Ah, April. In some places, it's nasty, yucky, 3 feet deep in mud (or raining in prep for all those May flowers). Here in central Florida, though, I tend to look at April as the perfect time to get outdoors. We're good until around late May before the mosquitoes start outnumbering the ants on your picnic.

 

So let's get out the grills. I grabbed a recipe one of our wine supervisors sent me a few years ago--good thing it's called ribs for "the ages."

 

This is not only tasty, but simple. Of course the best part of cooking is using someone else's ideas as your starting point, so don't feel guilty if you want to change it all around, or skip it altogether and go straight for the wine (recommendations at the end). No one’s feelings will be hurt, I promise.

 

 

Deb's Ribs for the Ages

4 lbs meaty spare or back ribs, cut into serving portions

2 jars Jim Beam barbecue sauce

¼ finely minced onion

1 clove garlic, finely minced

½ cup dry red wine

*Deb uses the Jim Beam, but of course you can sub your favorite.

 

Start by cooking the ribs for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. While ribs are in the oven, mix the other ingredients together and simmer 20-25 minutes to reduce, and to blend and intensify flavors.

 

Place ribs, meaty side down, on a hot grill (close to coals). Brush with sauce, turning ribs every five minutes or so, and brushing each time. Grill until ribs are crispy and brown, about 30 minutes.

 

Okay, here’s the really important part: the wine. And since Zinfandel is possibly my favorite red wine, that’s what I’m going to suggest. Of course just about any full-bodied red will pair nicely (just imagine the flavor of sauced barbecue and how the wine will taste with it. Mmmm.). But Zinfandel….just to throw out some of my favorites in a variety of prices: Renwood (really good and really inexpensive), Ravenswood (same), Ridge (pricier, but really, really hard to beat), Alexander Valley—Sin Zin and Redemption. Yumm. Note: we carry more than fifty Zinfandels, just from California, so these aren't even a fair sample of the good ones, just some of my personal favorites.