Pairing Meat, Poultry, and Game with Wine


beef

Red wine goes well with beef.

  • Cabernets;
  • Zinfandels;
  • Barolos,
  • Super-Tuscans;
  • Merlot; or
  • Pinot Noir.

barbecue

  • Zinfandel or Syrah/Shiraz from California or Australia;
  • Rhone, Languedoc, or Provencal French red wines.

hamburger

  • Syrah,
  • a young Cabernet, or
  • a fruity red Zinfandel (all from California).

liver

  • Red Rioja from Spain,
  • Pinot Noir from Oregon, California's Russian River Valley or Anderson Valley, or
  • Merlot.

meat loaf

  • Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, or
  • a fruity Merlot from Washington State.

roast

  • Red Bordeaux from France,
  • a good California Cabernet Sauvignon, or
  • one of French red Bordeaux the better French Rhones or Italian Barolos

steak

  • French red Bordeaux,
  • California or Australian Cabernet Sauvignon,
  • Washington State Merlot,
  • Argentine Malbec, or
  • Spanish Rioja.

stew

  • Red Burgundy from France,
  • California Pinot Noir,
  • Spanish Rioja,
  • Australian Shiraz, or
  • California Zinfandel.

game

Red Burgundy from France is the classic match with game. Below are a few more suggestions for specific types of game.

duck

  • Syrah, from the Rhone in France, or from California, or
  • Washington State Merlot.

quail

  • Oregon Pinot Noir,
  • Beaujolais from France, or
  • Washington State Merlot

If you prefer a white wine, choose an elegant Chardonnay.

rabbit

  • Italian Chianti,
  • a light red Burgundy, or
  • a good Beaujolais from France.

venison

  • French Bordeaux,
  • California Cabernet Sauvignon, or
  • French Rhone.

lamb

chops

  • Spanish Rioja,
  • Cabernet Sauvignon from California, or
  • a Washington State Merlot.

crown of lamb

  • Red Bordeaux

shanks

  • Spanish Rioja,
  • Rhone red from France,
  • Syrah/Shiraz from California or Australia, or
  • Zinfandel.

pork

baked ham

  • Alsatian Gewurztrarniner,
  • Off-dry Riesling from Washington State or Germany, or
  • California Merlot.

barbecue

  • Semi-dry California Riesling or
  • White Zinfandel.

chops

  • Pinot Noir, or
  • Australian Shiraz.

dried ham

  • Dry rose or
  • Grenache-based red.

roast

  • Pinot Noir from California,
  • Red Burgundy from France,
  • Red Riberadel Duero from Spain, or
  • Red from the Rhone in France.

poultry

chicken

  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir
  • Merlot.
  • French Beaujolais, or
  • Australian Shiraz.

duck

  • Washington State Merlot,
  • Italian Chianti,
  • California Syrah, or
  • California Chardonnay.

turkey

  • California Zinfandel