What wine goes with lamb? Pairings for leg, shoulder and chops
713 wines to serve with lambWith lamb, choose a spicy, sun-drenched red: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, or a Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of blackcurrant and mint. The fragrant, slightly fatty meat loves silky tannins and aromas of garrigue.
Leg of lamb with herbs calls for a Rioja or a Tuscan Sangiovese, slow-cooked shoulder for a generous Grenache, grilled chops for a Malbec or an Australian Shiraz. Our selection covers Italy, Spain, South Africa and Argentina to go with every way of cooking it.
Morgenster - Lourens River Valley 2013
A sophisticated Bordeaux blend, resulting from a cooperation with the famous Château Cheval Blanc!
Hammeken Cellars - Tosalet Vieilles Vignes 2013
A concentrate of fruits and spices for power lovers!
E's Vino - Malbec 2024
An elegant Malbec, from the high-altitude terroirs of Gualtallary, combining intensity, structure and minerality.
Caelum - Malbec Reserva 2019
A Malbec from Mendoza that combines intensity, finesse and depth with remarkable elegance.
Caelum - Malbec Gran Reserva 2016
A powerful and elegant high-altitude Malbec, where aromatic depth and freshness blend harmoniously. A great wine for laying down.
Antiyal - Escorial 2020
The quintessence of Carménère, expressed by a master of Chilean viticulture.
Cave des Amandiers - Syrah 2022
Syrah grown right up into the mountains: ripe, peppery and smoky on velvety tannins.
Vesevo - Taurasi 2016
A powerful and elegant Taurasi, from the volcanic soils of Campania, which expresses all the depth of the Aglianico
El Esteco - Don David Reserve Malbec 2023
An intense Malbec from the Cafayate valley perched 1800 meters above sea level
Duvernay - Rully Meix de Pellerey Rouge 2024
Black cherry, leather and fine spices: a velvety red Rully, made for the table.
Sine Qua Non - Distenta III Syrah 2021
A timeless Syrah signed Sine qua non
Paternoster - Aglianico del Vulture Don Anselmo 2017
Aglianico del Vulture in its flagship cuvée: volcanic, dense and built to last.
Postmark - Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Napa Cabernet in its straightforward style: ripe blackcurrant and polished tannins.
Tabalí - Payen Syrah Cabernet Franc 2018
The estate's signature Syrah-based cuvée
Masseria Surani - Primitivo Di Manduria Riserva Dionysos 2019
Primitivo di Manduria Riserva, candied fruit, cocoa and velvety tannins.
Rockford - Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
A top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon from the Barossa Valley!
Bousquet - Ameri Malbec 2023
Bousquet's great organic cuvée: a high-altitude Malbec built to be cellared.
Gaja - Etna IDDA rosso 2021
A precise and elegant Sicilian volcanic red, where the freshness of the altitude meets the depth of Nerello Mascalese.
Vigneti Canosini - Tufarello Nero di Troia 2023
Nero di Troia, an indigenous grape variety from northern Puglia
Tarapacá - Gran Reserva Carménère 2023
A round and spicy Carménère influenced by the proximity of the Maipo River
Herdade Do Mouchao - Dom Rafael 2019
Made from foot-crushed grapes, this cuvée embodies intensity, complexity and pleasure!
Diemersfontein - Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Cabernet Sauvignon from Wellington, blackcurrant and cedar on a well-held tannic frame.
Bousquet - Malbec Reserve 2024
Bousquet's reserve Malbec, blackberry and cocoa on a velvet of tannins.
Which wine for which lamb recipe?
