Best Wine Pairings for Your BBQ Dishes
Barbecue season is an amazing way to meet up with your friends and family, spend some quality time together, and show off your excellent cooking skills. It’s also a great time to show off your skills for selecting perfect wine pairings.
While preparing the food is not usually a big deal, choosing something that will go well with the wine can end up being quite challenging. Don’t worry, though – we’ve got your back!
Your Might Like: Kamado Joe and Primo Grills

Red Wine Pairings
Many people know that red wine pairs best with meat and white wine – with fish. However, that’s not enough if you want to impress someone. Instead, you should learn about pairing Pinot Noir with mushrooms and Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled lamb chops. Read on, and discover more interesting wine pairings for your perfect barbecue!
Cabernet Sauvignon
You probably know that red wine goes best with meat, but it is a common mistake to think that this means you should serve a Cabernet Sauvignon with your steak. Instead, this red variety pairs great with lamb chops. A well-marbled cut will be your best choice.
Once the meat is properly cooked, the wine can be brought to the table to complement the meal. Red wine is not the only option, though! You can also serve a New Zealand sauvignon blanc or an Australian shiraz.
Pinot Noir
If you want to go for a more high-end option, you can pair almost any Pinot Noir type with any kind of mushroom dish and salmon. However, remember to use this wine in moderation since it tends to be much more expensive than some other types of red wine.
Merlot
When it comes to pairing red wines, there are many options to choose from, but Merlot might be the best choice when it comes to grilled meats and poultry. It has a smooth, gentle taste that makes it appropriate for even inexperienced wine drinkers. Try pairing Merlot with chicken or turkey breast and enjoy the results!
You might like: Beautiful hand made Cornet Barcelona wine glasses
Red Zinfandel
Pairing your red zin with most grilled meats works well, but the best results are achieved when you use it to complement a steak dish. If you want to impress someone who already knows a thing or two about wine, you can try pairing your red zin with lobster!
Pinotage
As far as red wines are concerned, Pinotage is unique because it was actually created in South Africa in the early 20th century by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsault grapes. It has a deep flavor and goes well with all kinds of grilled meats and poultry but also works perfectly alongside pizza and pasta.

White Wine Pairings
Chardonnay
When you’re stuck trying to figure out what kind of white wine goes well with seafood, just remember that Chardonnay is a good choice for almost any kind of seafood you can think of. And since it also goes well with cheese, you have an excellent excuse to serve it together with an appetizer at the next dinner party at your house!
Sauvignon Blanc
The versatility of this light and fruity white wine is one of its biggest advantages. You can serve this wine with fish, seafood, chicken, or even steak. However, keep in mind that it doesn’t go well with aged beef.
Riesling
This sweet white wine is especially popular during the summer season because it goes really well with lighter meals, such as those based on fruits or vegetables. Pairing Riesling with grilled prawns is not a bad idea, either.
Try pairing it with roasted pineapple and nuts or even gingerbread cookies if you want to try something different. For best results, keep it on the ice at all times and serve it chilled.
White Zinfandel
This sweet white wine goes really well with fresh fruit, so it’s no wonder that it’s perfect for the summer season. It is also worth mentioning that pairing white zinfandel with prawns, mussels, and other types of seafood is a great idea, too!
As you can see, there are quite a few wine pairings that you can choose from for barbeque season. For instance, if you want to serve steak dishes, Red Zin or Merlot are your best bets. On the other hand, if you really want to surprise your guests with seafood, you should go for White Zinfandel instead.
In the end, if you are not sure which wine you should choose, going for the one that you have always liked best is always a viable option. After all, you already know how it tastes, which will make you feel confident with your choice.
Thank you for this post. I hope to host a cookout this summer, pandemic permitting. I would love to be able to serve a proper wine.