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Meat · Wine pairing

What wine goes with prime rib?

A holiday prime rib is rich and juicy, so pour a structured red: Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon or Barolo. Save your best bottle for this one.

The rule: Rich roast, serious red, and decant it first.

By Rate This Wine editors · Updated · How we rate

Prime rib

The 3 best wines with prime rib

  1. Red Bordeaux blend

    1 Red Bordeaux blend Full-bodied red

    Cedar, cassis and firm tannin make Bordeaux the traditional roast-beef wine.

    Serve 60-65°F Bordeaux Supérieur from $15; classified growths $60+

  2. Cabernet Sauvignon

    2 Cabernet Sauvignon Full-bodied red

    Napa or Washington Cabernet matches the beef’s richness and jus.

    Serve 60-65°F Good bottles from about $15; Napa classics $50+

  3. Nebbiolo (Barolo)

    3 Nebbiolo (Barolo) Full-bodied red

    For the wine lover: Barolo’s high acidity cuts the fat and its tannin loves rare beef.

    Serve 60-65°F Langhe Nebbiolo from $20; Barolo $45+

Best on a budget: A Bordeaux Supérieur or Haut-Médoc gives the classic flavor for $15-$25.

Also good

Syrah / ShirazMerlotTempranillo (Rioja)

What to avoid

  • Light reds like Beaujolais. Pleasant, but lost next to the richness of the roast.

It depends how you cook it

If you’re having…Pour
With horseradish creamHorseradish heat makes tannin feel harsher: choose a riper, softer Merlot-led blend.
With Yorkshire pudding and jusClassic claret (Bordeaux) is perfect.

Frequently asked questions

What wine goes with prime rib for Christmas?

A Bordeaux blend or Cabernet Sauvignon is the traditional pick. Decant it an hour before dinner.

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