It’s summertime. It’s hot. And it’s time to fire up the grill! What kind of wine goes best with the food you’re cooking on the grill?
It is helpful to know why a certain type of wine goes well with certain kinds of food. This way, you can choose a wine based on what is available.
Pulled pork has become a quintessential BBQ staple with its smoky, tender pork shoulder meat just begging to be piled high on a bun or mixed into everything from tacos to nachos. But what wine should you pair with this flavorful shredded pork dish? With the right wine match you can take your pulled pork to new taste heights.
Why Pulled Pork is Tricky to Pair With Wine
On the surface, finding the ideal wine for pulled pork may seem simple. However, there are a few factors that make this pairing tricky:
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Smoky flavors – The hours of smoking infuse the pork with deep earthy flavors that can overwhelm more delicate wines.
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Sweet and spicy sauces – Many pulled pork dishes incorporate sweet and spicy barbecue sauces that need a wine that can handle the sugar and heat
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Rich fattiness – Pulled pork comes from well-marbled pork shoulder, resulting in a rich, fatty mouthfeel that needs an acidity contrast.
The key is finding a versatile wine that complements rather than competes with the pork’s complex mix of flavors.
Matching Wine Characteristics For Pulled Pork
Consider these wine characteristics that pair beautifully with the layers of flavor in pulled pork:
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Medium body – A light or medium-bodied red has enough substance to stand up to the pork but won’t overpower it.
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Low tannins – The fat in pulled pork needs soft, smooth tannins instead of grippy, mouth-drying tannins.
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Fruit-forward – Fruity red wines offset smoky flavors and balance sweet BBQ sauces.
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High acidity – Acidity in the wine cuts through the richness and fat to refresh the palate.
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Complementary flavors – Earthy, savory notes as well as oak and light spice mirror pulled pork seasonings.
Top Wine Varietals for Pulled Pork
Based on the ideal wine characteristics, these varietals make excellent pulled pork wine pairings:
Pinot Noir
With its cherry and strawberry flavors, silky tannins, and racy acidity, Pinot Noir is one of the best matches for pulled pork. The red fruit notes contrast beautifully with smoky pork flavors while the acid provides balance. Pinot Noir also has an earthy side that interplays nicely with the pork.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel has enough body and structure for pulled pork but also boasts juicy berry fruit that stands up to sweet and spicy barbecue sauces. Black pepper and spice add another layer of flavor harmony with zesty rubs and sauces.
Merlot
Plum and blackberry flavors combined with low tannins make Merlot a surefire pairing for pork. Its medium body and acidity work wonders, and any oak overtones pick up on the pork’s smokiness.
Sangiovese
The brightness of Italian Sangiovese cuts through fattiness and interplays deliciously with the savoriness of pulled pork. Subtle herbs and spices in the wine echo barbecue seasonings.
Tempranillo
Dry Tempranillo has gentle tannins and notes of smoke, leather, and tobacco that accentuate the pork’s smoky exterior while showcasing its interior tenderness. Savory meatiness in the wine resonates with the shredded meat.
Don’t Forget White Wines!
While red wines pair brilliantly with pulled pork, don’t overlook crisp, fruity whites. The acidity and fruit of whites cut through the meat’s richness. Consider Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Chenin Blanc, and Verdejo. Off-dry Riesling with a touch of sweetness handles sweet and spicy barbecue sauces with ease.
Tips for Serving Pulled Pork with Wine
To get the most enjoyment from your pulled pork and wine pairing, keep these serving tips in mind:
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Chill both reds and whites slightly to refresh the palate from fatty pork.
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If sauce is on the side, taste the pork before adding sauce to fully appreciate the wine pairing.
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Cleanse your palate with a bite of coleslaw, pickles, or other acidic sides between bites of pork.
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Try a white wine first with plain pulled pork, then switch to a red if using saucy pork or chili.
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Add a splash of fruit juice or ginger ale to reds like Pinot Noir or Sangiovese for a fun pulled pork sangria.
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Contrast rich mains with a bright, acidic white like Sauvignon Blanc in your glass.
Discover New Favorite Wine and Pork Pairings
Part of the fun of pulled pork is experimenting with new flavor combinations, so use this versatile canvas to discover new favorite wine matches. Try an unoaked Chardonnay, sparkling Rosé, or juicy Beaujolais next time. Just keep the wine’s body, tannins, fruit, and acidity in mind.
Pulled pork’s blend of smoky, sweet, spicy, and rich flavors deserves an equally versatile wine partner. With so many possibilities, you’re sure to find a new go-to pairing that brings out the best in both your wine and your pork.
