• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Urban Bliss Life logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • contact
  • shop
  • cookbooks
  • resources
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Air Fryer
    • Appetizers
    • Asian
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Cookies
    • Dairy-free
    • Dessert
    • Filipino
    • Holiday
    • Instant Pot
    • Main Dish
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Seafood
    • Vegan
    • Cocktails
    • Dog Treats
  • Wine
    • Food & Wine Pairing
    • Oregon Wine
    • Washington
    • California
  • Travel
    • Travel Gear
    • Travel Tips
    • Hotels
    • USA travel
    • Europe
    • Japan
    • Canada
    • Asia
  • Restaurants
  • About
    • Work With Us
    • Press
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Wine
  • Travel
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Work With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ร—
    Urban Bliss Life ยป Wine Tips ยป Wine Tips & Wine Pairings ยป Best Wines for BBQ

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

    Best Wines for BBQ

    11 shares
    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
    • Rosรฉ
    • 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

    • benza chardonnay
      Benza Vineyards
    • best wine pairings for pork chops
      Pork Chops Wine Pairing Guide
    • best wine pairings for scallops with text overlay and scallop pasta
      Wine Pairing With Scallops Guide
    • oysters on ice next to a glass of white with with text overlay.
      Oyster Wine Pairing Guide

    🍷 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.

    « Easy Camping Dinner Ideas
    Broccoli Crunch Salad »
    11 shares

    Get recipes, travel tips, deals and more delivered to your inbox!

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      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

      2. Matt says

        July 02, 2018 at 3:14 am

        Cool article!!
        I just got into wine after drinking beer for years!
        I really love the reds, especially Merlot and Pinot Noir.
        I'm no expert so was wondering which red wines you recommend?

        Reply
      3. Scott says

        May 26, 2018 at 3:11 am

        The wines with BBQ is so tasty and i love the BBQ wine parties. And i am much excited about this post because i am having a BBQ this weekend and now I have some wines to try.

        Reply
      4. Kristine says

        March 01, 2018 at 6:25 am

        The list of to wine which you have mentioned the above post is good and before saw this i just know the 3 type of wines. The wines with BBQ is so tasty and i love the BBQ wine parties. And i am much excited about this post because i am having a BBQ this weekend and now I have some wines to try.

        Reply
      5. Karen says

        February 23, 2018 at 2:47 am

        Thank you very much to share us top 10 wine list. I haven't tried any of these wines. Thanks for all your notes!

        Reply
      6. TFT Boutique says

        October 04, 2017 at 6:43 am

        I love wine tasting. Really good content about wine.I like it..

        Reply
      7. Alcoline says

        September 13, 2017 at 10:09 am

        Wow you definitely are a wine-lover! The only wine that I have ever tasted from your list is sparkling wine and I admit that it taste great and very addicting. Definitely will be saving your list when me and my kids will have a bbq lunch at our garden! Thanks for sharing this though!

        Reply
      8. The Southern Thing says

        August 07, 2017 at 12:34 pm

        Yum! I don't think you could go wrong with any of these!

        Reply
      9. alcoline says

        August 06, 2017 at 11:38 pm

        I love this list. Would really give this a shot soon! I'm quite curious with the Erath rose of pinot noir.

        Reply
      10. Create/Enjoy says

        August 03, 2017 at 11:55 pm

        Thanks for the list!! We actually had or went to three BBQs last weekend, and I see more in our future!

        Reply
      11. Maryanne | the little epicurean says

        August 03, 2017 at 10:09 pm

        Weather has been crazy in LA this week. It's hot and humid with thunderstorms. I haven't tried any of these wines. Thanks for all your notes!

        Reply
      12. Emely Roman says

        August 03, 2017 at 6:37 pm

        Oh yes! lovely selection of wines! I especially enjoy sweet ones with smokey meat!

        Reply
      13. Benita says

        August 03, 2017 at 11:03 am

        Oh I really appreciate your posting this because I'm not good at selecting wines for others, I know k=what I like but it's good to have a variety. I'm excited about this post because I'm having a BBQ this weekend and now I have some wines to try.

        Reply
      14. Vicki says

        August 02, 2017 at 9:31 pm

        I love a great rose wine, and you've shown me a few new ones! I can't wait to try them!

        Reply
      15. Deborah Francisco says

        August 02, 2017 at 5:57 pm

        This is great! I'm horrible at picking wines because I'm not familiar enough with the wineries. I've actually been to Maryhill winery though when I lived in Oregon. It was beautiful and they had great wine too!

        Reply
      16. Catherine @ Ten Thousand Hour Mama says

        August 02, 2017 at 11:35 am

        I say sparkling wine is perfect ALL THE TIME, but especially as a way to make a get-together feel special. I love that they're making tiny bottles of bubbly these days!

        Reply

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating





      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      glass of wine next to plate of BBQ ribs with title text that reads "Best Wine Pairings for BBQ."
      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. 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).

      More about me →

      Featured In

      Urban Bliss Life Press Featured In graphic

      Spring Recipes

      • Half of a quiche in a pie pan with salmon, asparagus, and leeks.
        Salmon Quiche
      • strawberry crinkle cookies on a plate
        Strawberry Crinkle Cookies
      • dill pickle potato salad
        Dill Pickle Potato Salad
      • bowl of cucumber dill salad.
        Cucumber Dill Salad

      More Spring Recipes ➡️

      New Recipes

      • Cod en Papillote (cod in parchment paper).
        Cod en Papillote
      • berry overnight oats in a mason jar.
        Berry Overnight Oats
      • ube ice cream, ube donuts, ube cookies, ube bars with title text overlay "Best Ube Dessert Recipes"
        Filipino Ube Desserts
      • chicken and chorizo orzo in a pan.
        Chicken and Chorizo Orzo

      New Travel Tips

      • scenes from Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Fes, and Sahara Desert with title text overlay 10 Day Morocco Itinerary.
        10 Day Morocco Itinerary: From Casablanca to the Sahara to the Sea
      • bottles of syrah
        Wine Tasting in Tournon-sur-Rhone
      • vineyards at Domaine De Fond-vieille in Beaujolais, France
        Wine Tasting in Beaujolais: Domaine De Fond-vieille
      • exterior of abba hotel san sebastian spain
        Where to Stay in San Sebastian: Abba San Sebastian

      Visit our Sister Sites

      Fifty cups of coffee logo
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Pinterest
      • Instagram
      • YouTube

      Footer

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

      ↑ back to top

      logos of media outlets that have featured urban bliss life.

      Recipes

      • 30-Minute Meals
      • 5-Ingredients
      • Air Fryer
      • Asian
      • Dairy-Free
      • Pasta
      • Seafood

      About

      • About
      • FAQs
      • Privacy & Accessibility Policy
      • Terms & Conditions

      Contact

      • Contact
      • Work with me

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
      Copyright © 2024 Urban Bliss Life

      All rights reserved. You may not use any photos or recipes on this site for any personal or commercial use without my express written permission.