Enthusiast: Paring Wine with Steak: Great Cabernet Alternatives
The first theme of our introductory enthusiast level Wine.com Tasting Room is pairing wine with steak. We'll introduce a new theme each month, helping you discover a world of new wines! Learn more about the Tasting Room concept or watch the video.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a great match with steak. However, it is not the only wine that pairs well with hearty slab of meat!
Why does Cabernet get paired with steak so often? The fat and protein in steak tame tannins and bring out the fruit of a wine, so Cabernet, with its big fruit and firm tannins, is a natural match. But varieties like Malbec, Petite Sirah and Syrah also create wines with big fruit, firm tannins and great structure. Not only do these wines hold up to a steak, but the pairing will bring out the juiciness of the meat and the fruit of the wine. Not every wine is a perfect match, so we've selected a few of our favorites--beyond typical Cabernet Sauvignon--that are "great with steak."
Be sure to check out our Novice and Collector lists as well.