Wine is great for unwinding after a long day, and it also pairs well with certain food dishes. But with so many different wines out there and a variety of food dishes to consider, knowing what wines pair well with what food can be challenging. Even people who have been drinking wine for years may be confused about the best wine pairings for certain dishes. In this post, we’ll discuss the best wine to pair with your steaks and where you can find the finest steaks and wine in Oklahoma City.
Best Wine Pairings for Steak
Nothing compares to the taste of a freshly grilled steak. Likewise, you really can’t beat the taste of a great, high-quality glass of wine. When you put these two together, you have a match made in heaven. But don’t choose just any wine for your steak; this could result in a combination that doesn’t taste very pleasing. It’s best to choose wines that experts have determined to be a perfect pairing for steak dishes. Here are some top choices.
California Zinfandel
Since steak is typically high in fat, California zinfandel is an excellent pairing choice. This is because zinfandel has a high acidity and moderate tannins. However, you want to make sure you choose the right steak to match with California zinfandel. Some notable options are ribeye, T-bone, and porterhouse. Steak has tons of flavor, so it’s important to match it with wine that also provides many different flavors to enjoy in your palette. Zinfandel is known for having a bold taste with grapey spiciness, and the thick richness is also loved by many.
Malbec
Another option is malbec, an up-and-coming wine. This wine is often paired with steak, and it is loved around the world. In fact, malbec is the top wine consumed in Argentina, where it’s the leading wine to pair with beef. Another reason why malbec is a top pick is that it is relatively cost-effective compared to its wine counterparts. There are rich and delicious malbec wines made across the globe, but some of the more popular malbec wines come from Chile or Argentina.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Known as the king of red wines, cabernet sauvignon is said to be the number one choice when it comes to pairing with steak dishes. Given the bold flavors of steak, it's important to choose a wine that matches that flavor. Due to the full-bodied nature of cabernet sauvignon, it pairs perfectly with steak. No matter what steak you eat, the robust fruit flavors and powerful aromas of this wine are well suited for intense flavors with each and every bite of steak. Also, given the high fat content of steak, the high alcohol content and high level of tannins pair well. The steak fat also can improve the taste of the wine, making it a lot smoother and less bitter.
Pinot Noir
If you tend to choose the higher end steaks like filet mignon, then pinot noir is a solid choice for a wine pairing. Given that filet mignon comes from the thicker end of the cow’s tenderloin, it is very lean and less fatty, which provides a very distinct and delicate flavor. This is why these filets are often served with sauces. Pinot noir has an enjoyable fruitiness to it, and the subtle oak flavors accompany the gentle flavors of the meat perfectly. After all, you want to get the full effect of the amazing flavors of your steak, so you don’t want a wine to be too overpowering. To enjoy the full flavors of a good filet mignon, a soft pinot noir is the ideal choice.
Merlot
Merlot is a great wine that pairs well with many different types of steaks. One of those steaks is ribeye, which involves tons of juicy flavor. In fact, ribeye is the juiciest, most flavorful type of steak. Although merlot is a top choice for ribeye steak with minimal seasonings, it pairs even better when the steak is seasoned with paprika. Given the smoky spiciness of paprika, it pairs well with the delicious flavors of merlot.
Enjoy a Steak at Cattleman's Steakhouse!
Who doesn’t love a steak dinner? Here at Cattlemen's Steakhouse, we believe that having a great steak with great company is something we all can look forward to. And when you have an amazing wine to accompany your steak dinner, your night just got even better. From T-bone and filet mignon to our very own Cattleman’s Strip Sirloin and Cattleman’s Chicken Fried Steak, we have the perfect dinner for all you steak lovers out there. And when it comes to wine, we have tons of options so you can find the ideal pairing for you. In fact, we offer more than 60 different wines, so you'll be sure to find a wine that you’ll love!
Located in Oklahoma City, your new favorite steakhouse is right down the road. Come see us today to try our amazing steak and wine pairings!
