WHAT WINE TONIGHT

What wine goes with pulled pork?

Slow-smoked pork with sweet-tangy sauce wants wines with ripe fruit and refreshment. The sauce's sugar is the key variable — dry, austere reds fight it; fruity ones befriend it.

Best overallRed

Zinfandel

Ripe, brambly, smoky edge

Sweet fruit shakes hands with sweet sauce; a peppery finish nods to the rub.

Shop from ~$14 · Vivino

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Most funSparkling

Lambrusco secco

Chilled, fizzy, dry-ish red

Cold bubbles against warm smoke is a backyard revelation.

Shop from ~$13 · Vivino

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Best valueRed

Grenache

Strawberry, soft, warm

Friendly, fruity, and unbothered by vinegar-based Carolina sauces.

Shop from ~$12 · Vivino

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Sommelier's tip

Vinegar-heavy sauce? Lean rosé or lambrusco; sweet Kansas City sauce? Zin all day.

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