Elevate your next backyard barbecue with these BBQ wine pairings. Here are seven amazing wines that pair well with grilled food.
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Summer is here! I’ve been grilling on the regular and I’ve been on a mission to sample lots of different wines paired with grilled foods.
Most people associate BBQ and grilled foods with beer but did you know that wine pairs extremely well too?
Here are some of my favorite bottles of wine for pairing with grilled foods of all kinds!
Be sure to check out my favorite side dishes for barbecue and sauces for ribs too!
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the most food-friendly red wines out there. It’s flavors are delicate enough to not overpower the food that you’re eating it with and it makes a great match for seafood, poultry and red meat. It’s particularly tasty paired with smoked meats because Pinot Noir has an earthy, smoky quality to it.
Try it Paired With: Lemon Chicken Skewers with Harissa Yogurt Sauce
Barbera
Barbera is another red wine to try when you’re looking for something a little lighter than a Cabernet. Ripe, dark berries and savory notes round out this wine. You can even try this wine chilled slightly, by sticking it in the fridge for 30 minutes before you plan to enjoy it.
Try it Paired With: Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Charred Lemon Chimichurri
Dry Rosé
Rosé is a fun, flirty wine, perfect for sipping on the patio. With aromas of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus, rosé has a good amount of acidity to it that stands up to grilled foods.
Like Pinot Noir, Rosé can pair with a wide variety of dishes from seafood to grilled pork. It’s also a perfect match for veggie burgers or grilled turkey burgers.
Try it Paired With: Mango Lime Grilled Chicken
Spanish Wine
Spanish wines are fun to play around with in the summertime. They’re budget-friendly and pair exceptionally well with grilled meats. Look for Rioja, Tempranillo or Garnacha which will offer aromas of cherry, wood smoke and leather.
Try it Paired With: Peruvian Grilled Chicken with Creamy Green Sauce
Sparkling Wine
Much like a light beer, sparkling wines tame down the heat and liven up many grilled dishes. Look for affordable bottles like cava or prosecco. They’re fun wines that bring a feeling of fancy to an otherwise casual get together.
Try it Paired With: Grilled Pork Chops with White BBQ Sauce
Red Blends
Red blends combining Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, etc. are great all around BBQ pairing wines and I love them with a simple burger.
Try it Paired With: Red Wine Burgers
Zinfandel
When you’re serving up something big and beefy at your barbecue, you’re going to want a big red wine. Zinfandel has a silky characteristic to it that helps to tone down the in your face smokiness of certain grilled dishes.
Try it Paired With: Lamb Chops with Peanut Sauce
Did you try this any of these wine pairings with barbecue?
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Full Recipe
7+ Best BBQ Wine Pairings
Equipment
- Smoker (Traeger, Camp Chef, etc. )
Ingredients
- 2-3 pound tri tip roast (fat cap and silverskin removed)
Dry Rub
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ Tablespoon chili powder
- ½ Tablespoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
To Sear
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees.
- In a small bowl, combine the dry rub seasonings. Generously season the tri tip and coat on all sides with the spice mixture.
- Place the tri tip directly on the grates of your smoker. Cook for 60-90 minutes, until it’s 5-10 degrees below your desired final temperature, as shown below.
- Once the tri tip is finished smoking, preheat a large cast iron over high heat on your stove.
- Add the butter and oil. Once melted, add the tri tip to the skillet. Sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until well browned.
- Place the tri tip on a cutting board and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Slice against the grain, rotating as needed, since the grain changes throughout.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Rare: 125ºF
- Medium Rare: 135ºF
- Medium: 140ºF
- Medium Well: 155ºF
- Well: 160ºF
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