BBQ wines: 18 picks to accompany your barbecue dishes
Whether you’re catering a large event for friends and family or simply throwing some barbecue favourites on the grill, make sure the wines are as celebrated as the food with our guide to BBQ wines.
What kind of wine should you serve at a BBQ?
With the weather (hopefully) on our side, there are few things better than a barbecue in the sunshine accompanied by a delicious glass of wine.
Choosing a good bottle for your barbecue can really elevate the occasion, although for something a little less formal, there’s plenty to choose from in terms of alternative format wines.
Forget those days of washing down a burnt burger with warm Chardonnay or a ‘cooked’ red served in a plastic cup – choosing wine to serve at a barbecue needn’t be an afterthought.
Scroll down to see a selection of 18 great BBQ wines
If you’re going big on the spice, then you could lean towards fruitier reds or whites with a touch of sweetness, such as off-dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer for example.
Grilled salmon works well with a number of wines, from sparkling rosé to a light Pinot Noir or even a glass of chilled Manzanilla.
As outside temperatures warm up, you may be reluctant to opt for a more classic wine and beef pairing, such as a full-bodied red. Yet, a Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec or Shiraz could still work well providing it is served no warmer than room temperature.
Catering for vegans? Make sure the wines you serve are as vegan-friendly as the food they’re matching.
At a glance – suggested BBQ wines
Here are some wine pairings for classic barbecue dishes. For ease of use, we’ve overlooked the uses of marinades and sauces.
- Steak – Malbec, Syrah/Shiraz
- Burgers – Zinfandel, Grenache blends (like Côtes du Rhône), Cabernet Sauvignon
- Sausages – Tempranillo, Gamay, Pinot Noir
- BBQ chicken – Warmer climate Chardonnay
- Pork chops – Valpolicella, Barbera, Riesling, dry rosé
- Salmon – Rosé Champagne, Pinot Gris, chilled Pinot Noir
- Sardines – Albariño, Picpoul de Pinet
- Halloumi – Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Assyrtiko
- Veggie Skewers – Chenin Blanc (fresher styles), dry rosé, Gamay
All-rounder BBQ wines
Choosing wine for a barbecue should be fun, with the emphasis on enjoyment of the occasion: it’s unlikely you’ll purchase 10 types of wine and impose strict pairing regulations!
There are some great all-rounder wines that tick many of the boxes needed for a great gathering with friends and family.
Styles to consider include:
- Malbec
- Pinot Noir
- Gamay
- Dry rosé
- Riesling
- Champagne and other traditional method sparkling wines, or a refreshing pét-nat
Top tips for serving wines at a BBQ
If it’s above 20°C (68°F), outside then it’s perfectly acceptable to chill your red wines.
Even the most powerful red wines are best at ‘room temperature’, which is no more than 18°C (65°F).
Also, and this almost goes without saying these days, do avoid plastic cups if possible.
Great BBQ wine: 18 picks tasted by our Decanter experts
Search our expert wine reviews
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Berry Bros & Rudd, English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs by Hambledon, England, United Kingdom, 2017
Made for Berry Bros & Rudd by Hambledon Vineyard in Hampshire (the UK's oldest commercial vineyard), this is a stylish English sparkler. Aromas of freshly...
2017
Berry Bros & Rudd
Wildman Wine, Piggy Pop Pét-Nat, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia, 2022
Visually this is great fun a bubbling disco for the eyes – as soon as you crack the crown cap it’s alive with effervescence. Aromas...
2022
Wildman WineMcLaren Vale
Artemis Karamolegos, The Society's Exhibition Santorini Assyrtiko, Aegean Islands, Greece, 2021
93
Made for The Wine Society by Artemis Karamolegos, from vines averaging 50 years of age. It's 90% Assyrtiko, with a little Athiri and Aidani added in. Lovers of Santorini Assyrtiko will find the salinity, structure and austere concentration that makes this style so successful, but it's super drinkable at the same time, with a weight of stone fruit on the nose and palate, zesty acidity and a persistent finish.
2021
Artemis Karamolegos
Lay & Wheeler, Eva Fricke Riesling, Rheingau, Germany, 2020
93
Lay & Wheeler recently launched an own-label range and this Riesling, made by Rheingau pioneer Eva Fricke, is one of the top examples. The nose blooms with sultry honeyed apples, limes, beeswax and lemon posset, impressing with its perfect balance of ripe, lush fruit and clean acidity. Moreish and succulent.
2020
Lay & Wheeler
Osmote, Cayuga Lake Chardonnay, Finger Lakes, New York State, USA, 2020
Ben Riccardi, Osmote owner and winemaker, brings his trademark balance between classicism and wildness to his Cayuga Lake Chardonnay. The fleshy structure is built upon...
2020
OsmoteFinger Lakes
Leo Steen, Saini Chenin Blanc, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley, California, USA, 2021
Danish former sommelier Leo Hansen loves Chenin Blanc, so his winery name is apt (Steen is both a family name and the South African word...
