Say Goodbye to Summer with Labor Day Festivities—and Don’t Forget the Wine!

by Robin Barr Sussman on August 26, 2026 in Food+Drink, Drink,
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Summer may be winding down, but the warm Texas weather and celebration season are far from over. Be ready for anything by stocking up on fun wine varietals that transition seamlessly from casual sipping to backyard barbecues and elevated dinners.

 

REFRESHING WHITES FOR SIZZLING SUMMER FARE

Seven Hills Winery 2024 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 

Seven Hills silky Sauvignon Blanc from Washington State will soar you through summer entertaining. Photo courtesy Seven Hills Winery.

From Washington State’s most acclaimed appellation, this Sauvignon Blanc flaunts vibrant notes of pear, passionfruit, and yellow peach. Brisk yet free of grassiness, the silky wine pairs effortlessly with poolside sipping, a spicy fish taco, or grilled asparagus with Parmesan ($20).

 

Domenica Trentino DOC 2025 Pinot Grigio

Domenica Trentino DOC Pinot Grigio is a versatile wine that pairs with almost everything. Photo courtesy Mezzacorona.

Italian Pinot Grigio is known as an ideal aperitif wine and an easy pairing with myriad dishes due to its crisp acidity, freshness and minerality. Boasting floral aromatics, this wine becomes a delicious match for Italian-style pasta salads, grilled spiced chicken, or richer dishes like garlic butter lobster ($15).

 

Bogle Family Vineyards 2025 Chenin Blanc Clarksburg

Bogle Family Vineyards produces quality, affordable wines like this lip-smacking Chenin Blanc. Photo courtesy Bogle Family Vineyards.

For more than 50 years, Bogle has been producing high-quality wines with approachable prices. Its chenin blanc is aromatic with layers of vibrant fruit flavors like Asian pear, melon and Meyer lemon. Zippy acidity plays nicely with everything from with Thai spiced popcorn to hot honey glazed pork chops ($12).

 

RICHER WHITES AND PINKS FOR SAVORING

Tangent 2024 Albariño Edna Valley

California Albariño, like this one from Tangent, is celebrated for its high acidity, ripe fruits and saline minerality. Photo courtesy Tangent Winery.

Bright, crisp, and racy with a Pacific Ocean twist. Notes of ripe citrus and guava meet great minerality in a lower-alcohol wine that doesn’t sacrifice flavor—and it’s so affordable ($17).

 

Chamisal Vineyards 2023 Chardonnay San Luis Obispo County 

Chamisal Vineyards crafts an unoaked Chardonnay perfect for summer. Photo courtesy Chamisal Vineyards.

Perfect for the “anything but Chardonnay” crowd, this unoaked Central Coast find offers surprising complexity, depth, and texture. Crisp notes of lemon, green apple, and coastal salinity make it an ideal match for oysters or light pasta dishes ($18).

 

Joseph Phelps 2025 Estate Grown Viognier Napa Valley

Joseph Phelps produces beautiful wines like this fragrant Viognier. Photo courtesy yJoseph Phelps.

Aromatics are Viognier’s calling card, delivering a bouquet of apricot, honeydew, and gardenia. Anticipate a silky mouthfeel balanced by bright acidity, with lush flavors of peach, Pink Lady apple, and vanilla. Savor this splurge alongside buttery corn and grilled shrimp kabobs, exotic Asian fare, or burrata bruschetta ($85).

 

San Simeon 2025 Grenache Rosé Paso Robles

San Simeon’s fruity meets savory Grenache Rosé is the answer to the Texas heat. Photo courtesy San Simeon.

Fragrant summer fruits—honeydew, plum, and strawberry—lead to a savory palate accented by orange hibiscus. Well-structured and round with vibrant acidity and a long finish (about $18).

 

REDS TO ENHANCE GRILLED FAVORITES

Roblar 2023 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

Roblar in the Santa Barbara area crafts a complex Pinot Noir worthy of a special occasion. Photo courtesy Roblar.

2023 was an excellent vintage for Pinot Noir. Anticipate aromas of ripe strawberry, cherry, baking spices and earth, with flavors of cranberry, Framboise, and dark chocolate ($53). Its sister winery, Refugio Ranch, produces a fine Sangiovese with peppery notes that drinks well with barbecue ($50).

 

Benovia 2022 Sonoma County Zinfandel

The Sonoma County Zinfandel produced by Benovia is a must pour with barbecue or your finest cut of beef. Photo courtesy Benovia.

Zinfandel is a barbecued rib’s best friend! Boysenberry jam and ripe fig aromas lead to exuberant fruit, bright acidity, and a spice-laden finish ($50). Benovia’s juicy 2021 Sonoma Mountain Grenache offers white pepper and herbs de Provence fragrances with red currant and grilling spices flavors ($45).

 

Ponzi Tavola 2024 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

This Pinot Noir from Ponzi is delicious with grilled portobello mushrooms and spiced salmon. Photo courtesy Ponzi Vineyards.

This lively Oregon pinot noir with a handy screw closure is velvety, generously fruity, and delicious with grilled salmon. Ponzi’s 2025 Pinot Noir Rosé also is scrumptious with a unique salinity note. Stock up on both and enjoy everyday luxury often ($30).

 

Messina Hof Mourvèdre Artist Series

Pick up some bold Mourvèdre by Messina Hof for your next cookout or visit the newly remodeled winery in Richmond, Texas! Photo courtesy Messina Hof.

Bold and dry, this robust Texas wine offers smoky, earthy aromas, balanced by ripe black fruit and natural olive flavors. Mourvèdre pairs perfectly with wild game or pepper-seasoned, smoked red meats ($35).

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Cover photo Cheryl Juetten

Writer Robin Barr Sussman

Robin Barr Sussman (rbs@pdq.net) is a freelance culinary and travel writer who studied at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone, Calif. As a chef for Sonoma County wineries, her specialty was food and wine pairing. Sussman’s work appears in Texas Monthly, Fodor’s, The Infatuation, BestWineries.com, Style Blueprint, Texas Lifestyle Magazine, Bluejack National Magazine, and Private Clubs Magazine.