Does Pinot Noir pair with steak?
Does Pinot Noir go with steak? Most Pinot Noir wines tend to sit at the light to medium-bodied end of the spectrum, and its profile is often therefore paired-up with lighter meats. Yet Pinot Noir's natural acidity and bright, red berry fruit can work with your steak dinner, depending on the style and the cut.
Pinot Noir pairs well with a wide range of foods—fruitier versions make a great match with salmon or other fatty fish, roasted chicken or pasta dishes; bigger, more tannic Pinots are ideal with duck and other game birds, casseroles or, of course, stews like beef bourguignon.
Rhône reds or other syrah or GSM (grenache/syrah/mourvèdre) blends are perfectly suited to ribeye steaks while a leaner fillet steak pairs better with a pinot noir. The more charred (and therefore bitter) a steak is the more ripeness/sweetness you want in your wine.
A classic wine and steak pairing is a ribeye with a Cabernet Sauvignon as the high tannins present in the wine help cut through the juiciness of the steak.
Cabernet is the most popular wine for a reason. Cabernets have a relatively balanced flavor profile and tend to have the acid and bitterness to cut through even the meatiest of meats. Cabernet Sauvignon is your get out of jail free card if you're trying to pair a wine with your steak.
White wine: While red wine is the classic choice to pair with steak, white wine is also a great option to have with red meat. The best white wine options to pair with steak are full-bodied whites that complement the flavor of steak. Chardonnays are great for pairing with steak because of their dynamic flavor.
Earthier, more tannic Pinot Noir wines pair well with meats such as pork, filet mignon, and game dishes. Stews, wild mushrooms, and root vegetables also make good pairings with Pinot Noir. A classic pairing is Beef Bourguignon. Or, try a fun pairing with char siu pork or crispy duck pancakes.
As with most red wines, pinot noir is ideally served at slightly cooler than room temperature. In general, serving red wines at room temperature is too warm, and flavors can become muddled while the alcohol takes over. Lighter bodied reds, such as pinot noir, are best served at about 55°F (13°C).
Is Pinot Noir Dry or Sweet? Pinot noir is a dry, light-bodied wine. Pinot noir is more acidic than other red wines with lower tannins, which makes pinot noir smooth and easy to drink.
Ribeye steak is the juiciest and fattiest cut of steak and requires full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Barolo, Merlot and Syrah. Younger versions of these wines, which feature harsh tannin, are preferred as Ribeye steak is loaded with fat and protein.
Does Pinot Noir go with prime rib?
"Pinot noir is a more relaxed wine," he says. The "nose" of a good pinot noir, Miliotes says, will have hints of red and black berries and spices, such as cinnamon and allspice. The taste should be rich - a fine companion to the prime rib.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic pairing for a New York strip steak. It's a robust, full-bodied wine with flavors of dark fruits and notes of oak. The wine boasts high tannin levels, high acidity, and a high alcohol content, all of which help to cut through the fat of the steak.

With its tender buttery texture but subtle beefy flavours, Filet Mignon pairs best with red wines that showcase soft tannins such as mature Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Rioja Reserva.
Red, dry wines such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz and Sangiovese also tend to work well. Filet mignon is also an excellent choice for Malbec wine pairing, as the Malbec's boldness and velvety tannins complement the texture, flavor and mouthfeel of the filet.
Filet Mignon – Pinot Noir
It's important to choose a wine that won't overshadow the steak. Pinot Noir is higher in acidity but tends to be lower in alcohol content resulting in a light refreshing taste, adding to the flavor of the filet mignon without being overpowering.
In particular, it's the tannins in red wine – which mainly comes from the grape skins and seeds, as well as the wine barrels during the ageing process – and the protein in the meat that interact to make the ideal flavour combo. As tannin molecules soften the fat in the meat, it works to release more of the flavour.
- Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Grenache or 'GSM' blends.
- Malbec.
- Shiraz.
- Aged Nebbiolo (Barolo)
- Traditional white Rioja.
How to Pronounce Pinot Noir? French Wine Pronunciation - YouTube
- Red Wine. Red wine is the classic drink to pair with any steak. ...
- White Wine. If you're looking for a slightly lighter option, white wine is also a good choice. ...
- Whiskey. ...
- Cocktails. ...
- Your Favorite Drink.
Classic and unfussy, a dry martini allows the decadent flavors of your steak to really shine. This gin- and vermouth-based cocktail is light and crisp and functions almost as a palate cleanser, which helps keep a steak dinner from feeling too heavy.
Does beer or wine go better with steak?
Power Matching- You can't go wrong matching a flavor of the drink with flavor of the dish. Robust flavors should be paired with a robust wine or flavorful beer. A general rule-of-thumb is the beefier flavor the dish or cut has, the more robust or flavorful beverage you'll want.
