Some people prefer a soda or beer with their steak, especially if they’re enjoying steak in a sports bar type of environment. For others, enjoying steak is a more upscale experience that deserves a good bottle of wine to complement the meal’s flavors. If the latter sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. We’re about to dig into the best wine pairings for the most popular steak cuts, including filet mignon, ribeye, and T-bone.
Best Wine Pairings for Different Steak Cuts
Below, find suggestions for the best wine pairings with various steak cuts. Then, continue reading to find out our suggestion for the number one type of wine to go with any steak.
Best Wines for Ribeye
Ribeye is rich, fatty, and packed with beefy flavor, so it needs a wine that can stand up to all that marbling. Full-bodied reds with firm tannins help cleanse the palate and enhance the steak’s savory character.
Try these:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah/Shiraz
- Petite Sirah
- Zinfandel
Best Wines for Filet Mignon
Filet is lean and tender, with a more delicate flavor. It does better with elegant and smooth wines that won’t overpower its flavors. Look for reds with soft tannins and refined structure to match the subtle taste of filet mignon.
Try these:
- Pinot Noir
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Port
Best Wines for New York Strip
The New York strip balances tenderness and bold flavor, similar to a ribeye, so it calls for a wine with structure and a little edge. Go for something medium- to full-bodied with a touch of spice to pair with this steak.
Try these:
- Malbec
- Tempranillo
- Bordeaux
- Nero d’Avola
Best Wines for Sirloin
Sirloin has good flavor and moderate fat, which opens the door for both classic reds and a few unexpected picks. Choose a wine with medium tannins and plenty of fruit to match the steak’s hearty but not overly rich profile.
Try these:
- Sangiovese
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
- Chardonnay
Best Wines for Porterhouse and T-Bone
T-bone and porterhouse steaks are part of the same family, both cut from the short loin and featuring a T-shaped bone with filet on one side and strip steak on the other. The only stand-out difference is the size of the steaks, with the porterhouse including a larger portion of tenderloin than the T-bone. You can pair both of these steaks with similar wines that bring boldness and balance. Something medium- to full-bodied with structure and some acidity to cut down on the richness is a good option for these cuts.
Try these:
- Xinomavro
- Barolo
- Super Tuscan
- Tempranillo
Best Wines for Flank & Skirt
Flank and skirt steak are thin, grainy cuts. While full of flavor, they are commonly prepared with a marinade to help tenderize them before cooking. As a result, the type of wine you choose with them ultimately depends on the flavors of your marinade. For example, a soy sauce–based marinade with garlic and ginger is savory and a little salty, so it’ll pair nicely with a juicy, fruit-forward red like Zinfandel or Grenache to balance things out. If you’re using a citrus or vinegar marinade with herbs and spices, a wine with higher acidity, like Tempranillo or a light-bodied Gamay, will complement the brightness without overwhelming the meat. The key is to match the wine to both the steak and the dominant flavors in the marinade.
If you’re skipping the marinade, you’ll have a wider assortment of wines to choose from. Generally, these steaks welcome juicy reds with spicy undertones.
Try these:
- Cabernet Franc
- Gamay
- Tempranillo
- Mourvèdre
Best Wines for Brisket
Brisket is slow-cooked and has deeply savory flavors, often with hints of smokiness. Choose bold, earthy red wines that can penetrate those deep flavors of brisket.
Try these:
- Syrah/Shiraz
- Malbec
- Reisling
- Aged Zinfandel
The Best Overall Wine for Any Steak
Obviously, the best wine for steak is subjective. You love what you love, and your taste buds may prefer one type of wine over another. But an overwhelming majority of wine experts and enthusiasts love Cabernet Sauvignon as a go-to wine for virtually any steak cut — and we agree with them.
Cabernet Sauvignon just checks all the right boxes. It’s bold enough to hold its own against a juicy ribeye, yet structured enough to pair beautifully with leaner cuts like filet mignon. The high tannins in Cabernet help cut through the meat’s richness, balancing every bite with just the right amount of grip and dryness. Plus, those deep notes of fruit and spice complement the savory flavors from a good sear on steak. It’s a classic because it’s dependable, delicious, and always steak-worthy.
Tips and Key Factors for Steak and Wine Pairings
There’s a lot of nuance behind that perfect steak and wine combination. Different cuts of steak bring different textures, flavors, and fat levels to the plate, and the right wine can elevate all of it. Keeping a few pairing principles in mind will help you make the most of both your wine and your steak. Below are some essential tips and pairing factors to keep in your back pocket as you choose the best wine for your steak meal.
Matching Texture and Intensity
The structure of your steak, such as lean and delicate or fatty and bold, should guide the weight of your wine. Heavier cuts like ribeye or porterhouse need a full-bodied wine with strong tannins and deep flavor, while more tender, mild cuts like filet mignon do better with smoother, more elegant wines.
Think of it this way: if your steak is the star of your plate, your wine should be a helpful co-star, not another lead. When in doubt, match the texture and richness of the steak with the intensity of the wine.
Balancing Tannins and Juiciness
Tannins are compounds in wine that give it that dry, slightly puckering taste. But they also serve a purpose with steak, as they bind to fat and proteins to soften their impact and break them down, which makes steak juicier and brings out the wine’s fruity flavors. A party happens in your mouth when wine and steak work together, but all you experience is a delicious blend of flavor and balance.
The more marbled or fatty your steak, the more tannins your wine can have. That’s why bold reds like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah pair so well with cuts like ribeye or strip steak. On the flip side, leaner steaks don’t need as many tannins to find that balance. Something with a moderate amount of tannins, like Pinot Noir or Merlot, can let the meat shine.
Harmonizing Tastes
The right wine will help your steak taste even better, but it’s important to find a match that complements your steak’s flavors. A steak grilled over high heat with a smoky crust often plays well with wines that have spicy or earthy notes. If your steak is served with a compound butter or a rich sauce, you might want a wine with a bit more acidity to balance the richness.
Herbs, spices, rubs, and marinades can influence your wine pairing, too. Look at the whole plate instead of just the steak when choosing your wine.
The Role of Wine Aging
Aged wines develop complex flavors over time. These secondary and tertiary notes can enhance your steak experience, especially with dishes that have a deeper flavor profile or dry-aged steaks.
You don’t need to break out a decades-old bottle every time you grill, but exploring slightly aged wines — say, five to ten years — can add depth to a steak dinner. Just be mindful of the wine’s structure; older wines tend to have softer tannins, which may not hold up as well to extremely fatty or charred steaks.
Using Wine in Sauces for Steak
If you’re making a pan sauce, reduction, or wine-butter glaze to go with your steak, it makes sense to pour a wine that complements what’s on the plate. Use the same wine (or something similar) in the sauce that you plan to serve with dinner to bring a natural harmony to the meal. Red wine reductions or Cabernet-based mushroom sauces, for example, can bring attention to the pairing while adding some flavor and richness to your steak.
Tailoring to Individual Tastes
At the end of the day, your palate matters most. Some steak and wine pairings are common, but ultimately, wine and steak favorites are personal. If you’re feeling a fruitier wine one day over a dry, bold one, then that’s probably what you should choose to make your palate happy. You can even choose a steak to pair with your wine, instead of the other way around, if you have your heart set on a specific wine bottle.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. The more you try different combinations, the more you’ll figure out what works for you.
Start Pairing Wine and Steak
Do you have a wine bottle you want to pair with a high-quality steak? Consider the wine and steak pairings we’ve covered in this guide to help you find the right match for your wine. Browse Chicago Steak Company’s mail-order steaks, including ribeye, filet mignon, and top sirloin, to create your next steak meal.
