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What Wine Pairs Well With Steak

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Wine Pairings With Steak

How to Pair WINE with STEAK for Beginners | What Wine to Drink with Steak

There’s really nothing better than a juicy, flavorful steak to go along with your favorite red wine. The components of a red wine are going to pair very nicely and complement the choice of steak for dinner. When pairing your food with your wine, it’s important to keep in mind that you aren’t going to want either to overpower one another so you have to find the perfect balance between the flavors. That’s why steak and red wine go so well together neither will be overpowered by the flavors of one another.

Can You Combine White Wine With Steak

Wine and steak go hand in hand. But for the most part, customers drink red wine with red meat. Which explains why a large portion of Chef Marc Forgiones Tribeca bottle list at New Yorks American Cut steakhouse is dedicated to red. But according to sommelier Mariette Bolitiski, many white wines go surprisingly well with beef.

Pairing Wine With Charred Steak Or Spice

Steak sporting char-lines from the grill or a grainy spice-rub crust could go nicely with more fruit-forward New World red wine or a Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. The ripe fruit in these wines will balance out the slightly bitter char or spice of the meat, leading to perfect harmony in each bite. Be careful not to pair these steak styles with wines that are very tannic or high in alcohol, as the latter may over-accentuate the heat of the spices.

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Wine And Steak: What About Steak Sauces

A vital notice in determining the wine that goes with steak is the gravy or sauce. To illustrate, bechamel, a creamy sauce, might accompany a well-known white wine called Chardonnay.

If you are accustomed to using more long-standing steak sauces, like peppercorn au Poivre, the Bordeaux red blend will be the best bet.

For sauces reducing the fruit’s sweetness, you should select a less tart wine, namely a ripe Syrah, because these sauces will spotlight the acidity of the wine to have the best scent.

Finally, a dark mushroom sauce should be paired with a more fruity wine like Grenache so that you could feel the inverse flavors.

Your Own Favorite Red

Best Wine With Steak

Heres the thing about pairing a red wine with steak its hard to go wrong if you just choose your favorite! Even if its a wine thats not on this list, such as a Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Sangiovese or even a blend.Fine dining is all about finding your own personal preferences and favorites. Sure, its nice to try new things every once in a while, but if you have a red wine that you absolutely love, you should ignore all of our advice and pair it with your next steak!Your goal is to enjoy your dinner, not impress food or wine snobs who will snark at your selection of wine. While the above guidelines are helpful if you want to try new things, youre always free to choose to accompany your meal with whatever beverage you want. Heck, if you want to drink a white wine like Pinot Grigio with your steak, feel free! Grab a frozen margarita to drink with your ribeye! Accompany your filet with a root beer, if you want!Anything goes. The only way to find out the very best steak and wine pairing for yourself is to taste different wines, and experiment. And, once you find a combination you love, you can feel free to stick with it or try new things! Its your call.

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Five Classics For Red Wine With Steak

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Syrah / Shiraz
  • Sangiovese

An evening with a succulent, juicy steak and a delicious bottle of wine is one of lifes great pleasures, at least for meat lovers.

Its always fun to experiment when it comes to wine and food pairing but here are some go-to styles and things to consider if youre preparing a special steak dinner.

Pairing Wine With Steak Tartare

One of the most gourmet beef preparations, steak tartare typically features raw, hand-chopped or minced beef bound by a raw egg yolk and sometimes flavored with mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, shallots, capers or pickled gherkins. While the flavors of the meat are quite delicate here, the seasoning can be spicy or piquant, requiring a fresh, fruity wine to counteract it. We recommend a Gamay from a Beaujolais cru , an unoaked Cotes-du-Rhone or even a fuller-bodied rosé wine, like a Bandol or Tavel.

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Guide To Steak Wine Pairing: Top Considerations

While there will be obvious elements of your dish which may determine whether a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or a mature white Rioja is the right choice, there are a few rules of thumb that you can follow depending on the overall dish. Generally, fatter cuts of steak are better paired with a fuller, tannic red wine as the tannins will combine well with the red meats fatty proteins making even the driest of red wines smoother. Leaner cuts of red meat, however, pair better with lighter wines.

