A traditional staple in African-American cooking and loved all over the nation, this dish’s warming, crispy paprika, red pepper, garlic, and onion coating harken back to age-old West African frying methods. The golden, crackling, tasty batter, a European culinary legacy, enrobes succulent, flavorful chicken, making this dish an ideal partner for a fresh, lively, and fruity wine. With its delicately fine layers of Pinot Noir red cherry, bright Chardonnay acidity, chalky undertones, and vibrant effervescence, our pick is the 2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé.

What nails it?

The lively bubbles and tartness of the champagne contrast with the crispiness of this dish, while its core of red fruit balances the chicken’s spicy seasoning. Just perfect!

African Americans blended savviness at slow-cooking techniques for tough cuts of meat in smoke and fire with a southern range of sauces, bringing us the good old BBQ. With deeply-smoked meats, piquant spice, and rich, dense textures, this summer feast cries out for a wine that can match its power and both complement and contrast its robust flavors. Enter 2003 Sine Qua Non, The Inaugural Syrah. Robert Parker gave this expressive Californian red 100 points for its layered, voluptuous dark fruit, mocha, spice, and leather notes, plus silky depth and structure thanks to 38-and-a-half months aging in French oak.

 What nails it?

The concentrated, jammy fruit core of this Syrah seamlessly evens out the fiery, tangy spice of BBQ ribs, while its oaky tones complement this dish’s smoky character. Both equally bold, this match is magnificent!

A pulse brought from West Africa, black-eyed peas are a tasty, versatile dish that can be served in traditional and meat-free styles. We’re going for a yummy vegan take with fluffy rice. Cooking in vegetable stock adds seasoning, while cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and bay leaf boost flavor, and finely-chopped carrots and shredded greens deepen earthy notes. Served with lightly-seasoned, steaming rice of your choice (white, wholegrain, or wild…), this recipe needs a wine that enhances its rustic depth, mild heat, and hearty textures. Our choice is the juicy, layered 2016 Keller Westhofener Brunnenhauschen Abtserde Riesling GG.

What nails it?

This Riesling’s bright tartness and gentle fruit, herbal hints, and mineral notes contrast with the dish’s earthy flavors and cut through its robust textures. A delicately saline finish complements the recipe’s rich savory layers. Just delicious.

Collard greens with strips of smoked turkey combine savory, smoky depth with pleasing, delicately bitter notes. This slow-cooked dish is soaked in spicy, garlicky, red pepper warmth with a dash of vinegar or hot sauce, adding tangy hints. Meaty and earthy with tender textures, this classic recipe suits a wine that highlights its herbaceous tones and has a freshness to match its soft bursts of piquancy. Our choice is the 2018 Franz Xaver Pichler Unendlich Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, a finessed, powerful Wachau white with exotic and stone fruit, pleasing subtle oakiness (thanks to aging in 500L Meursault barrels), and laser-sharp acidity.

What nails it?

Bold yet elegant, this Grüner Veltliner has the fruit depth to enhance the intense herbaceous tones of this dish while also highlighting the tasty savory notes of this recipe. The creamy yet precise body of the wine matches the dish’s textures, while its tartness is the perfect backdrop for the ‘peek-a-boo’ tanginess.  

While long a favorite American dessert, red velvet cake has become a fixture on the Juneteenth menu, not least of which because its garnet hues symbolize strength, transformation, and spirituality in Western Africa. Loved as much for its texture as its flavors, this cake features subtle cocoa notes, a light, crumbly feel, and a smooth, delicately tangy cream-cheese frosting. Lush, deliciously decadent, and symbolic, this confection deserves a 1977 Graham’s Vintage Port. Matching the cake for lushness with its deep color and layered sweetness, this velvety wine is the ideal match.

What nails it?

Velvety? Check! Full-bodied? Check! Richly flavored? Check! Packed with dark fruit, spicy hints, and chocolate tones, this smooth, opulent port pairs with the cocoa flavors of red velvet cake and matches its overall glorious lavishness.