Spirit Cruises January 2023 Leaderboard

Beaujolais & Burgers: A Successful Pairing

by Swabreen Bakr on Sep 20, 2012 in Wine

Almost everyone loves burgers, but what about burgers and wine? Chilled red wine at that! This is not a pairing you would ordinarily think of; however, the two make for a surprisingly winning combination. We recently attended a tasting of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais series of reds from the eastern region of France: Beaujolais-Villages, Chiroubles, Brouilly, Fleurie, Morgon and Juliénas Chateuu des Capitans. The wines were paired with some of Philly’s best burgers from the likes of 500 Degrees, Rouge, Alfa and Spiga.

At the presentation, wine expert Mark Oldham extolled the virtues of this graceful and charming style of wine: Beaujolais is not a snobby wine; the bottles are very affordable; the taste is charming and approachable; and it makes for a great selection on a first date, as this style of wine is very easy drinking. He also noted it’s perfect for the current season, late summer to early fall.

The Duboeuf Beaujolais are made with 100% Gamay grapes, a very old cultivar that shows tasting notes of red fruits, including currants, raspberries, cherries and strawberries. The wines exhibit a tender mouthfeel, deep flavor, and tend to have soft tannins, so they’re very refreshing when served chilled. Oldham referred to them as something of a white wine masquerading as a red wine, considering how well they work with cheeses and other traditional white wine pairings.

The price points for these wines range from $10–$19.  However price does not define the quality of a wine —  think about some of the better Chilean or Argentinian wines available  for less than $20. If you’re looking for a $10, $15 or $20 bottle of wine that tastes more expensive that it costs, you’ll be making a safe bet with a Beaujolais. Plus, you’ll probably make white wine drinkers just as happy as those who always go for red.

Tasting the different styles of Beaujolais while sampling the burgers made for a very balanced meal — none of them overwhelmed any of the food, instead complementing the meaty flavors of the burgers rather well. We left a convert — next summer we’ll definitely swap some chilled Beaujolais in for beer when we grill up burgers.

Here are the varietals we tasted:

Beaujolais-Villages: 12.5% Alcohol. Serve chilled. Pair with hors d'oeuvres, sauteed chicken, pasta and vegetables, cheeses.

Chiroubles: 13% Alcohol. Serve slightly cool at 57°F. Pair with assorted charcuterie, roasted chicken, pasta salad, cheeses.

Brouilly: 12.7% Alcohol. Serve cool at 54°F. Pair with grilled or roasted chicken, roast duck, roasted red meats, fine cheeses.

Fleurie: 13% Alcohol. Serve cool at 54°F. Pair with grilled sausages, chicken and lamb chops.

Morgon: 12.9% Alcohol. Serve slightly cool at 57°F. Pair with rack of lamb, venison, roasted turkey.

Juliénas Chateuu des Capitans: 12.9% Alcohol. Serve cool at 54°F. Pair with red meats and distinctive cheeses. 

Photos by Swabreen Bakr

Recent Articles
spacer

Feedback

How are we doing? Tell us what you like or don't like and how we can improve. We would love to hear your thoughts!

*Name:
*E-mail:
*Suggestions:
 
Pamper Yourself at These Spas with Bars in Philadelphia

Pamper Yourself at These Spas with Bars in Philadelphia

Whether you're going solo or heading out with friends, we've got just the place for your to relax and enjoy a good drink...read more ›

by Jessie Donofrio Apr 5, 2023
The Best Mocktails, Zero Proof, & Non-Alcoholic Drinks in Philadelphia

The Best Mocktails, Zero Proof, & Non-Alcoholic Drinks in Philadelphia

Not drinking alcohol tonight? These bars and restaurants have you covered with inventive, thoughtful, and down...read more ›

by Michelle Cassidy Jan 11, 2023
Inflation Hits PA Wine & Spirits with 4% Price Increase Across 3,500 Products

Inflation Hits PA Wine & Spirits with 4% Price Increase Across 3,500 Products

The PLCB, announced that a 4% price increase would go into effect on 3,554 of its most popular wine and spirit...read more ›

by Jessie Donofrio Jan 9, 2023
SPONSORED
The Best Cocktail Bars in Philadelphia

The Best Cocktail Bars in Philadelphia

Here it is - the definitive list of Philadelphia's best cocktail bars....read more ›

by Drink Philly Dec 13, 2017
The Philly Distiller Who Got Laid Off and Moved to Hawaii to Make Gin

The Philly Distiller Who Got Laid Off and Moved to Hawaii to Make Gin

In this segment we speak to Olivia Babiec, the former Philadelphia Distiller who moved to Hawaii to make gin...read more ›

by Jessie Donofrio Jan 5, 2023
Bars & Restaurants that Host Private Events in Philadelphia

Bars & Restaurants that Host Private Events in Philadelphia

Holidays, birthdays, weddings, or any private event - Philadelphia has you covered...read more ›

by Drink Philly Dec 5, 2022
Where to Celebrate Philly Cider Week 2022, October 23-30

Where to Celebrate Philly Cider Week 2022, October 23-30

The fourth annual Philadelphia Cider Week is being celebrated from Sunday, October 23 through Sunday, October 30...read more ›

by Jessie Donofrio Oct 21, 2022
Enjoy Fall Weather & PA Ciders in a Historic Setting at CiderFest, October 15 & 16

Enjoy Fall Weather & PA Ciders in a Historic Setting at CiderFest, October 15 & 16

Fall is here and what better way to celebrate than at CiderFest at the historic Woodford Mansion in Fairmount ...read more ›

by Drink Philly Oct 13, 2022
WitchCraft: Halloween Themed Beer Fest in the Middle of the NJ Woods Returns October 14 & 15

WitchCraft: Halloween Themed Beer Fest in the Middle of the NJ Woods Returns October 14 & 15

The team behind the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival have conjured up a spellbinding event - WitchCraft - a...read more ›

by Jessie Donofrio Oct 12, 2022
LMNO: An Inside Look at Their 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Cocktail Menu

LMNO: An Inside Look at Their 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Cocktail Menu

Fishtown has a new Baja Mexican destination for tequila and mezcal fans...read more ›

by Drink Philly Feb 14, 2022
SPONSORED
View all Articles

Sign up to get weekly drinking news, bar reviews, events and more sent directly to your inbox!

Close