Whether you wait until Memorial Day to fire up the barbecue or you're a die-hard, year-round grilling machine, the world of wine can be a tricky pickle to ponder for the sweet-and-spicy eats flipped off the grill. Keep it simple and you're sure to succeed.

If you're looking to beat the heat bellowing from your barbecue, pick whites with some backbone that will cool down those spicy sauces while also cutting through the cloyingly sweet side of your food. Unoaked Chardonnays have the body to stand up to full flavors and a crisp apple-y tang that's great for refreshing the palate. Sauvignon Blancs have full-throttle acidity, making them super for sipping under the sun, but not the best for BBQ; they tend to get lost when paired with heavy flavors from the grill.

In the dog days of summer, char-grilled steaks and burgers are abundant. While these smoky, robust flavors go great with big reds, if they're slathered with spicy sauces you're in for a fire- filled mouth and some sweat on the brow. Big, tannic, high-alcohol wines are not the best for sipping alongside spicy foods. They only bring up the heat and make spicy foods spicier.

However, red wine lovers, all is not lost. If you like a little heat, Spanish reds like Rioja are a great match thanks to their peppery notes and rustic charm. Another red ready for ribs and barbecue chicken is Italy's lovely little Barbera. With just one sip, you'll love how easily this full-fruit, nicely balanced red complements anything served up with tongs.

If you like your barbecue sauces caramel-y sweet, you need a wine with sweetness to match. Off-dry Rieslings (think New World here) work well, but the sweetness of White Zinfandel is also quite quaffable. Matching barbecue treats and sweeter wines still lets the fruit and acidity of the sip shine through.

If sweet's not your style, and you love big wines with in-you-face fruit, the boldest pairing of them all is barbecue and big bad Zinfandel. These wines battle for the title of bold, and when paired with barbecue, they're not for the faint of heart.

With so many taste buds and so many tasty temptations hot off the grill, there is a wine to please every palate. The only way to find out what works for you is to go forth and taste. So, happy grilling and sipping this season!