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Italian & takeout · Wine pairing

What wine goes with tacos & Mexican food?

Tacos love fruity, low-tannin wines: rosé, Albariño, Malbec or Grenache. Match the filling and the heat.

The rule: Spice + tannin = burn. Keep reds soft and fruity.

By Rate This Wine editors · Updated · How we rate

Tacos & Mexican food

Photo: T.Tseng, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 3 best wines with tacos & Mexican food

  1. Rosé

    1 Rosé Dry pink wine

    Dry rosé is the do-everything taco wine.

    Serve 45-50°F From $10; top Provence $25+

  2. Malbec

    2 Malbec Full-bodied red

    Plush fruit for carne asada and barbacoa.

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

  3. Albariño

    3 Albariño Light, crisp white

    Bright and citrusy for fish and shrimp tacos.

    Serve 45-50°F From $14

Best on a budget: Spanish rosado or Garnacha.

Also good

Grenache (Garnacha)CarménèreZinfandelSauvignon BlancCavaTempranillo (Rioja)

What to avoid

  • High-alcohol, tannic reds. They amplify chili heat.

It depends how you cook it

If you’re having…Pour
Al pastorOff-dry Riesling or rosé.
Carne asadaMalbec or Tempranillo.
Fish tacosAlbariño or Sauvignon Blanc.
MoleZinfandel or Grenache.

Frequently asked questions

What wine goes with Mexican food?

Rosé, Albariño and soft reds like Malbec or Grenache. Avoid tannic, high-alcohol reds with spicy dishes.

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