The Best Wines to Serve at Your Pride Barbecue

Nothing brings people together quite like a summer barbecue. From sizzling burgers and smoky ribs to grilled vegetables and fresh seasonal salads, backyard gatherings are all about great food, good company, and refreshing drinks. While beer often gets top billing at cookouts, wine can be an equally versatile and crowd-pleasing choice. The right bottle can enhance the flavors of everything coming off the grill, complement a wide variety of dishes, and add a touch of sophistication without feeling formal. Whether you prefer crisp whites, refreshing rosés, or easy-drinking reds, these wines are perfect companions for long summer evenings spent dining outdoors.

Turks Head Wines 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County ($58, 750ml, 13.9% ABV): Dark ruby to deep purple and opaque throughout, this wine opens with a powerful bouquet of black fruit, wild bramble, and tobacco, with classic undertones of wet stone and granite. The palate is dense and layered, led by flavors of blackberry compote and blueberry pie, but still maintains a strong earthy element of forest floor, black pepper, and crushed gravel. Aged in 35% new French oak, this wine gains complexity with notes of vanilla, leather, and dark cocoa. Despite its richness, the youthful tannins point you to a long aging potential ahead. If enjoyed in the near term, Turks Head recommends decanting and pairing with a rich, textured dish – something fatty enough to help tame the tannic grip.

Marble Wines is an Atlanta-based brand founded by two women, Latoya S. Jordan and Brianna Shelko, who set out to create an approachable, easy-drinking red blend perfect for summer gatherings. At just $18.99, it delivers quality without breaking the bank — exactly what any BBQ host is looking for. The smooth, fruit-forward blend pairs beautifully with grilled meats and won't intimidate guests who don't typically reach for a red, thanks to its light tannins and accessible flavor profile. Beyond the wine itself, the brand's name reflects the founders' collaborative, cross-cultural partnership, making it a natural conversation starter around the grill. Available at Georgia retail locations and shipping nationwide, Marble Wines was built for people who want to enjoy wine without the pretension — which is precisely the spirit of a great summer BBQ.

Albert Bichot Bourgogne Pinot Noir -The Versatile Crowd Favorite - Bright red fruit, approachable structure, and easy-drinking appeal make Burgundy Pinot an ideal bridge wine for mixed menus — from burgers and hot dogs to grilled vegetables and charcuterie before dinner. Chill 15–20 minutes before serving. 

Alamitos Vineyards, San Jose's only vineyard winery, produces small-lot estate wines from the historic New Almaden area with a focus on quality and a strong sense of place. Their flagship rosé, now in its sixth vintage and a consistent sell-out, is a Provence-inspired blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Touriga Nacional — a Portuguese varietal rarely found in California rosé — resulting in a pale, crisp, dry wine that balances brightness, red fruit, and subtle complexity. The wine has earned three gold medals, including recognition at the 2025 Experience Rosé Competition, the Drink Pink Vino International Rosé Wine Competition, and the International Women's Wine Competition.

Keel + Curley Winery was founded in 2003 with just 10 gallons of homemade blueberry wine created from the leftover crop of that year's berries. Today, the company has grown to produce over 35,000 cases of fruit-based wines. Each batch was improved until it became the unique and charming flavors that Keel + Curley Winery is known for today. Keel’s pride themselves on handcrafting high-quality, locally grown, and self-sustaining beverages, through hard work on the farm, Keel’s produces honest, healthy, sustainable, ground-to-glass products for all to enjoy. Some of the most popular flavors are Blueberry, Black Cherry Pinot Noir, Black Raspberry Merlot and Red Sangria.

The 2023 Unshackled Pinot Noir is unlike any other Central Coast red you’ve tasted. A bold, supple red wine with flavors of red cherries, cranberries, and wild berries intertwined with notes of sweet brown spices and black pepper.

From Washington winemaker Charles Smith at House of Smith: REAL Wine Cabernet Sauvignon has compelling aromas and is ripe, rich, and delicious, without being overpowering. Whereas other wines can be made with up to 76 legal ingredients, this wine is made with just grapes and minimal sulfites with ingredients clearly listed on the bottle for transparency and easy drinking. It’s available for $20 at retailers nationwide and online at houseofsmith.com.