Got a sizzling steak ready to go, but feeling a little lost on what to pour? Don't let your perfect cut go lonely! We're here to demystify the delightful art of pairing wine for steak, so every mouthful is a match made in culinary heaven. Get ready to find your steak’s soulmate in a bottle!
10. Grenache/Garnacha
Looking for a versatile red that’s as charming as it is delicious? Grenache, also known as Garnacha, is a fantastic starting point when considering wine to drink with steak. This grape, popular in regions like Spain and the South of France, offers a vibrant fruitiness that can genuinely sing with your favourite cuts of meat.
Taste Profile
Grenache is known for its juicy, sweet red fruit flavours – think ripe raspberries, strawberries and red cherries. It often has a medium body with relatively soft tannins, making it approachable and easy to enjoy. You might also catch subtle hints of dried herbs or savoury spices, adding a layer of complexity to its fruit-forward character.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
This delightful red is incredibly versatile, making it a stellar wine and steak pairing for a range of cuts. Grenache's lighter profile and softer tannins make it a surprisingly brilliant match for leaner, flavorful cuts like skirt steak and sirloin steak. It complements the inherent richness without overwhelming the meat, letting both shine.
Our Best Garnacha for Steak
Ready to get your Garnacha game on? These bottles are prime picks for your next steak feast:
- Torbreck Old Vines Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2021
- Stolpman Vineyards La Cuadrilla 2021
- Care Finca Bancales Single Vineyard
9. Tempranillo
When you think of wine to pair with steak, especially with a Spanish twist, Tempranillo is often the first grape that comes to mind. This robust grape is the backbone of Spain's most famous reds, offering a fantastic balance of fruit, earth, and savoury notes that perfectly complement grilled meats.
Taste Profile
Tempranillo delivers a wide range of rich flavours, from red cherry and dried fig to dill and tobacco. Depending on its ageing, you might also find notes of vanilla, leather, and dill from oak barrels. It typically has a medium to full body with firm but well-integrated tannins and a bright acidity that keeps it fresh.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
Tempranillo's structure and savoury complexity make it an ideal wine for steak, particularly cuts with a good char. Its firm tannins and bright acidity cut through richer meats beautifully, making it an excellent choice for ribeye, New York strip, and even hearty hanger steak.
Our Best Tempranillo for Steak
Elevate your steak night with these top-tier Tempranillo bottles:
- Familia Montana Finca La Valentina Crianza Rioja DOCa
- Marques de Tomares Rioja Reserva
- Petit Vega 18 Meses En Barrica 2021
8. Cabernet Franc
Don't let Cabernet Franc be overshadowed by its famous sibling, Cabernet Sauvignon! This elegant grape offers a distinct profile that can be a truly captivating wine and steak pairing, especially if you appreciate wines with a savoury edge.
Taste Profile
Cabernet Franc is known for its bright red fruit (raspberry, cherry) balanced by intriguing herbal notes like green bell pepper, graphite, or even a hint of mint. It typically has medium tannins and bright acidity, often lighter in body than Cabernet Sauvignon, yet still incredibly flavourful and aromatic.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
This refined red is excellent for pairing with leaner steak cuts, offering herbal and spicy notes that complement the meat without overpowering it. Its vibrant acidity and subtle savoury character make it a sophisticated choice for filet mignon and flank steak, where it can truly shine alongside the meat's natural flavours.
Our Best Cabernet Franc for Steak
Ready to try something wonderfully different? These Cabernet Francs are ready for their steak debut:
7. Sangiovese
Hailing from the heart of Italy, Sangiovese is a grape known for its spirited acidity and savoury character, making it a truly exceptional wine to drink with steak. It's the quintessential Italian choice for cutting through rich flavours.
Taste Profile
Sangiovese wines typically offer vibrant red cherry and plum flavours, often with savoury notes of dried herbs, tomato leaf, and a distinct earthy minerality. They’re characterised by high acidity and firm, chewy tannins, giving them a structured and robust feel that finishes dry and savoury.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
Sangiovese is a powerhouse when paired with steaks that boast bold flavours and require a wine with good acidity to cleanse the palate. Its structure and savoury notes make it an excellent choice for grilled hanger steak and skirt steak, particularly if seasoned with herbs or a rich marinade.
Our Best Sangiovese for Steak
Bring a touch of Tuscany to your steak night with these fantastic Sangioveses:
- Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Docg 2021
- La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino 2017
- Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Le Volte 2020
6. Chardonnay
"Is steak better with red or white wine?" While red wine is the traditional answer, don't count out a robust Chardonnay when choosing your wine for steak! It might be the only white wine on this list, but a well-chosen Chardonnay can surprise and delight.
Taste Profile
Oaked Chardonnay, the kind you'll want for steak, often presents rich flavours of baked apple, pear, and tropical fruits, complemented by notes of vanilla, butter, and toasted nuts from barrel ageing. It typically has a fuller body and a creamy texture, balanced by a refreshing acidity that keeps it from being cloying.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
While more often paired with seafood, Chardonnay's creamy texture and refreshing acidity work surprisingly well with lighter steak cuts. It can beautifully complement the richness of a pan-seared filet mignon or a delicate tenderloin, especially if served with a creamy sauce or sautéed mushrooms.
Our Best Chardonnay for Steak
Ready to break some rules? These Chardonnays are perfect for a surprising steak pairing:
- Bader Mimeur Bourgogne Chardonnay Dessous Les Mues
- Auntsfield Estate Single Estate Chardonnay
- Nikolaihof Chardonnay 2018
5. Pinot Noir/Pinot Nero
The elegant darling of the red wine world, Pinot Noir (or Pinot Nero in Italy) is a truly versatile grape that offers a delicate yet compelling wine to pair with steak, especially for those who prefer lighter reds.
