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    Urban Bliss Life » Wine Tips » Wine Tips & Wine Pairings » Best Wines for BBQ

    Published: July 19, 2023 / Updated: July 19, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Best Wines for BBQ

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    glass of wine next to plate of BBQ ribs with title text that reads "Best Wine Pairings for BBQ."

    Getting ready for your next summer BBQ? We've got a list of the best BBQ wines along with complementary barbecue pairings.

    This post was first published on August 2, 2017. It was updated with new photos, more helpful content, and republished July 19, 2023.

    glass of wine next to plate of BBQ ribs with title text that reads "Best Wine Pairings for BBQ."

    It's BBQ season and before you fire up the grill, make sure you've got the best wine to perfectly pair with your delicious BBQ foods!

    While food and wine pairing is ultimately subjective, there is some science behind choosing the perfect wine pairing for your backyard BBQ. Different characteristics of wines affect the way we taste food.

    When it comes to BBQ wine pairings, it's important to consider the flavors and intensity of the dishes. In this post, you'll find 10 of the best summer wines to pair with different types of foods. Now let's find you the perfect bottle to serve at your next backyard barbecue!

    Jump to:
    • Best wine for BBQ
    • Zinfandel
    • Syrah/Shiraz
    • Malbec
    • Cabernet Sauvignon
    • Merlot
    • Pinot Noir
    • Rosé
    • Riesling
    • Sauvignon Blanc
    • Chardonnay
    • More food and wine pairing guides

    Best wine for BBQ

    Here's a list of 10 wine varietals that can complement various BBQ flavors and a brief explanation of why they pair well. We also include a recipe or two to try that would pair well with each wine to help you have the most delicious summer BBQ ever!

    Zinfandel

    glass of zinfandel red wine on a wooden board with fresh fruits and chocolates around it.
    Asian beef burger with summer slaw

    Zinfandel is a versatile red wine that pairs well with smoky and spicy BBQ flavors. Its bold fruit flavors and high alcohol content can stand up to the richness of barbecue sauce and grilled red meats like a steak and a juicy burger.

    Try our Asian Beef Burger recipe or beef ribs with this wine.

    Syrah/Shiraz

    Wente Petite Syrah red wine
    closeup of Filipino BBQ pork skewers with cilantro leaves

    Syrah or Shiraz wines have bold flavors of dark fruits, pepper, and smoke, making them a perfect match for pairing with grilled meats and BBQ sauce. The wine's robust character complements the intensity of the flavors in BBQ dishes.

    Try pairing this wine with our Filipino Pork BBQ Skewers recipe.

    Malbec

    glass of Malbec behind a wooden tray with a loaded burger on top with red background.

    Malbec is known for its dark fruit flavors, moderate tannins, and smoky notes. It's an ideal pairing with BBQ dishes because its ripe fruit flavors can complement the sweetness and smokiness of BBQ sauces.

    Try our BBQ Bacon Burger recipe with this wine.

    Cabernet Sauvignon

    woodward canyon wine bottle next to a glass of cabernet sauvignon.
    plate full of sliced instant pot pork ribs with rosemary and other herbs.

    Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic choice and often seen as a perfectly paired wine for BBQ and grilled meats. Its bold tannins and flavors of blackcurrant, black cherry, and cedar can match the richness and char of BBQ flavors.

    This bold red wine is great with BBQ ribs! If you're cooking indoors, you can try pairing it with our Instant Pot BBQ Ribs recipe.

    Merlot

    dark red wine merlot cab sauv syrah
    glazed slices of air fryer meatloaf on a white plate with greens and red striped napkin..

    Merlot is a medium-bodied red wine with soft tannins and flavors of ripe plums, blackberries, and herbs. It can be a good choice for milder BBQ dishes like turkey, hot dogs, and pork chops. It won't overpower the flavors and can provide a smooth and fruity complement.

    Try our Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf recipe, which you can also cook in foil packets on the grill.

    Pinot Noir

    ROCO winery
    grilled salmon with lemon, garlic, and herbs, with lemon slices on a white plate.

    Pinot Noir is a lighter-bodied red wine with bright acidity and flavors of red berries, cherries, and earthiness. It's an amazing wine, and coming from the Pacific Northwest, it's one of my favorite wines. Ever so versatile, I find that a light pinot noir pairs well with more delicate BBQ flavors such as grilled salmon or lighter BBQ chicken.

    Try our Grilled Foil Packet Salmon with Lemon and Herbs recipe.

    Rosé

    Sokol Blosser rose wine bottle
    grilled shrimp skewers with pineapple and peppers.

    Rosé wines, with their refreshing and fruity profiles, can be a versatile choice for BBQ. The crisp acidity and red fruit flavors in rosés can balance the smoky, tangy, and spicy elements of BBQ foods. Rosé wine is also simply magical to enjoy on its own on hot summer days.

    Try our Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers recipe. And if you're looking for the best rosé wines, check out our Rosé wine guide!

    Riesling

    riesling white wine with asian chicken wings
    honey garlic chicken skewers

    Riesling is a white wine that can pair well with BBQ dishes, especially if there's a touch of sweetness in the sauce or marinade. Its acidity, fruitiness, and slight sweetness can provide a contrast to the savory flavors of BBQ. It's a fantastic wine to pair with most Asian foods.

    Try our Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers recipe.

    Sauvignon Blanc

    bottle of Sauvignon Blanc white wine on a wood table with side green branches.
    tray of seafood, corn, sausage low country boil with blue background and red and white towel

    Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine with bright acidity, herbaceous notes, and crisp flavors of citrus . It pairs well with grilled vegetables, white meat, seafood (especially white fish and shellfish), or lighter BBQ dishes, as its acidity can cut through the richness and refresh the palate.

    Try our Grilled Seafood Boil Packets recipe with these crisp white wines.

    Chardonnay

    If you're serving BBQ dishes with creamy or buttery elements, a full-bodied Chardonnay can be a good match. The wine's richness and toasty flavors can complement the smoky and grilled flavors in the food, like barbecue chicken.

    Try our Simple Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken recipe

    More food and wine pairing guides

    • glass of white wine with bowls of Filipino pork menudo and title text that reads "Best Wine Pairings for Pork."
      Pork and Wine Pairing Guide
    • glass of white wine in front of a roast chicken, with title text that reads "Best Wine Pairings for Chicken."
      Wine That Goes With Chicken
    • sliced turkey tenderloin with whipped sweet potatoes and bottles of wine with title text "Best Wine Pairings for Turkey."
      Best Wine with Turkey
    • two glasses of red wine with a mushroom pizza and title text that reads "best wine pairings for pizza."
      Best Wine With Pizza

    🍷 Have you tried one or more of the wine & food pairings listed here? If so, leave a comment below and let us know how they paired together!

    What are your favorite dishes to serve at your summer BBQs?

    This post was first published on August 2, 2017. It was updated with new photos, more helpful content, and republished July 19, 2023.

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      1. Lemaire Gabriel says

        April 09, 2019 at 5:18 am

        thanks for sharing this amazing blog.It is really an informative post

        Reply
        • restructuration des dettes says

          April 09, 2019 at 5:21 am

          yes it is

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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