne to use with what cheese.

The appetizers are the introduction to a great meal but, when paired with champagne, they are even more: they are the start of a happy time, of a celebration. Why don't you just try to make every occasion a celebration? Maybe we could all be a lot happier then...

About The Author
Bogdan Voicu is the owner of Choose Champagne, a site that will make your life a lot easier at times of celebration and not only.