Choosing the right wine to pair with meat can be quite a challenge. Wine is meant to complement the taste of the dish and enhance its aroma – red wines, preferably dry and semi-dry, will certainly work well in this role. What wines pair best with steaks, pork, and beef? How to serve them with elegance to make dinner even more enjoyable?
What wine to pair with meat?
When preparing a romantic dinner or a family gathering, it's worth asking: what wine to choose for meat? The answer depends on many factors: whether it's for pork or beef, a roast, a steak, or perhaps tartare. What wine for duck, and what for chicken?
There are universal solutions, including: Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the world's most popular red wines. Characterized by notes of blackcurrant, chocolate, and cedar, it will enhance the flavour of meat dishes, steaks, and roasts. Syrah will also be a good choice – a wine from southern France with a rich flavour and aromas of berries, pepper, and blackcurrant.
What wine to pair with pork?
What wine for pork is recommended by sommeliers? Dishes with a more delicate flavour "like" the company of subtle alcoholic beverages. Wine glasses can therefore be filled with Burgundian Pinot Noir, with its fruity-floral aroma dominated by forest fruits, cranberry, or cherry.
A less popular choice, a Barbera grape wine from Italy's Piedmont, will be a bullseye. The slightly acidic drink combines intriguingly with the flavour of pork dishes. You can also opt for Zinfandel – a red wine from California, distinguished by notes of berries, strawberries, and chocolate. An interesting proposition is Rioja Reserva from Spain. The wine retains a rich flavour and aroma of fruits, as well as bread crust, and even cream, thanks to long aging in oak barrels.
The answer to what wine goes with pork doesn't apply to beef dishes. Which wines will be best for intense dishes?
What wine to pair with beef?
The distinct flavour of this meat makes the question of what wine to serve with beef a bit more challenging than with pork. The drink must not be overshadowed by the food, so it's better to choose alcoholic beverages with a more intense bouquet.
When choosing wine for beef, you can opt for:
- Cabernet Sauvignon – an alcoholic beverage from the Napa Valley region in California, characterized by strong notes of toasted caramel, dark plum, and cherry, among others.
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape – a dry wine from southern France with distinct fruity and spicy notes.
- Amarone – an intensely flavoured alcoholic beverage from Italy with aromas of dried fruits and dark chocolate, made from dried grapes.
- Ribera del Duero – a Spanish wine with spicy and fruity notes.
- Malbec – a classic from Argentina, distinguished by a base with aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, and chocolate.
What wine to pair with steak?
Even more interesting suggestions are those answering the question of what wine to pair with steak. Regardless of the doneness, the best choice will be intensely flavoured beverages.
The classic of meat cuisine accompanied by French Bordeaux is a true feast for the palate. Poured into elegant glasses, it delights with every sip – a fresh and creamy taste of blackcurrant, raspberries, and cherries spreads in the mouth.
Barolo from Piedmont, with its high alcohol content, is an excellent wine for steak. Usually, 3-year-old wines are acidic – and soften with time. They captivate with the aroma of blackcurrant and violet, pepper, leather, and tobacco. Served according to art, at the right temperature and in appropriate glasses, they will be the crowning glory of a dinner with steak as the main course!