Ribeye Steak & Cabernet Sauvignon Pairing

Pairing Steak and Wine

A young Cabernet Sauvignon and Ribeye Steak make for a 5-star pairing. Young Cabernet Sauvignon is astringent and harsh, making it difficult to drink on its own. When paired with a flavourful ribeye steak, the fat and protein soften the wines tannin, allowing the juicy flavours of blackberry, blueberries and cassis to shine through. Youll also get notes of dark chocolate, mocha, herbs, leather, meat, mint, smoke and pencil shavings coming out, which make this pairing even more delightful.

Young Cabernet Sauvignon is also less expensive. The longer you age a red wine, the higher the price if you want to buy it from a retail shop or restaurant. Or you could age the wine yourself and wait a decade or two for the tannin to soften. My preference is to skip the higher cost and waiting game, and pair Cabernet Sauvignon with a ribeye steak.

The rarer your steak, the better it will pair with a younger Cabernet Sauvignon. If the wine is cooked medium or longer, a lot of the flavour and fat will be cooked out of your steak. In this instance, youll want a more mature Cabernet Sauvignon to pair up with your Ribeye steak as the tannin will be softer and the flavours will be more subdued, matching the less flavourful nature of a Ribeye Steak cooked well done.

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Argentinian Malbec & New York Strip Steak Pairing

Argentina Malbec is rich with flavours of black cherries and plum, making it incredibly refreshing when paired up with a meaty and savoury steak. Youll also find a short but delightful smoky finish which makes Malbec exceptional with a grilled NY Strip Steak. Argentinian Malbec has softer tannin when coming out of the bottle, so this isnt a wine youll need to age for years to appreciate. However, I wouldnt pair Malbec with a rare NY Strip Steak, as the steak will be much too flavourful and will overwhelm the wine. Instead, pair Argentinian Malbec with NY Strip Steaks that are grilled medium to medium-well.

The more oak used to age your Malbec, the higher the price will be. With oakier Argentina Malbec, youll find lots of vanilla and chocolaty flavours that make it a dream with the charred flesh of a NY Strip Steak. However, budget-friendly Malbec will also be delicious with this steak.

Wine With A Steak Is A Great Way To Elevate The Flavors Of Both Your Drink And Your Food

A great wine can provide an acidic tang and a delightful sweetness that pairs perfectly with the salty, fatty, umami butteriness of a steak. Take a big, take a swig, and delight in the flavor sensation of pairing a wine with a steak.Whether youre celebrating a special occasion like an anniversary or a promotion at a steakhouse, and eating a dry-aged, Wagyu beef filet or youre just living your best life, and cooking yourself a ribeye steak on a Tuesday night, indulging is all the better when you know youve got the perfect wine to pair with your tender steak.Not an experienced wine aficionado? Not sure how to identify different types of steak, or choose between the perfect pairs? Dont worry. Food and wine pairings arent just the purview of snooty artisans and sommeliers with a bit of basic know-how and information about steak and wine, you can create a truly unforgettable flavor experience, even in the comfort of your home kitchen. Read on, and find out how.

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Choosing The Best Wine Pairing

Despite all the prescriptive guidance available about pairing, its not an exact science. Its more of an interpretive art where creativity, fun, and pleasure should be your guide. Here is a set of non-rules to consider when pairing wines with food:

  • There arent any hard and fast rules that always work
  • Acidic wines cleanse fat from the palate
  • Tannins are tamed by protein
  • Spicy food is moderated by sweet wine
  • Salty food pairs with acidic and tannic wines
  • Pairings can be fun: try pairing like with like, or try contrasting flavors for a zanier approach

*Use our handy dandy filter to sort by Paso Robles wine types

Red And White Wines We Recommend Pairing With Seafood

Pairing Wine with Steak

Pinot Noir – The Pinot Project Pinot Noir 2017

Pure Pinot aromas and flavors — black cherries kissed by oak and complimented by just the right amount of Asian spice. Extremely versatile with a host of your favorite dishes.

