These Are the Best Wines to Pair with Summer Dishes
The Sunset Wine Club perfectly pairs standout wines with recipes from the magazine. See our favorite wine pairings here.
Thomas J. Story
You’re cordially invited to join the Sunset Wine Club, a selection of story-worthy wines produced by the top growers and vintners in California, Oregon, Washington, and beyond delivered straight to your door. We’ve partnered with the country’s premier online wine retailer, Wine Access, to curate a standout mix of reds, whites, bubblies, and rosés to drink this season. Think of each delivery as a box of aperitifs, party-ready bottles, and weeknight dinner solutions. Even better, they’ve been selected to go with the recipes and menus in the current issue. As a member of the Sunset Wine Club, you will receive the following exclusive benefits:
The Sunset Wine Club
Wine Club members receive:
- 6 featured wines, shipped every 3 months
- Tasting notes and suggested pairings for Sunset recipes
- The first look at rare gems in the Sunset wine shop
- Exclusive member events
Six Story-Worthy Wines, Shipped Every Three Months
Each bottle is thoughtfully crafted by a group of diverse, environmentally responsible winemakers.
Sunset Recipes, Profound Pairings
Every bottle comes with exclusive tasting notes and suggested pairings for Sunset recipes, hand-picked by sommeliers.
First Shot at Rare Gems and Icons
You’ll be first in line to claim the newest, highly allocated wines. These are bottles Sunset editors stand behind and serve in their own homes.
Recipes and Wine Pairings for the 2024 Wellness Issue
All these bottles are in our next club shipment, and the recipes were all featured in our 2024 Summer Living issue.
Excerpted from ‘The Side Gardener’ by Rosie Daykin. Copyright © 2024 Rosie Daykin. Photographs by Andrew Montgomery. Published by Appetite an imprint of Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.
2021 Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County: Nothing could be better than a bold Cabernet that shines with jammy blackberry, cocoa nibs, and a burst of tobacco that picks up on the mint flavor in a grain-based salad—which also features the earthiness of beets with sweet summer berries.
Recipe: Beet, Blackberry Buckwheat Salad
Thomas J. Story
2019 Calling Card Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County: This Chardonnay is the ideal pairing thanks to a bright crispness on the finish that picks up on the citrus and refreshes the palate, all while having enough bold body to stand up to the richness of the fried fish and match the creaminess of the sauce.
Bonus! This wine goes well with Tacos la Paz, as well.
2018 Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Les Enfants Terribles, Mendocino Ridge: This super food-friendly Zinfandel has enough acid to cut through the richness of fried or grilled food, with a peppery spice and silky juiciness that’s delightful at the table or before the meal.
Recipe: Tacos La Paz
Excerpted from ‘The Side Gardener’ by Rosie Daykin. Copyright © 2024 Rosie Daykin. Photographs by Andrew Montgomery. Published by Appetite an imprint of Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.
2016 Three Wine Company Mataro Spinelli Vineyard, Contra Costa County: With tomatoes center stage in this dish, wine should play a supporting role. With eight years of bottle age, the wine’s herbal elements will bring out the savory flavors of the tomatoes and match the spice in the dressing.
Recipe: Side Garden Panzanella Salad
Thomas J. Story
2023 Marietta Cellars Old Vine Rosé, California: To ensure that the fresh fish and delicate smoky flavors in the dish shine, a rosé with bright acidity is ideal. The Marietta Cellars rosé grabs onto the lemon and cilantro, amplifying them while still letting the fish come through.
Recipe: Kanpachi Sashimi with Salsa Morita
Excerpted from ‘The Side Gardener’ by Rosie Daykin. Copyright © 2024 Rosie Daykin. Photographs by Andrew Montgomery. Published by Appetite an imprint of Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.
2018 Argyle Winery Blanc De Noirs, Willamette Valley: Bubbles and dessert is a perfect pairing. Made from Pinot Noir, this wine has a red-fruit quality with flavors of plum and cherry that enhance the rhubarb with every sip. It also has a hint of brioche and cream that pairs nicely with the graham cracker crust.
Recipe: Rhubarb Panna Cotta
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