Best Value
Rhythm and Rhyme Shiraz NV
Riverland, SA
$11.00per bottle
$132.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Food & wine pairing
Best wine with steak
Big, ripe reds with enough tannin to cut through char and fat.
How are you cooking it?
Chargrilled: Smoke and char want ripe fruit and a peppery edge, so Shiraz leads.
Shiraz
Ripe dark fruit and a peppery edge that loves a charred crust. The Aussie default for good reason.
- 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
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
Cabernet Sauvignon
Firm tannin grips the fat in a marbled ribeye or scotch fillet and leaves your mouth clean for the next bite.
- 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
Best Value
Winesmiths Premium Cabernet Merlot 2000ml
SA
$7.94per 750ml equivalent
$127.00 for 6 × 2L
Cellars
Best Value
Stonegate Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Riverland, SA
$10.67per bottle
$128.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Angove Long Row Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Riverland, SA
$11.17per bottle
$134.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Smith's Lane Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
North East Victoria
$12.00per bottle
$72.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Malbec
Plush and plummy with softer tannin. Great with leaner cuts and chimichurri.
- 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
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
Tempranillo
Savoury, medium-bodied and food-friendly. A good pick if Shiraz feels too heavy.
- Lighter than the dish: best with a lighter version of it
- 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
Best Value
Earthworks Tempranillo 2024
Barossa, SA
$17.00per bottle
$102.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Yalumba Y Series Tempranillo 2024
SA
$17.17per bottle
$206.00 for 12 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
Mr Mick Tempranillo 2024
Clare Valley, SA
$18.17per bottle
$109.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Best Value
La La Land Tempranillo 2021
Riverina, NSW
$18.33per bottle
$110.00 for 6 × 750ml
Cellars
Tip
The fattier the cut, the firmer the tannin you can handle. On a hot day give reds 15 minutes in the fridge; around 16 to 18°C tastes best.
Best avoided
Delicate whites and light, crisp styles get flattened by a big steak.
About steak and wine
Today’s picks run from $7.94 to $18.33 a bottle, chosen for value from 946 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 steak?
Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec are the best matches for steak. Ripe dark fruit and a peppery edge that loves a charred crust. The Aussie default for good reason.
What’s a good cheap wine with steak?
Winesmiths Premium Cabernet Merlot 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 steak?
Delicate whites and light, crisp styles get flattened by a big steak.