2021
Leo SteenSonoma County
Faustino Rivero Ulecia, Albariño, Galicia, Spain, 2022
This delicious Albariño delivers with its perfumed and exotic character. Mango, lychee and lilac fragrance is joined in the mouth by flavours of stone fruits...
2022
Faustino Rivero Ulecia
Pyramid Valley, Sauvignon +, Canterbury, New Zealand, 2019
90
There’s an enticing vibrancy to this wine (with a dollop each of Riesling and Pinot Gris) which lingers on the palate with spicy notes of wild fennel and cayenne pepper. The core is of classic lime zest, green apple, crunchy pear and gooseberry. An acid presence on the mid-palate makes it a good food companion.
2019
Pyramid Valley
CVNE, Cune Gran Reserva, Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain, 2015
92
From 45-year-old bush vines, an enticing nose of sweet cedary oak and ripe, spicy black fruit, hints of blueberry and black cherry. Rich black fruit melds with brighter plums, herb and spice notes weaving through. Good depth of fruit, integrated tannins and a long finish. Still lively – and will continue to evolve in bottle. Vegan.
2015
CVNERioja
Berry Bros & Rudd, Côtes du Rhône Rouge by Rémi Pouizin, Côtes du Rhône, Rhône, France, 2021
91
Rémi Pouzin of Domaine Dieu-Le-Fit in Visan makes this great value organic Côtes du Rhône blend for Berry Bros. Peppery, herbal red berry and cherry aromas lead to a lively, juicy palate with smooth tannins. Lovely purity of fruit here; ripe red berries and blackberries are balanced by a mineral freshness. So enjoyable!
2021
Berry Bros & RuddCôtes du Rhône
Pablo Fallabrino, Barbera Especial, Canelones, Uruguay, 2020
91
Uruguay's wine scene is full of surprises and this enjoyable Barbera – a nod to Pablo Fallabrino’s Piedmont heritage – is a case in point. Fresh unoaked style: herbaceous berry aromas lead to a lively palate, low in tannin, packed with blackberries, cherries and plums. Spicy, savoury and balsamic hints add interest.
2020
Pablo Fallabrino
The Hedonist, Shiraz, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia, 2020
91
<p>An inky Shiraz with a juicy, fleshy core of blackberries, ripe raspberries and plum, lined by black pepper and cardamom. The nose has a sweet aspect of cherry compote and Port-poached pears but the palate offsets this sugary suggestion with good acid and drive. Tannins are robust but soft. Long finish.</p>
2020
The HedonistMcLaren Vale
Undurraga, TH Las Gaviotas Pinot Noir, San Antonio, Chile, 2020
91
A Chilean Pinot Noir, kissed by the Pacific Ocean, with an interesting nose of strawberry jam, plum and tomato compote. Round, with well-presented tannins and a gentle softness of texture. Good, smokey persistence.
2020
Undurraga
Yalumba, The Cigar, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia, 2018
Named after the famous cigar-shaped strip of terrarossa soil in Coonawarra, rather than an affinity for strong tobacco, this red from Aussie stalwart, Yalumba, is...
2018
YalumbaCoonawarra
Dominique Piron, Beaujolais, Chiroubles, Burgundy, France, 2020
90
From vineyards farmed sustainably, this is archetypal Chiroubles, the lightest bodied of the Beaujolais crus, and so perfect summer drinking. Lots to like, with plenty of fresh red berry fruit, some florality adding perfume, and an easy-drinking suppleness. Chill slightly and enjoy with charcuterie.
2020
Dominique PironBeaujolais
Juan Gil, The Society's Spanish Monastrell, Jumilla, Jumilla, Spain, 2021
90
The Wine Society is updating its Society own-label range, introducing a new look as new vintages come onstream. Previously called The Society’s Southern Spanish Red, this is made from old-vine Monastrell (also known as Mourvèdre). Lovely, easy, spicy blackberry fruit, easy, uncomplicated, and fantastic value for money. Great value red for a summer barbecue.
2021
Juan GilJumilla
Tesco Finest, The Trilogy Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2019
90
The Catena family is the royalty of Argentinian wine, and is behind this Tesco own-label Malbec produced from high-altitude vineyard sites in Mendoza. Fragrant on the nose, almost exotic, with bags of dark damson and blackberry fruit, cocoa smoothness and a twist of black pepper on the finish. Fresh and juicy, this has a good tannin structure but is approachable at the same time. Good value New World Malbec, and a real crowd-pleaser.
2019
Tesco Finest
Bodegas Hidalgo, La Gitana En Rama 2023 Release, Manzanilla, Jerez, Spain
92
Bottled in spring, straight from cask and just lightly filtered, en rama is the purest expression of Sherry. Sourced from the single-vineyard Finca Pastrana, it spends eight years in solera before release. Lively, pungent, savouy aromas. The palate is packed with roasted nuts, tangy lemon citrus, bitter-orange marmalade, a hint of white pepper and vibrant acidity, with a lingering saline and grapefruit pith finish. A great summer aperitif with salty snacks like nuts, olives and jamón, or pair it with tapas, fish and seafood.
Bodegas HidalgoManzanilla
