What wine should you serve with your steak? Is there a specific type of wine that goes well with steak?
The traditional steak is a delicious meat dish that has become very popular over the years. There are several types of steaks, like rib-eye, T-bone, porterhouse, filet Mignon, and strip steak. Each type, or cut, goes best with a specific type of wine.
There are four main categories of wines that go well with steak: red, white, rosé, and sparkling.
The color of the wine plays a role in determining whether it goes well with steak. Red wines tend to pair better with beef dishes because they contain higher levels of tannins.
White wines are often paired with seafood dishes because they don’t have strong flavors. Rosé wines are perfect for pairing with fish or chicken dishes. Sparkling wines are great for pairing with desserts.
So, as you can guess, I will be focusing on red wines to pair with steak dishes.
If you want to learn about the why and how of it all, keep reading.
Why Does Wine Go Well With Steak?
A great wine can provide an acidity that brings out the saltiness of a steak while also providing a sweet, fruity taste that complements its rich flavors.
You might think that pairing steak with red wine would be a tough sell, but there are many delicious options available. After all, there is no one-size-fits-all, and everyone will have their preferences when it comes to flavors and mouthfeel.
A dry-aged filet mignon, served medium rare, needs something light and crisp to cut through its savory richness. You can also try to reverse sear the steak for the best results.
A rib-eye steak, cooked well done, will benefit from a full-bodied, fruit-forward red. If you’re not familiar with steak, read on to get the basics down before you start experimenting.
A Note About Steaks
Steak is often served with a side of potatoes, rice, or pasta. I recommend choosing a red wine with a high tannin level to pair with any kind of steak dish.
Red wines with higher levels of alcohol tend to overpower the meaty flavors. Try and stick to wines with lower alcohol content, or you can go completely alcohol-free. Alternatively, rosé wines also pair very well with steak, so they are worth trying out, too.,
Also, I recommend serving steaks with sauces that are rich in fat, like béarnaise, hollandaise, or chimichurri. These sauces will add layers of flavor to your dish and make it even more delicious.
The Very Best Wines For Steak
There are many types of wines out there, and each type has its own characteristics. There are different flavors, scents, mouthfeel, and so much more. Some wines are dry, while others are not.
Let’s start with the basics. Red wines get their name because they are made from red grapes. White wine, on the other hand, is made from white grapes.
When making red wine, the grape skins are left intact, giving the wine a deep ruby color. As a red wine ages, the color will become deeper and more red.
Freshly made red wine looks more purple than red. This type of wine pairs well with foods that have strong flavors.
A rich, full-bodied red wine will complement a rich, flavorful steak perfectly. Similarly, a fruity red wine will complement the flavor of steaks like a ribeye perfectly.
White wine is made when the grape skins are removed. It has a slightly sweeter flavor than red wine.
The lighter body of white wine means it goes great with lighter foods. For example, a crisp, dry white wine works well with seafood or salads.
You can pair white wines or fruity red wines with salmon and tuna steaks to enhance the flavor. Generally, however, a full-bodied red isn’t recommended for fish as it can result in an unpleasant aftertaste.
If you’re looking for something sweet, try a dessert wine. These are usually very smooth and round in flavor. Try a sweet Riesling if you’d like to drink something sweet with your steak dinner. A range of fruity wines will also do the trick and make a meal delicious.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a type of red wine made from grapes grown in the area around the city of Zinja in Italy. These grapes are also called Primitivo.
Some winemakers call them “Prima di Primo”. The name comes from the fact that the grapes were first cultivated in the early 19th century.
Today, Zinfandel is mostly produced in California and is often blended with other varieties of grapes.
If you’re looking for cheap red wine, then you should check out Zinfandel. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck!
This wine pairs beautifully with a range of meats, especially lamb and pork. However, it will be amazing with any kind of meaty and hearty meal.
Cabernet
You can never go wrong with a cab. They’re easy to drink, affordable, and delicious.
You’ll find many varieties at your local grocery store, including Merlot, chardonnay, pinot grigio, zinfandel, sauvignon blanc, and Riesling. And if you’re looking for something really special, try a cabernet sauvignon.
These grape varieties produce deep, rich flavors that pair perfectly with beef, pork, lamb, chicken, seafood, and even vegetables.
If you’ve ever wanted to impress someone with a great bottle of wine, then get yourself a Cabernet!
Malbec
Malbec wines are made primarily in the Southern Hemisphere of South America, particularly in Argentina.
Their popularity has grown steadily since the 1990s, when they were first introduced to the United States market.
Although they are often compared to Bordeaux wines, they tend to have a lighter body and less complex flavors than those produced in the region.
Malbec grapes need warm weather to ripen fully, and thus are harvested later than other varieties. The resulting wines are generally darker, with richer fruit flavors and higher alcohol levels.
The rich fruity flavors work well with beef, but the high alcohol content might be off-putting to some.
Syrah
Looking for the perfect wine to pair with your favorite cut of beef? Try a Syrah! Rib-eye steaks need a hearty wine to balance out all the fat, and a Syrah is just what you’re looking for.
Syrah’s come in many styles, depending on where they were grown. If you live in a cooler climate, expect a lighter, more delicate style of Syrah.
If you live in warmer weather, try a richer, fuller-bodied version. Syrah is a versatile wine, and there’s plenty of variety within the category. Some examples of sub-varieties are Grenache and Mourvedre.
These varieties can be found in many regions around the world. The best place to start when shopping for Syrah is the Rhone Valley in southern France.
France produces some of the finest examples of Syrah, and the region of Bordeaux is well-known for its dry, elegant wines.
In fact, Syrah was first developed in Bordeaux, and the name comes from the French word for “Shiraz”. I have also recommended Syrah as one of the best wines to try with wagyu steaks.
It’s guaranteed that this wine will work beautifully with a beef steak.
It’s Okay To Use Your Favorite
There’s no right or wrong when it comes to choosing wine with your steak. If you like Pinot Noir, then you should definitely try it with your steak. You might also like Chardonnay.
Or maybe you prefer Cabernet Sauvignon. But, really, there is no right or wrong choice here. Just pick something that you like, and pair it with your steak.
Of course, it’s always worth trying out the recommendations to see if you’re missing out on anything. You might be a white wine fanatic, but when it comes to steak, the pairing might not be the best. Feel free to experiment a little.
Final Thoughts
Wine pairing is an art form that takes time to master. There are so many factors involved in making a good match, such as temperature, acidity, sweetness, and aroma.
It’s important to learn about these things before you start experimenting with wine and food.
But don’t worry too much about it. Once you understand how to choose the right wine for your meal, you’ll be able to make any dish work with any wine.
