Labor Day Weekend is one of my favorites of the summer – mostly because it actually IS a holiday weekend, instead of a rando 4th of July on a Tuesday! As you get ready to chill out, check out these affordalicious wine suggestions – with some tasty take-out suggestions to keep it easy. You also can watch my segment on WGN-TV’s “Daytime Chicago” here! Let’s go!

Domaine Bousquet Organic Brut Rosé ($13) I love everything Domaine Bousquet does! They are located in Argentina’s Mendoza region – specifically the Uco Valley, even more specifically in Gaultallary, high up in the mountains at 4,000 feet. I’ve tasted a lot of Domaine Bousquet wines, and they always over-deliver on quality for the price. From this pretty pink sparkler to their still wines – rosé, white and red – I have not met one yet that wasn’t well-made and balanced, and always for an affordalicious price.

This Brut rosé is deliciously dry and refreshing, with a frothy mouthfeel that swims over your palate, and it’s got appealing notes of strawberry and melon. It’s not complicated; it asks nothing more of you than to pour a glass, put your feet up and chill out. Alcohol: 12%.

Another thing I admire about Domaine Bousquet is their deep commitment to sustainability. They are not only Argentina’s largest exporter of organic wines (and have been since Day 1 in 1997), but they have been B-Corp-certified since 2022 (a rigorous process that ensures your entire operation is prioritized around environmental sustainability and workplace and community sustainability). They farm organically and regeneratively, which is HUGE, when it comes to preserving topsoil and the entire ecosystem. Among other things, regenerative farming means no tilling (which releases carbon into the atmosphere) and working to maintain soil health. I like to support wines that support the planet, and Domaine Bousquet does it right. Okay, next!

Ponga 2023 Sauvignon Blanc ($15) Okay, there was a period a few years back when I hated New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. There, I said it. But you know what? Your palate can change over time, and when I cracked open this beauty, I was gobsmacked! It’s fresh and zesty, with a rush of newly mown grass, zingy grapefruit zest and fresh peach. It’s a porch pounder, for sure. Alcohol: 12.5%

What’s up with the name? I’ll tell you: it’s a Maori word (the indigenous people of New Zealand) for Silver Fern, whose leaves have a silvery underside, which the Maori used to mark their their path through the forest, reflected by the moon. Cool!

This wine comes from New Zealand’s famous Marlborough region, on the north end of the South Island (I remember because “North of South”!) Sauvie B, as the kids like to say, exploded in popularity here in about 2000, and hasn’t slowed down since. It’s an easy-breezy crowd-pleaser of a white, with acidity that is in great balance with the fruit. Yuh-mee!!!

Tasty Take-out Both of these wines will be excellent with fried chicken! Whether it comes in a bucket from the colonel or in a bag or box from a neighborhood spot, you cannot go wrong. (I mean, Champagne and fried chicken is a legendary high-low pairing). Both of these wines have the acidity to stand up to the crispy, salty fried batter on the chicken, and yes, traditional mac n’ cheese or slaw will round out a simply delicious feast! My fave: Honey Butter Fried Chicken, with TWO locations now: the original at Elston and Roscoe in Chicago, and one up in Glencoe on Vernon Avenue.

Zenato 2020 Alanera Rosso Veronese ($15) The first time I tasted this wine, I dropped a a big fat F-bomb in my tasting notes because it just WOWED me. “F*&ck it’s delicious!” is what I wrote! It is from the Valpolicella region of Verona, in northern Italy, and it’s made from a blend of 55% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone, 5% each of Merlot and Cabernet. On top of this quintet of grapes, half of the wine is appasimento, which means the grapes are left out to dry a bit before crushing and fermenting. (This is why the wine is labeled IGT – or Indication Geografica Tipica – and not Valpolicella.) You’re going to find some chocolate-covered cherries and cranberries here, light roast coffee beans and cloves with a kiss of leather.

I like it, too, because it’s family-owned, run now by siblings Nadia and Alberto Zenato. The name Alanera means “black wing,” which refers to the swallows that fly over the vineyard at harvest time. Alcohol: 13.5%

Taste Take-out This wine will positively SING paired with barbecue brisket or burgers! The deep red fruit and savory flavors of the wine, together with its great structure, will make the food taste better and vice versa! (That’s the key to a great pairing – the wine and food each make the other stand out.) If you’re in the Chicago area, the best smoked brisket in the land can be found at Smoque BBQ, at 3800 N. Pulaski off of Irving Park.

So, take it easy this weekend and enjoy some great wines, paired with great take-out. You’ll be ready to cruise into September with a pep in your step! Cheers!