Pink, slow-cooked or spiced, lamb changes character with the recipe. The wine follows the same path.
| Dish | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Roast leg of lamb with garlic seven-hour leg of lamb, pink leg of lamb | Rioja (Tempranillo), Chianti, Cabernet Sauvignon | Fine tannins frame the pink meat, and the garrigue notes answer the thyme. |
| Slow-cooked shoulder shoulder, lamb shank | Grenache, Spanish Garnacha, Mourvèdre | Melting meat with concentrated juices calls for a warm, round wine with ripe fruit. |
| Grilled chops chops, barbecue skewers | Malbec, Shiraz, Syrah | Grilled fat and herbs find their echo in dark fruit and pepper. |
| Tagine and couscous tagine with prunes, couscous royal | Primitivo from Puglia, Grenache, Pinotage | Dried fruit and sweet spices go well with a generous red with supple tannins. |
| Spring navarin navarin with spring vegetables, stew | Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc | A light stew calls for a fresh, easy-drinking red with red fruit aromas. |
| Méchoui and kefta méchoui, cumin skewers | South African Syrah, Negroamaro | Cumin and flame call for a spicy, fleshy, generous wine. |
| Herb-crusted rack rack, lamb noisettes | Barolo, Langhe Nebbiolo, Brunello di Montalcino | A noble cut deserves a great red with finely chiselled tannins and aromas of rose. |
With mint sauce or a tangy marinade, prefer a livelier red served at around 15 °C.
Syrah, lamb's ideal travelling companion
If only one grape variety could go with lamb, it would be Syrah. Its notes of pepper, black olive and violet extend the rosemary and garlic. In the Swartland or Constantia, in South Africa, it keeps a lovely freshness; under the name Shiraz, in Australia, it gains roundness and sweet spice, perfect for barbecued chops.
Grenache is the other great ally. In Spain, Garnacha gives warm wines with jammy fruit that melt into a shoulder slow-cooked for hours. In Italy, the Sangiovese of a Chianti Rufina from Fattoria di Basciano brings acidity and tart cherry, enough to lighten a Sunday leg of lamb. Choose according to the season: fresh Syrah in spring, sun-drenched Grenache when the days grow shorter.
Three pairings to try
Easter leg of lamb and Chianti Rufina. The cherry and acidity of Sangiovese liven up the pink meat.
Slow-cooked shoulder and Garnacha. Two melting textures that answer each other, with a touch of spice.
Tagine with prunes and Primitivo. The ripe fruit of Puglia embraces the sweet and savoury.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and lamb
What red wine goes with leg of lamb?
With a leg of lamb, serve an elegant red with fine tannins: a Tempranillo-based Rioja, a Chianti, or a South African Cabernet Sauvignon. For a meltingly tender seven-hour leg of lamb, a Grenache is a better fit. Our detailed pairings are gathered in our guide what wine goes with leg of lamb.
What wine goes with slow-cooked shoulder of lamb?
For a slow-cooked shoulder of lamb, choose a round, warm red such as a Grenache, a Spanish Garnacha or a blend with Mourvèdre. The melting meat and its caramelised juices call for ripe fruit and enveloping tannins. An Australian Syrah also works very well.
White or red wine with lamb?
Red is usually the best choice with lamb, thanks to its tannins and spicy aromas. A rich white, such as a Viognier or a barrel-aged Chenin, can however go with milk-fed lamb or a shank with citrus. A more structured orange wine also makes an original pairing.
What wine goes with lamb tagine?
With a lamb tagine, serve a fruity red with supple tannins: Primitivo from Puglia, Grenache or South African Pinotage. Dried fruit and sweet spices love a generous wine served slightly chilled. Discover more ideas in our article what wine goes with couscous or tagine.
What wine to serve with Easter lamb?
For Easter lamb, go for an elegant, springlike red: Pinot Noir from New Zealand, Sangiovese from Tuscany or Cabernet Franc. These fresh wines go with the tender meat of milk-fed lamb and spring vegetables. For a big family meal, a Brunello di Montalcino marks the occasion.
At what temperature should wine be served with lamb?
Serve wine with lamb between 15 and 17 °C. A Grenache or a Shiraz benefits from being slightly chilled to keep its brightness. Great young reds, such as a Barolo, open up better after an hour in a decanter.