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Meat · Wine pairing

What wine goes with burgers?

A juicy burger loves a fruity, medium-to-full red with soft tannin: Zinfandel, Malbec or a Grenache-based blend.

The rule: Match the toppings: the sauce and cheese matter as much as the beef.

By Rate This Wine editors · Updated · How we rate

Burgers

Photo: ArildV, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 3 best wines with burgers

  1. Zinfandel

    1 Zinfandel Bold, fruity red

    Jammy fruit handles ketchup, barbecue sauce and caramelized onions.

    Serve 60-65°F Good bottles $12-$30

  2. Malbec

    2 Malbec Full-bodied red

    Plummy and smooth: great with a classic cheeseburger.

    Serve 60-65°F Excellent value from $10-$20

  3. Syrah / Shiraz

    3 Syrah / Shiraz Full-bodied red

    A peppery Syrah suits bacon and smoky burgers.

    Serve 60-65°F Shiraz from $10; Northern Rhône Syrah $30+

Best on a budget: Spanish Garnacha or Côtes du Rhône, both about $12.

Also good

MerlotGrenache (Garnacha)Tempranillo (Rioja)Carménère

What to avoid

  • Expensive, tannic Cabernet. Ketchup and pickles make it taste harsh. Save it for steak.

It depends how you cook it

If you’re having…Pour
Mushroom & SwissPinot Noir echoes the earthy mushrooms.
BBQ bacon burgerZinfandel or Australian Shiraz.
Turkey or veggie burgerA dry rosé or Gamay.

Frequently asked questions

What wine goes with cheeseburgers?

Zinfandel and Malbec are both great: ripe fruit and soft tannins work with cheese, ketchup and pickles.

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