Food Pairing · Meat & Red Wines
The Best Wines for Grilled Steak
Steak and red wine is a pairing older than the barbecue. The key is matching the cut's richness and the pan's char with a wine that has enough body and tannin to stand up.
This guide maps cuts, cooking styles and sauces to the wine styles that actually make the meal sing.
By Worldwide Wines Reviews Team
Match the cut to the wine
Fatty, marbled cuts like ribeye and tomahawk need full-bodied, tannic wines — Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz. Lean cuts like sirloin or flank are happier with medium-bodied and fruity reds like Merlot or Zinfandel.
- Ribeye — Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz
- Sirloin — Merlot, Zinfandel, Côtes-du-Rhône
- Tenderloin/filet — Pinot Noir, lighter Barolo
- Flank/skirt — Malbec, Tempranillo, Syrah
Doneness and sauce are decisive
Well-done beef amplifies char and needs more supple tannins — a silky Malbec or Syrah. Rare beef is juicy and saline, ideal with elegant, high-acid reds like Barolo or Burgundy.
Peppercorn sauce cries out for Syrah's pepper note; garlic-herb butter loves a rich Chardonnay's roundness if you dare switch to white.
The golden rule
Tannin cleans fat. The more fatty and rich the steak, the more structured the red you can pour — and the better both taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best red wine for steak?▾
Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec or Shiraz — full-bodied reds with tannin to cut the fat.
Can I serve white wine with steak?▾
Yes — a rich, oaked Chardonnay works brilliantly with buttery sauces. Red remains the classic though.
Does the sauce change the pairing?▾
Completely. Sweet-savoury sauces need fruity reds; creamy sauces want rich whites; peppery sauces pair with Syrah.
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Wines To Try
Mendoza Malbec
Mendoza · 2024 (representative vintage)
Mendoza Malbec is an red wine from Argentina, in the Mendoza region (Western Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes about 1,000km west of Buenos Aires.), made principally from Malbec. a house-style Mendoza malbec that showcases the grape in this region.
$14–$34 est. retail
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley · 2024 (representative vintage)
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is an red wine from United States, in the Willamette Valley region (Western Oregon, a broad fertile valley running between the Coast Range and the Cascade Mountains, around Portland and Salem.), made principally from Pinot Noir. a house-style Willamette Valley pinot noir that showcases the grape in this region.
$14–$34 est. retail
Barossa Valley Shiraz
Barossa Valley · 2024 (representative vintage)
Barossa Valley Shiraz is an red wine from Australia, in the Barossa Valley region (South Australia, an hour northeast of Adelaide; Australia's most famous red-wine region.), made principally from Shiraz. a house-style Barossa Valley shiraz that showcases the grape in this region.
$14–$34 est. retail
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley · 2024 (representative vintage)
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an red wine from United States, in the Napa Valley region (Northern California, a valley in Napa County, north of San Francisco Bay.), made principally from Cabernet Sauvignon. a house-style Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon that showcases the grape in this region.
$14–$34 est. retail