Lillypilly Estate Petit Verdot 2021
Riverina, NSW
$21.50per bottle
$129.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Food & wine pairing
Best wine with chilli con carne
Rich, spicy beef wants ripe, fruity reds with soft tannin.
Durif & Zinfandel
Zinfandel and Durif have ripe fruit that stands up to spice.
- 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
Why it works Dish Wine
Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine
Spicy dish: big tannin can make chilli taste hotter.
Best Value
Poggio Anima Lilith Primitivo Salento 2023
Firenze, Italy
$23.50per bottle
$282.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Campbells Shiraz Durif Cabernet 2023
Rutherglen, VIC
$25.17per bottle
$151.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Rapid Crossing Zinfandel 2023
Barossa Valley, SA
$28.00per bottle
$168.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Malbec
Plush and smoky, a natural with cumin and chilli.
- Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
- Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
Why it works Dish Wine
Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine
Spicy dish: soft tannin keeps the heat friendly.
Best Value
Reschke R-Series Malbec 2023
Limestone Coast, SA
$14.67per bottle
$176.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Fat Bastard Malbec 2025
Mendoza, Argentina
$17.67per bottle
$212.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Mr Mick Malbec 2024
Clare Valley, SA
$18.17per bottle
$109.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
La La Land Malbec 2025
Riverina, NSW
$18.33per bottle
$110.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Grenache & GSM blends
Juicy and soft, so the heat stays friendly.
- Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
- Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
- Low tannin, so the chilli won’t taste harsh
Why it works Dish Wine
Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine
Spicy dish: soft tannin keeps the heat friendly.
Best Value
Angove ESTD 1886 SMG Shiraz Mourvèdre Grenache 2024
Riverland, SA
$16.67per bottle
$100.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Mr Mick Grenache 2024
Clare Valley, SA
$18.17per bottle
$109.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Sister's Run Cow's Corner Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2022
Barossa, SA
$19.42per bottle
$233.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Cellier des Dauphins Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2024
Rhone Valley, France
$19.42per bottle
$233.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Shiraz
Ripe Shiraz for a mild, meaty chilli.
- 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
Why it works Dish Wine
Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine
Spicy dish: big tannin can make chilli taste hotter.
Best Value
Rhythm and Rhyme Shiraz NV
Riverland, SA
$11.00per bottle
$132.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Angove Long Row Shiraz 2023
Riverland, SA
$11.17per bottle
$134.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Smith's Lane Estate Shiraz 2022
North East Victoria
$12.00per bottle
$72.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Deakin Estate Shiraz 2025
South East Australia
$12.17per bottle
$146.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Tip
The hotter the chilli, the riper and softer the wine should be.
Best avoided
High-tannin, high-alcohol reds turn hotter with chilli.
About chilli con carne and wine
Today’s picks run from $11.00 to $28.00 a bottle, chosen for value from 455 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 chilli con carne?
Durif & Zinfandel, Malbec and Grenache & GSM blends are the best matches for chilli con carne. Zinfandel and Durif have ripe fruit that stands up to spice.
What’s a good cheap wine with chilli con carne?
Rhythm and Rhyme Shiraz NV is the cheapest of today’s picks at $11.00 a bottle from Cellars. Prices are checked every 4 hours.
What wine should I avoid with chilli con carne?
High-tannin, high-alcohol reds turn hotter with chilli.