July Fourth is upon us and you know what that means—fireworks, grilled meat and beer. What’s a wine lover to do? Declare independence. Here’s how:

  • Celebrate the holiday with American wines.
  • Keep it easy on your wallet by sticking with wines under $20.
  • Remember these three key wine selection strategies.
    • Weather: If you are going to be outside in the heat, go with chilled white or rosé.
    • Food: If you are grilling steak or burgers, Cabernet Sauvignon is the way to go.
    • Fun: Ditch all of that advice and go for the “wow” factor by serving theme wines.

With that in mind, here are some recos.shutterstock_162449843_EDIT
Baby, it’s hot outside

For my friends in Texas: I know y’all are going to be barbecuing outside in the heat, so consider a wine that can hold up to grilled foods and warm temperatures. I would go with a fuller-bodied white such as Reisling or Viogner. Some of my favorites are crowd-pleasers, including:

Where’s The Beef?

If you’re celebrating with a steak, consider a classic pairing such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Some favorites of the Balanced and Developed tribes are the Cycles Gladiator 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon ($12) and one of our house favorites, the 2017 Leese Fitch Cabernet, which you can usually pick up for about $10.

Salute to Theme Wines

I’ll be the first to admit I am a sucker for wines with cool labels, especially if they’re themed to the celebration. Here are two great examples for July Fourth:

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  • BBQ American Red Table Wine from Washington State-based negotiant Ded.reckoning. Yes, that is what this red blend is called. I admit I first bought it because the label makes me laugh. But it is good stuff and has become our go-to wine whenever we grill. BBQ Label 2010

Hopefully these recommendations for the best wines for July 4th have been explosively helpful. Leave a comment with your suggested Independence Day wines—and have a glorious Fourth!

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