Food & wine pairing

Best wine for a BBQ

Juicy, easy reds and a chilled rosé for snags, ribs and everything off the grill.

How are you cooking it?

Sticky ribs and wings: Sweet, smoky glazes need soft tannin and plush fruit.

Malbec

Soft and generous. A crowd-pleaser with ribs and sticky marinades.

  • Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
  • Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
See all 38 →

Why it works Dish Wine

Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine

Grenache & GSM blends

Bright and juicy, with softer tannin. Easy to drink outside in the sun.

  • Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
  • Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
See all 112 →

Why it works Dish Wine

Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine

Shiraz

Smoky, spicy meat calls for a red with the same energy.

  • Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
  • Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
  • Firm tannin is softened by the fat and protein
See all 283 →

Why it works Dish Wine

Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine

Rosé

Serve it cold. It handles snags, chicken, prawns and salads all at once.

  • Lighter than the dish: best with a lighter version of it
  • Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
See all 174 →

Why it works Dish Wine

Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine

Tip

Keep the reds in the shade, or an esky with a little ice. Warm red wine tastes boozy and flat.

Best avoided

Expensive, delicate wines. A BBQ is the time for generous, fruit-forward bottles.

About a BBQ and wine

Today’s picks run from $7.94 to $19.58 a bottle, chosen for value from 607 matching wines across the Australian retailers we compare. Six-packs and dozens are shown as a price per bottle.

Questions

What wine goes best with a BBQ?

Shiraz, Grenache & GSM blends and Rosé are the best matches for a BBQ. Smoky, spicy meat calls for a red with the same energy.

What’s a good cheap wine with a BBQ?

Winesmiths Premium Dry Rosé 2000ml is the cheapest of today’s picks at $7.94 a bottle from Cellars. Prices are checked every 4 hours.

What wine should I avoid with a BBQ?

Expensive, delicate wines. A BBQ is the time for generous, fruit-forward bottles.

More pairings

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