AboutAshley Sara Dekam
Growing up in the world of gourmet food and wine, I learned to channel my creative energy into crafting in the kitchen. The kitchen and the vineyard became my canvas. craving4more.com
Barbecue Meat Wine Pairings
Typically, when we grill, we grill meat (meat is anything other than poultry and fish). As a general rule, red wines pair excellently well with barbecue-grilled meats. The umami and high fat content of the meat will balance out the tannins in the red wine.
For pork barbecue, you’re often seasoning with sweet, spicy, smoky, and tangy flavors and matching sauces. To balance out the smoke and spice of the grilled pork, you can pair your wine with something fruity that tastes smoky and spicy. For example, a Zinfandel that’s medium- to full-bodied with plenty of backbone will do the trick. However, you also have another option. Do as the Italians do: use your wine as a “sauce,” to the meat.
For example, you could serve your slow-smoked pork with a glass of Ruby Port on ice. The wine will easily double as the sweet “sauce” and give you a huge flavor explosion. Don’t forget the slightly pickled sweet slaw on the side. A nice, dry Riesling (Trocken) might even do the trick here too.
If you’re having red meat, like burgers or steak on the grill, try a full-bodied wine like Tempranillo, a Cabernet blend, Sangiovese, or even a good GSM blend (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre). These wines will enhance the the peppery and tobacco flavors in the dish.
- Grilled Chicken: Sauvignon Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Grechetto
- BBQ Chicken: Rosé, White Zinfandel, Gewürztraminer, Off-Dry Riesling
- Grilled White Fish: Friulano, Verdejo, White Vinho Verde, Colombard
- Chardonnay, White Rioja, Viognier, Marsanne-Blends, and even lighter Beaujolais or Pinot Noir go well with grilled salmon.
Simple grilled chicken and fish go well with Sauvignon Blanc or even Verdejo for those of us who like lighter foods. They are citrusy, sometimes, grassy, and almost always “light. ” Think simplicity, but also think sophistication. In simple recipes, chicken and fish almost always go well with a good Chardonnay that hasn’t been oaked or lightly oaked.
But if you’re really “bbqing” your chicken, with the sticky sauce and grill marks, a sweeter, stronger Gewürztraminer is a great choice. That would taste great with blue cheese on grilled wings. The sweetness will balance out the heat and smell, making the most delicious mix of smells and tastes. Make sure to serve that Gewürztraminer cold to further quench spicy foods.
To change things up on the grill, try fish tacos with lime and cilantro, tomatoes, salt, and pepper. For these dishes, you should pair a nicely chilled Sauvignon Blanc, Fumé Blanc (a slightly oaked Sauvignon Blanc), Grechetto, Grüner Veltliner, or Verdejo with the citrus and minerality.
Can you picture this? A beautiful Fume Blanc or Italian Orvieto (also called Grechetto) with grilled chicken glazed with apricot jam. Then, a spicy white fish taco with all its pizzazz in one hand while you sip a glass of Verdejo, which is tart and satisfyingly subtle. Beautiful.
Pairing BBQ & Wine
FAQ
What type of wine goes with pulled pork?
What to drink with pulled pork?
Is red or white wine better with BBQ pork?
Do you serve red or white wine with pork?
What wine goes with pulled pork?
In short, port wine makes a great companion for pulled pork sliders and brisket. The sweet barbecue sauce begs for a sweeter style wine. You will notice the wine’s ability to let the meat flavor come through the moment you take the first sip. When pairing white wine with pork, it’s all about the acid.
What wine goes with stuffed pork?
Because of its versatility, pork can pair well with different red wines. Aim to keep the wine and food pairing in balance and not overwhelm the dish with too heavy a red wine. Malbec is an excellent pairing with stuffed pork loin. Its fruity flavors of plum and berries make for a great side to pork, especially if you serve it with a red sauce.
What wine goes well with pork tenderloin?
And that’s why Italian Pinot Grigio is a smooth, refreshing wine that goes well with pork. The same applies to Pinot Gris that comes from the same grape variety, but in France rather than Italy. Both styles of Pinot Grigio will pair well with pork tenderloin- lemony sauce with an Italian Pinot Grigio, fruit glazes with a Pinot Gris.
What wine goes with pork ribs?
BBQ Pork Ribs and Malbec: For a full-bodied and rich pairing, try serving BBQ pork ribs with a fruity and spicy Malbec. The wine’s notes of blackberry, plum, and spice will complement the sweetness of the BBQ sauce and the smokiness of the meat.