Perfect Food and Wine Pairings for Your Labor Day Party

More than just a three-day weekend, Labor Day is an excellent opportunity to get your friends and family together for a grand end-of-summer celebration. Before the season transitions and the temperatures drop, make the most of this occasion by hosting the ultimate Labor Day party.

Why not say goodbye to the last rays of the summer sun at a Labor Day picnic or cookout? Be it deli sandwiches, chilled appetizer trays, hot-off-the-grill steaks or seasonal desserts— they all deserve to be paired with top-tier wines.

To help you deliver a memorably delicious Labor Day party, we’ve created a Labor Day guide packed with food and wine pairing ideas.

The Basics for Food and Wine Pairing

When it comes to pairing food and wine, there are a few general rules worth following to ensure you get the perfect pairing:

Balance flavors: Select wines with tasting notes that perfectly match or complement your food to create a deliciously complex mouthful—you can find helpful information on the wine label or product listing.
Match intensity: Always match your wine to the intensity of your food to avoid one overpowering the other. For example, a grilled steak with big, beefy flavors would pair best with a rich, full-bodied red wine.
Think about the prep and cooking: How your food is prepped and cooked can affect its flavor. Before choosing a wine, make sure you understand how the flavors will change from seasonings, marinades and cooking methods so you can adjust accordingly.

Labor Day Party Food and Wine Pairings

Salty Snacks and Appetizers

While you’re finishing up preparing and cooking the main attraction, serve your guests a selection of salty cheeses, bread, pretzels and chips, along with a slightly sparking—or frizzante—wine. Not only will this create a deliciously decadent mouthful and balance out the saltiness of the snacks, but it will also get everyone in the party mood.

Salads

For some people, sticking to a simple Labor Day party menu is the way to go—and what could be easier than a range of summery salads?

Dressed salads are a great way to add color to plates and feed a host of hungry guests, and with so many types of salad out there—think Fattoush, Cobb, Greek, Caesar—it’s easy to whip up several for your guests to mix and match. Wine and salad can go hand-in-hand to create a light and fresh meal, so finding the right wine to match your greens is key.

Charcuterie and Cold Cuts

Charcuterie boards and platters of cold cuts encourage everyone to try new things and customize their plates. Offer your guests the opportunity to explore the world with a selection of meats from different countries: try Chorizo, Speck, Bresaola, Prosciutto and Iberian ham.

Although the rule is “red meat, red wine,” cold cuts pair great with a chilled rosé like a Grenache blend or Pinot Noir rosé for something a little lighter that won’t overpower the cold cuts’ lighter texture and more delicate flavors.

Mouthwatering, crisp and full of ripe raspberry and strawberry flavors, Pescadero Rock Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 is an excellent option for this course.

Barbecue

Grilled chicken, lamb or beef steaks, ribs glazed in sweet barbecue sauce, and robust vegetables like mushrooms and eggplant—all staples on a Labor Day backyard barbecue menu. But what wine to pair with them?

A lighter red wine is the answer to cover your bases and pair with most items on the grill—think Gamay or Pinot Noir. Not only can these light-bodied red wines stand up to barbecue flavors, but they’re also more refreshing to drink. But think about what sauces and rubs you use—this may influence your choice of wine.

Try our vibrant and elegant Ricochet Pinot Noir 2019 from California.

Seafood

Full of fresh, delicate flavors, seafood is a summertime staple and the perfect alternative to chicken or steak when it comes to a Labor Day party menu. White wine reigns supreme with seafood.

A Chardonnay is a good option for meatier fishes like tuna or salmon, thanks to its fuller body and creaminess, while a Pinot Grigio is a great white wine for something lighter and more delicate like shrimp.

Our creamy Whale Coast Chardonnay 2022 from South Africa is up to the task.

Desserts

No one would say no to finishing off a Labor Day picnic with something sweet. From refreshing fruit salads to creamy tarts, ending on a sweet high can help send your Labor Day guests home satisfied.

After all the barbecue, charcuterie and seafood, something light like an angel food cake or fruit salad sprinkled with mint is called for. When pairing wine with desserts like these, opt for wines that match the primary flavors of the dessert.

Our off-dry Green Darner Riesling 2019 is a delicious choice for delicate cakes like a classic angel food cake.

Shop our wide selection of award-winning wines to find the right wines for your Labor Day party.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen, Personal Wine Advisor

The best moments of life involve entertaining friends and family over great meals, great wine and genuine laughter. I sometimes can’t believe that I get to do this for a living!

WSET – Level 2 Wines & Spirits Certified

Rhône Reds • Sonoma Reds • Barrel-Aged Rioja • If I can get a good, sumptuous lip smack from my glass, I am pleasantly charmed!

karen@laithwaites.com | (203) 523-2157