Not sure what to serve your guests for the 4th of July? Have no fear, below are a mix of whites and reds that are ranked from best to worst to find the Best Wines for the 4th of July!
First Pour Wine’s Best Wines for the 4th of July
For the 4th, we’ll be looking at 4 categories, so that there’s something for everyone:
- White Wines & Rosé – Cool & Refreshing
- Red Wines – Fruity, Fun, Ready for Cookouts
- Sparkling – Off Like A Firework
- Maderia – Drink Like Our Founding Fathers
As a reminder, all the wines listed will have a rating out of 100 listed next to them.
Best Wines for the 4th of July: White & Rosé
The Neighbor Sauvignon Blanc 2013 – A delicious Sauvignon Blanc with a Chardonnay like backbone, The Neighbor Sauvignon Blanc 2013 is a beautiful mix of lime, gooseberry, and notes of tropical fruit and oyster shell. (87/100)
Cline Mourvèdre Rosé – If you’re looking for something a little different, than Cline Mourvèdre Rosé has a nice twist on the standard rosé formula. A good mix of cantaloupe, kiwi, and pomegranate all play with well with a hit of spice. (80/100)
The Archivist Rosé 2015 – A little better than average, the Archivist Rosé has good notes of Strawberry and Cherries, but not a whole lot going on here. Thoroughly average, but tasty. (78/100) – Looking for a great rosé, try Vino (89/100)
La Vis Ritratti Pinot Grigio 2013 – While many Italian Pinot Grigios are refreshing and delicious, La Vis Ritratti isn’t. Flabby, unripe, and with few redeeming qualities, this is an easy skip. (61/100) – Looking for an alternate, try Kirkland Pinot Grigio (NR)
Best Wines for the 4th of July: Red
Crios Malbec 2014 – One of the best wines on First Pour Wine this year, Crios Malbec is perfect for a 4th of July cook out. Loaded with delicious blackberries, toasty spices, hints of tobacco leaf and violets, it’s complex, lively, and smooth. (92/100)
The Neighbor Red Wine Blend 2013 – Spicy plums, currants, cranberries, and hints of vanilla come together in a smooth, weighty wine. There’s a touch of smoke here and there, and a little bit of bouncing around between flavors (85/100)
Best Wines for the 4th of July: Sparkling
Anna De Codorníu Blanc de Blancs – Back at New Years, Anna De Codorníu Rosé blew my mind in a great way. Their Blanc de Blancs is no exception, packed with golden apples, apricots, hints of ripe tropical fruit, and a beautifully fizzy body. (90/100)
Secco Italian Bubbles Pinot Noir Brut 2013 – Subtle almost to a fault, it channels red vines, cherries, and some wet stone. (71/100)
Drink Like Our Founding Fathers: Madeira
Unlike the other wines on our list, Madeira isn’t the sort of thing you’d immediately consider for your 4th of July bash. At the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Madeira was actually fiercely popular in the Colonies for two main reasons:
- It wasn’t taxed, like rum, due to the transport from Portugal.
- It didn’t spoil like regular wine (mostly since it’s already gone bad)
These factors made it intensely popular, and thus it was served regularly. You can emulate the founding of our great country by lifting a glass of one these:
Blandy’s 5 Year Malmsey Madeira – A fat, firm, rich bodied mix of dark caramel, walnuts, pecans, and hints of hoisin, raisin, chocolate, fig, and raisins. The richness here is hard to understate, and there’s a deep complexity to the flavor. (90/100)
Broadbent Rainwater Madeira – Lively and loaded with nuts, it has a full body and plenty of caramelized sugar notes. Lots of nuances are in play here, with touches of raisin, chili, and smoke. (88/100)
Need Something a Little Stronger?
Grab a bottle of Anna De Codorníu Blanc de Blancs and make yourself a French 75!