The Best Wines for Labor Day

Why is wine a great choice for Labor Day?

Labor Day is a celebration of hard work and workers’ contributions to American culture and society. Great wine, being the product of labor and expertise, is the perfect fit. Raising a glass of wine is a tribute to all the effort of and workers at the vineyard, winery and beyond across the United States.   

Plus, you’re going to be enjoying great food on Labor Day and there isn’t a better partner than great wine.   

What wines are best for a Labor Day cookout? 

First, let’s consider the time of year—the first Monday of September. With luck, summer sunshine is still shining bright, so you’ll need some refreshing whites, rosés and sparkling wine. But fall is just round the corner, so it’s only natural you’ll want reds with a bit of mellow richness and depth, too. 

But most importantly, you’ll need wines that are really going to hit the spot alongside the glorious grilled food you’ll be enjoying. And, because you’re probably spending the holiday with friends and family, those wines have got to be real crowd-pleasers too.  

All a bit daunting? Don't worry, we’ve got the big day covered.  

What white wines work best for outdoor entertaining?

Labor Day outdoor entertaining means firing up the grill. And if you love seafood, you might be flame-cooking shrimp. The delicious, smoky char adds complexity to the shrimp’s natural sweetness, making crisp whites (and rosés) the perfect match.  

If you’re using a citrusy marinade, go for a zesty Sauvignon Blanc. And what could be more patriotic than USA 250 White House Sauvignon Blanc? It’s a 90-point Californian white bursting with citrus, papaya and stone fruit. 

For something even more tangy, open a bottle of California’s orchard-fruited On The Line Chenin Blanc. And if you’re looking for a white wine to dazzle and surprise, go for a Riesling like The Engine, an off-dry find from New York’s Finger Lakes that gently purrs with citrus and jasmine.  

And don’t forget rosé!  Try the elegant, Provence classic Domaine du Mas Ensoleillé or a uniquely American release, like the melon-fresh Thirty8 from Colorado (which became the 38th state to join the U.S. in centennial year,1876).  Both wines will cut through strong shellfish flavors with ease.  

But what if you want to take things to an even higher level of quality? Well, you could open the William Knuttel ‘Touché’ Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from Napa Valley’s revered Sage Valley Vineyard. It’s bursting with peppery black fruit flavors and has a richness and depth that brings out the best in your finest cut of steak.  

What’s the best red for chicken wings? Pretty much anything with full body and ripe flavor will work well. Smooth, complex Zentino ‘Z’ by Watermill flies the flag for American Malbec while we have a host of Argentinian classics, including bestselling J Opi Malbec and its barrel-matured Reserve edition.  

And of course, a ripe, round Chardonnay will work well too. USA 250 Freedom Rings Reserve, from Sonoma’s iconic Russian River Valley, has vanilla oak aromas, followed by golden apple, citrus and white peach flavors. 

Mixed cases for every occasion

We have lots of mixed cases that cover a huge range of styles. Two things all our collections have in common—great variety and superb value for money. Exactly what you want when stocking up for Labor Day.

How much wine should I have ready for Labor Day? 

It depends, of course, on how many people you have coming over and how much they love their wine! But you can never have too much—any bottles you don’t drink can just sit in the wine rack for another weekend, big event (the NFL season starts very soon) or the very next time you’d like a glass of delicious wine.  

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