Taste Profile
Pinot Noir showcases delicate red fruit flavours like cherry, strawberry, and cranberry, often with subtle earthy undertones, mushroom notes, or a hint of spice. It typically has a light to medium body, with fine, silky tannins and bright acidity, making it incredibly smooth and food-friendly.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
Pinot Noir is a light, fruity red with lower tannins, making it an exceptional wine for steak, particularly leaner cuts like filet mignon. Its bright acidity and delicate fruit notes beautifully complement the tenderness of the meat without overwhelming its subtle flavours.
Our Best Pinot Noir/Pinot Nero for Steak
Experience elegance with your steak. These Pinot Noirs are ready for their close-up:
- Meyer Nakel Spatburgunder Trocken Old Vines 2019
- Maurice Gavignet Bourgogne Rouge
- Auntsfield Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
4. Merlot
Often recognised for its smooth and approachable character, Merlot is another fantastic contender for your wine and steak pairing, especially if you're looking for a less tannic option.
Taste Profile
Merlot offers generous flavours of black cherry, plum, and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of chocolate, vanilla, and sometimes a hint of cedar or tobacco when aged in oak. It typically has a medium body with soft, velvety tannins, making it incredibly smooth and easy-drinking.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
Merlot is another excellent choice for wine with steak, particularly leaner cuts. Its soft tannins and approachable fruit make it a great pairing for filet mignon and flank steak, allowing the meat's natural flavours to shine. It's a gentle yet flavourful companion for your steak.
Our Best Merlot for Steak
Discover the smooth charm of Merlot with your next steak meal. Here are our top picks:
- Orin Swift Cellars Papillon 2021
- Chateau Martet Reserve De La Famille Sainte-Foy Cotes de Bordeaux
- The Foreign Affair Winery Dream
3. Syrah and Shiraz
Get ready for some serious flavour! Syrah (as it's known in France) and Shiraz (its bolder, often fruitier Australian counterpart) are powerhouses when it comes to wine to drink with steak, offering richness and spice that stands up to even the most robust cuts.
Taste Profile
Syrah and Shiraz deliver an intense array of dark fruit flavours like blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, often layered with notes of black pepper, smoked meat, liquorice, and chocolate. It typically boasts a full body, firm tannins, and a savoury finish, making it a complex and compelling choice.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
Bold, spicy, and full-bodied, Syrah and Shiraz pair beautifully with smoky grilled steaks like tri-tip and flank steak, as well as richer cuts like ribeye. Its peppery notes and robust structure stand up to charring and intense flavours, creating a harmonious wine and steak experience.
Our Best Shiraz for Steak
Crank up the flavour! These Syrah/Shiraz wines are built for your juiciest steaks:
2. Malbec
If you're seeking a consistently reliable and utterly delicious wine for steak, look no further than Malbec. This Argentinian star has become a go-to for steak lovers worldwide, and for good reason!
Taste Profile
Malbec is celebrated for its lush, dark fruit flavours, typically blackberry, plum, and black cherry, often accompanied by notes of chocolate, vanilla, and sweet tobacco. It generally has a full body with surprisingly soft, velvety tannins and a long, smooth finish, making it incredibly approachable yet rich.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
Malbec’s smooth tannins and dark fruit flavours are a perfect complement to the rich umami found in steaks like picanha, skirt steak, and hearty T-bone/Porterhouse. The wine’s fruit-forward character and gentle grip on the palate are what make it an irresistible partner for substantial, flavourful cuts. While often recommended for richer cuts, a softer, less extracted Malbec can also be a good choice for a well-prepared fillet, adding a burst of fruit without overpowering the delicate meat.
Our Best Malbec for Steak
Time to get your Malbec on! These bottles are destined for your next steak feast:
1. Cabernet Sauvignon
When it comes to wine to pair with steak, Cabernet Sauvignon is the undisputed champion, a classic for a reason. This powerful grape creates a harmonious marriage with the rich, savoury flavours of steak.
Taste Profile
Cabernet Sauvignon delivers intense dark fruit flavours like blackcurrant, black cherry, and plum, often intertwined with notes of cedar, tobacco, green bell pepper, and a hint of vanilla or mocha from oak ageing. It’s known for its full body, firm tannins, and long, structured finish, demanding a hearty meal to truly shine. Read more about Cabernet Sauvignon's taste profile.
Best Steak Cuts to Pair with
Cabernet Sauvignon's high tannin content and bold flavours provide the perfect counterpoint to rich, fatty cuts like ribeye and New York strip. The tannins bind with the fat, cleansing the palate and creating a synergistic effect where both the wine and steak taste even better together. It's the ultimate power couple.
Our Best Cabernet Sauvignon for Steak
Ready for the ultimate steak experience? These Cabernet Sauvignons are pure bliss:
- Orpheus & The Raven Eternal Eight
- Foxglove Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles
- Chateau La Fleur De Bouard Lalande-De-Pomerol Rouge
Beyond the Sizzle: Your Perfect Steak Pairing Awaits
So, you've sliced into that perfectly cooked steak, the aroma is incredible, and now it's time for the final touch. Choosing the right wine for steak isn't about rigid rules, but about understanding how different wines can amplify your dining pleasure. It's about finding that delightful synergy where the wine enhances the meat's texture, cuts through its richness, or brings out hidden nuances.
Whether you opt for a bold Cabernet Sauvignon to stand tall with a fatty ribeye, or a delicate Pinot Noir to dance with a tender filet, the ultimate goal is pure, unadulterated enjoyment. So go ahead, experiment, trust your palate, and discover your own perfect wine and steak match. The world of wine to drink with steak is vast and delicious, and the best pairing is always the one that makes you smile.
