Pairing wines for your cookout

By L. PIERCE CARSON
Register Staff Writer

Petite sirah, syrah and zinfandel are three red wine varieties sure to complement dishes cooked on the backyard grill.

And that’s exactly what Chad Nassif, Bounty Hunter’s wine bar manager, selected to pair with chef Jesse Wall’s delectable beef brisket for the upcoming holiday weekend alfresco gathering.

Nassif picked out a trio of wines from Bounty Hunter’s own wine collection. Here are his selections and reasons for pairing the wine with barbecued brisket:



Pursuit 2006 Russian River Valley Cherry Ridge Syrah

• $31.95

A single vineyard syrah that “will match up with the spice in the brisket rub. It’s a lighter red but one with a nice amount of pepper. Ripe and harmonious ... it’s approachable for an afternoon picnic. Big red lovers take note — this is your kind of wine.”

Broken Spur 2006 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

• $24.95

“This one has bigger fruit and it’s a little juicier. It’s a classic zin — a barbecue pairing wine. Old vine Dry Creek fruit always does the trick.”

Broken Spur 2006 Paso Robles Petite Sirah

• $27.95

“There’s nothing petite about it. Bright purple berry fruits and cedar spice ... this new release just drips with flavor. Our ‘go-to’ red with the barbecue platter at the wine bar. This one’s always on our flight of  barbecue wines. Because of the big, juicy flavors, it always ends the flight.”

Nassif pointed out that every Monday, Bounty Hunter brand wines by the glass are offered at 2-for-1 prices, with a 20 percent discount for all Bounty Hunter brands. The kitchen crew is also offering rib and slaw appetizers at $5 and a BBQ sampler plate at $10. The same applies for happy hour (3-7 p.m.) Tuesday through Friday. On Cheeseburger Wednesdays, the kitchen prepares a Kobe Cheeseburger with a side (green salad, Caesar salad, potato salad or cole slaw) for only $13.

Bounty Hunter is located at 975 First St., Napa.

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