Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us ... a time to honor our service men and women past and present, gather with family and friends and welcome the spirited season of summer. With grills firing up and meats in the marinade, it's time to take a peek at the art of pairing wine with your favorite grilled fare.

Having a Memorial Day backyard gathering?  There's no better way to chill out and celebrate the season than with these easy to make, summer sangrias. About.com's Busy Cooks guide, Linda Larsen, has gathered family-friendly themed menus for kicking off Memorial Day weekend celebrations. She shares  delicious summer salad recipes, a super slider buffet and on-the-go picnic packing ideas for the big weekend. Check them out here.

Party-friendly Sangria Recipes

Griller's Guide to Wine Pairing

Memorial Day Recipes and Menus

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This citrus-driven, dry white wine from Spain's northwest Galicia region is a super summer sipper. The invigorating aromas of grapefruit, lemon, lime and fresh floral notes fuse to engage the senses from the first pour.

Bright fruit, lively acidity and clean lines with an ongoing citrus-laden finish make this the perfect wine for this season's backyard barbecues, beach adventures and patio parties.  Exceptional pairing versatility give Albarino an added edge when it comes to foods, flavors and general palate appeal.

Give the Don Olegario Albarino a go with a variety of appetizers (Albarino can even handle the sometimes hard to pair salsa, guac and chips  trio), salads, spicy grilled shrimp, shellfish and even veggie or pepperoni pizza.

Disclosure: A sample was provided for review. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

There's been plenty of press praising the quality and overall value coming out of South America and the wines from Chile are at the top of the stack. Check out Carmenere, perhaps Chile's most famous red wine, with an intriguing storyline of its own, or sip some Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, a hometown hero throughout the country.

Syrah and Pinot Noir are quickly coming up to speed as Chilean winemakers continue experimenting with both varietals and the region's unique terroir. Sauvignon Blanc is as refreshing as ever with ripe fruit and awesome acidity, thanks to Chile's unique pockets of soil, stunning topography and dramatic climate.

Catch a glimpse of what Chilean wines have to offer with over a dozen "must try" wine recommendations from Chile here.

A Bordeaux blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Carmenère, Veramonte's 2009 Primus shows the synergy that can be crafted by merging complementary grape varieties into an enticing everyday wine.

Expect engaging aromatics - dark fruit, savory, dried herbs and a decent dose of oak. Flavors meld nicely into blackcurrant, dark cherry, raspberry and dusty dark chocolate all hosted by well-woven tannins and boasting both power and an alluring elegance.