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

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