Whether you’re entertaining a group of friends or sitting down for a delicious meal, great wine or beer can make the experience better. Here’s a basic guide to making beer and wine shopping simple and fun.

Wine

BI-LO features a selection of American and international wines. Learn a little about how to find a great-tasting wine at terrific value.

Reds

Syrah (or Shiraz)

• Taste: Full-bodied and fruity, often with strong berry flavors and hints of chocolate, espresso or black pepper
• Regions: Australia, South Africa, Chile, California, France
• Great with: Red meat

Merlot

• Taste: Lush, soft and medium-bodied, often with black-cherry, plum and berries. Merlot is known as an easy-to-drink wine.
• Regions: California, Washington, France
• Great with: Pretty much any type of food

Cabernet Sauvignon

• Taste: Bold and full-bodied, with notes of vanilla and bell pepper and a powerful aroma of black currants
• Regions: California, Washington, France, Italy
• Great with: Red meat

Malbec

• Taste: Often an easy-drinking, medium- to full-bodied wine with plum, berry and spice taste.
• Regions: France, California, Washington, Argentina
• Great with: Any type of meat

Pinot Noir

• Taste: Smooth, light and complex, with strawberry, black cherry, plum or raspberry flavors and notes of sandalwood, spice, earth, leather, vanilla and tea-leaf
• Regions: California, Oregon, France, New Zealand
• Great with: Salmon, chicken, lamb, pasta

Sangiovese and Chianti

• Taste: Fresh, medium-bodied, fruity, and often high-acid
• Regions: Italy
• Great with: Italian and Mediterranean food

Zinfindel

• Taste: Zesty, crisp and refreshing, with strong berry and pepper tastes
• Regions: California
• Great with: Pizza, burgers, pasta, grilled meats

Whites

Chardonnay

• Taste: Full, soft and sometimes buttery, with a range of fruity tastes (grapefruit, tangerine, apple, lemon, melon)
• Regions: California, France, Australia, New Zealand
• Great with: Fish and chicken

Sauvignon Blanc

• Tastes: Light, sometimes dry and sometimes sweet, with grassy or herbal, apple, pear, or tropical fruit flavors.
• Regions: France, California, Australia, New Zealand
• Great with: Chicken, fish, salads, sauces and stews

Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio

• Tastes: Light to medium-bodied, crisp, with citrus and mineral flavors
• Regions: Italy, California, Oregon, France
• Great with: Chicken, eggplant Parmesan, pasta

Riesling

• Tastes: Light, fresh and sweet, with tastes of apples, grapefruit and melon
• Regions: Germany, California
• Great with: Fish, chicken, pork

Beer

BI-LO’s beer selection is world-class — we feature all the time-tested American favorites, as well as a full selection of imports and regional craft beers. Expand your beer palette with our helpful guide.

Ales

• Tastes: There are many different kinds of ales, defined by their strong hops flavor (a kind of bitter, herbal flavor). Ales may include pale ales and Indian Pale Ales (IPAs), which range from golden to amber color and feature strong beers with slightly bitter flavors; English brown ales, which are more mild; and Belgian ales, which are higher in alcohol and often feature spicy, fruity flavors.
• Great with: Steaks, nachos, spicy food (Thai or Indian), shellfish

Lagers

• Tastes: Lager is the beer type with which most Americans are familiar. Most lagers are pale in color and light in taste, though some can be darker. Most of the major commercial beer brands produced in the United States are Pilsner-style lagers. Lagers also include bocks and Märzen or Oktoberfest style beers.
• Great with: Mexican food, sausages, burgers, pulled pork

Stouts and Porters

• Tastes: Made using roasted malt or barley, stouts and porters (types of ale) are often very dark and heavy, with rich flavors such as chocolate or coffee. They can include oatmeal stouts, Irish stouts, Imperial stouts or Baltic porters.
• Great with: Beef, barbeque, chocolate desserts