Buy it Here: The Pinot Project Pinot Noir 2017 – $12.95

Chardonnay – Orin Swift Cellars Mannequin Chardonnay 2016

A massive palate consists of ripe white peach and a bold Werthers Original entry and a layered mid- palate of nectarines, pineapple and honey. A touch of green apple and wet stone culminate in a concise cre`me brulee finish.

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Australian Shiraz & Cowboy Steak Pairing

Australian Shiraz is the same grape as Syrah, however, its much more popular in North America. Australian Shiraz is loud, jammy, full of vanilla and spicy with black pepper. Wines labeled with Syrah have all of these qualities, but toned down. They come across as less fruit-forward, and feature more savoury flavours like bacon and lunchmeat.

Since youll be spending a lot of money on your Cowboy or Ribeye steak, choose a higher quality Australian Shiraz that is $30 or more . Quality Australian Shiraz producers include Penfolds, DArenberg, Hardys, Jacobs Creek and Wolf Blass.

Featuring medium tannin and acidity, Australian Shiraz pairs best with barbecued Ribeye steaks cooked in the medium range. The barbecued flavours of the steak complement the smoke, black pepper, vanilla and dark chocolate flavours of the wine. Meanwhile, youll find refreshing flavours of blackberry, plum, raspberry and cherry to keep you fully invested in your delicious meal.

Basic Rules For Pairing Steak And Wine

When looking for the best wine to pair with your steak, you have to consider the type of steak and the seasoning, sauce, and side dishes you serve with it. Follow these rules to get a better idea of the wine that matches your steak best:

  • Red meat goes with red wine. That is true for beef cuts like steaks, too.
  • The fattier a steak is, the more body needs the wine to stand it. So fatty steaks go with full-bodied wines, and lean steaks go with light-bodied wines.
  • Acidic wines help clean your palate after a bite. Especially for fatty steaks, these wines are the right choice.
  • Very tender steaks can be great with white wines. They shouldnt be too light, though. Go for a full-bodied white, preferably from the New World.
  • High-tannin wines are the right pairings for bloody preparations. If you prefer your steaks medium to well-done, low-tannin wines are better.
  • In case you like your steak charred, you need a ripe wine with some sweetness. Go for a New World wine instead of one from the Old World.

More Details on the Two Worlds of Wine: COMPARING OLD WORLD WINE VS. NEW WORLD WINE

With these rules in mind, finding the right wine for your steak is much easier. Nevertheless, lets discuss some specific wine pairings for the most popular cuts of steak.

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What Type Of Wine Pairs Well With Beef Steaks

The classic steak is a grilled ribeye seasoned with salt and pepper. This cut has ample fat and flavor to stand up to the heartiest of red wines, provided there is enough acidity to freshen your palate. Cabernet is a common beef steak pairing, but the herbal notes and spicier tannins of a Cab Franc or Bordeaux blend will elevate the meal.

Leaner, milder flavored cuts like filet mignon open the door to lighter bodied red wines like Pinot Noir and Mourvèdrethe savory, aromatic M in your GSM Rhône blend. Tenderloin is often served with a sauce and you may want to balance your selection to suit.

Another more casual Paso Robles classic is sirloin tri-tip grilled over an oak fire. This preparation is usually well rubbed with salt, pepper and garlic, served in thick slices with buttery, toasted garlic bread and a side of not too sweet ranch beans. The smoky influence of live oak firewood and lean, well grained but flavorful meat calls for a nice, fruity Zinfandel. This rustic combo of tri-tip and Zin will rival the finest of banquets for pure pleasure.

Why Does Steak And Wine Go Well Together

A French Varietal That Pairs Well With Steak or Lamb

Before we dive into the importance of a good steak and how to approach your wine selection process, we first need to understand why wine pairs best with steak.