A snack plate with crackers, goat cheese, pear, and salami is the perfect way to enjoy pinot noir. Herb crackers are ideal because they aren't too salty, and the herbs will set well against the rich bouquet of the pinot noir. The goat cheese is creamy and lets the other tastes linger on your tongue.
Pinot Noir: the Burgundian Backstory
Pinot Noir means "black pine cone" in French, named for its dark color and compact, conical shape.
Light Red Wine and Cheese
Light red wines like Pinot Noir and Beaujolais match up nicely with delicately flavored, washed-rind cheeses and nutty, medium-firm cheeses. Gruyere is a great example of nutty cheese, and Taleggio is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese that is not overly intense.
Pinot Noir is rated as the healthiest wine because of the high levels of resveratrol. It is made of grapes with thin skin, has low sugar, fewer calories, and low alcohol content. Sagrantino made in Italy contains the highest concentration of antioxidants and is packed with tannins.
Just as you store open white wine in the refrigerator, you should refrigerate red wine after opening. Beware that more subtle red wines, like Pinot Noir, can start turning "flat" or taste less fruit-driven after a few days in the refrigerator.
We writers frequently say that most California or Oregon Pinot Noir should be drunk within four to five years of the vintage date, which is not a long time, compared to the 10 or 20 years that good Cabernet Sauvignon can age.
Pinot Noir is one of the world's most popular red wines. It's made from black-skinned grapes that thrive in a narrow spectrum of cooler climates. It's also notoriously difficult to grow. When done right, it produces lighter-bodied wines of elegance, complexity and longevity.
What are good red wines for beginners? Red wines without too much tannin (bitterness) are best for beginners. We recommend Bondarda, Pinot Noir, and Red Zinfandel as great places to start.
Pinot Noir, and especially Burgundy from France, is some of the most expensive wine on the market. The reason is because Pinot Noir is one of the hardest grapes to grow in the wine world. A combination of factors makes this finicky grape a farmer's headache during the growing season.
How do you eat steak and drink wine?
The Basic Rules To Eat Steak and Wine
The general rule of thumb when it comes to wine pairings has to do with the kind of meat you are preparing. Lean red meat goes well with a lighter variety of red wine. Prime rib and other rich cuts should ideally be paired with a red wine with high tannin.
- Beer. Porters and stouts are recommended to accompany a good cut of beef. ...
- Whiskey. ...
- Martinis. ...
- White wine. ...
- Nonalcoholic drinks. ...
- Get mouthwatering steaks at Dyer's Bar-B-Que.
Originating from Bordeaux, Merlot is widely known for its soft tannin. Although this wine has a minimal acidic and tannic content, it still has enough of these elements to make a good complement for steak. Merlot wine is able to cut through the fats available in robust meats.
For leaner cuts of Roast Beef, you'll want to pair it up with aged wines where the tannin has softened. For extra lean cuts of beef, light and fruity red wines with a hint of earthiness work best, such as a Pinot Noir, Barbera, or Chianti Classico.
Prime rib is richer, and it's delicious served with a younger or more tannic Barbera or Cabernet-based wine or a more robust Merlot, Bordeaux, or Bordeaux-style blend. Pan-seared filet is great paired with a moderately tannic red like Merlot or a medium- weight Australian Shiraz.
But with a roasted prime rib, you don't need such a bold wine. While a Cabernet would be a solid choice, something more medium-bodied such as a Zinfandel or Merlot would also pair nicely. My personal favorite is a blend of primarily Zinfandel with bolder Petite Sirah and Syrah added in small amounts.
The filet mignon is served with a side of easy red wine mushrooms and garlicy parmesan mashed potatoes. This easy steak and potatoes dinner recipe is perfect for a special occasion, celebration or holiday!
Malbec. For leaner cuts of beef, go bold with a Malbec. Rich and full of tannins with lots of fruit on the palate, this variety is well matched with flank steak or top sirloin, and it is an incredibly popular option on steakhouse wine lists. For good reason!
Taste: Very light, delicate and refreshing, with aromas of fresh red fruit followed by soft and subtle flavors of strawberry, raspberry and cherry. Body: Light. Tannin: Low. Acidity: High.
The rule of thumb when pairing with steak is to choose dry red wines – leaner cuts of meat pair with lighter wines, while richer, fattier cuts pair up with high tannin wines that can cut through the fat.
Why is red wine good with steak?
In particular, it's the tannins in red wine – which mainly comes from the grape skins and seeds, as well as the wine barrels during the ageing process – and the protein in the meat that interact to make the ideal flavour combo. As tannin molecules soften the fat in the meat, it works to release more of the flavour.
Many experts recommend pairing ribeye steak with a Cabernet Sauvignon, as the high tannins help to cut through the juiciness and fattiness of the cut. A spicy Zinfandel is another nice choice, as the fruitiness of the wine contrasts well with the ribeye's robust meatiness.