Charcoal, tick. Drumsticks, tick. Bangers, tick. Now pick your… Simply sizzling barbie dazzlers

When the sun comes out, it’s time to get your sizzle on. I love barbecuing, and while manning the coals at Smith Towers I take pride in finely balancing fierce concentration over perfecting the food while simultaneously pouring a lavish range of drinks to move the mood and moment. And depending on what’s gracing your grill, the options for brilliant bevvies are plentiful.

For a great aperitif, a cool glass of cider is a simple way to kick off proceedings, embracing informality without sacrificing quality. One of my favourite places in the world to find it is Middle Farm in East Sussex, home to the National Collection of Cider & Perry. But wherever you are, my advice is to go local.

If you prefer beer, I’d steer you towards brews drenched in flavour to stand up to all the smokey notes in the dishes. IPAs are a solid bet, but remember darker Porters and even Stouts to rub along with the charry depth of your barbecue banquet.

As for vino, your first thought may be to grab a red, which is a good shout for the burgers and bangers, and you can even look to lighter reds such as Gamay and Pinot Noir to serve chilled when the weather gets hot, emphasising fruit and fragrance in the wine. But if you’re piling into the salads and shellfish, whites can be wonderful, especially when you find sunny bargains from Sicily, such as my pick from Majestic, above – it’s liquid awesomeness. As for reds, mighty Malbec from Argentina is a decent go-to steak red, but with softer textures such as burgers and bangers, I’m a fan of Carménère from Chile. With plenty of deep silky fruit and a twist of spice, Carménère is a cracking all-rounder to deliver the goods, from chicken drumsticks to hot dogs and burgers. And just as I’d highlight the importance of creating temperature zones on your barbecue, keeping hot coals to one side to give you a sizzling zone as well as a cooler area, I’d also remind you to stock up on ice and keep your bottles out of direct sunlight. It’s wine you want, rather than hot grape soup.

 

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