Everybody knows that steak and wine pair together, but not everybody realizes that there are reasons other than initial flavor at play when you take a bite or drink.

When you are eating a great steak with a great wine, there is an internal balance being created in your mouth. As the tones of the steak hit your tongue, your taste buds recall that last sip of wine that was a completely different flavor experience.

The opposite flavors that exist in a great wine and great steak work in an unusual harmony to create a meal experience that is hard to describe with words.

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Barolo Vegetarian Food Pairing

Barolo is an intense wine, but it still pairs well with many different types of vegetarian dishes. Thanks to its earthy and aromatic profile it is a great choice for heavier vegetarians dishes with mushrooms, nuts, truffles or strong cheeses. It also matches vegetarians dishes with roasted vegetables or tomatoes.

Tips! To learn more about the best wine for vegetarian dishes, we recommend our wine guide for vegetarian food.

Italian Red Wines To Know

Sangiovese: Italys best-known red grape grows throughout the country, but is best known as the grape used in Chianti. Sangiovese is known for its high acidity, black cherry and strawberry flavors and medium tannins. Wines made from Sangiovese vary from region to region, but generally you can pair with a wide variety of foods, and they would be my choice for this Wine Marinated Skirt Steak.

Barbera: From the Piedmont region, these tend to get bulked into simple and everyday wines, but they can be so much more. Low in tannins, but rich in dark and red berry fruit, with bright acidity. These would be great with a hanger steak or tri tip.

Nebbiolo: The grape in many of the boldest wines in Italy, this grape grows predominantly in Piedmont and is found in the famous Barolo and Barbarescos of the region. Youll find complex age worthy wines from this grape. Bold, dark red fruit, spice, licorice, and dark and earthy characteristics. Seek out for your steaks with the most complex flavors, your filets, NY and Porterhouse.

Montepulciano: Smooth and silky with dark berried fruit, medium tannins, finishing dry. Great with hanger or skirt steaks and great as a base to a marinade. This grape is predominantly grown in the Abruzzo region in Southern Italy.

Aglianico: This grape thrives in southwest Italys Campania and Basilicata regions. They tend to have dark fruit with a noted savoriness with some earthy and mineral undertones and a distinctive note of black pepper.

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How To Pair Barolo With Food

Barolo is an excellent wine to pair with many different types of foods. It pairs well with meat, strong cheeses, pizza and charcuterie. When pairing Barolo with food, you should take into account the wines strong tannins, high acidity, high alcohol and delicate aromas and match them with suitable foods.

When pairing Barolo with food, it is important to take into consideration the following characteristics of the Nebbiolo grape:

  • High tannins – makes it possible to pair it with heavy, meaty dishes and rich sauces. Dont pair it with too light and delicate dishes.
  • Very high acidity – makes it possible to pair it with acid foods as well as fatty dishes.
  • High alcohol – pair with fatty meats and rich sauces. Do not pair it with very spicy food.
  • Delicate aromas of red fruit, floral and earth – makes it possible to pair it with both savoury and fruity dishes.

Barolo is best served at 17-19°C .

Wine And Steak: What Should I Choose To Pair With Beef Steak Between Red & White Wine

What Wines Go Well With Steak?

Wine has long been served as an important side dish. There is a legendary saying which still exists nowadays: “Red wine with meat, white wine with fish”. The origin of this myth is based on the rule of balancing the wine’s body with the food’s weight. Meat or steak is usually more heavyweight with a rather red color. Thus, red wine is assumed to be more suitable for steak. Likewise, since fish is generally pale , it’s generally combined with white wines, such as white wine pairing with salmon.

Although it’s classic to combine red wine and steak, white wine is still an option at the party. Like tannins, the acids in white wine have a similar effect on steaks. You know, chilled white wine tends to have the best flavor, making a strong contrast in temperature between a hot steak and a cold glass of rose or white wine. In a nutshell, if you are a classic, pick a good red wine with steak. Vice versa, opting for the best white wine with steak if you love the originality.

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