What wine goes with lamb? Pairings for leg, shoulder and chops
580 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.
Poliziano - Asinone 2019
A great terroir-driven Vino Nobile, deep and racy. Tuscany in a structured, elegant expression.
Pintia - Pintia 2020
The power of Toro, crafted with precision and freshness.
Valdivieso - Caballo Loco n° 19 NV
A great Chilean blend shaped by time. Deep, silky and uniquely complex.
Villa Bucci - Rosso Vieilles Vignes 2013
An old-vine Rosso Piceno, deep and elegant. The freshness of the Marche in the service of real complexity.
Gaja - Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille 2018
A single-plot Brunello with dark depth and classy length. The power of Sangiovese, carried by remarkable freshness.
San Polino - Helichrysum 2019
A high-altitude Brunello, intense and deeply fragrant. The freshness of Sangiovese wraps a structure built to last.
Clos Mogador - Clos Mogador 2022
A Priorat full of relief, where depth of fruit meets the mineral imprint of the schist.
Golan Heights Winery - Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
A high-altitude Cabernet with intense black fruit and a spicy backbone.
Poliziano - Le Caggiole 2018
A great single-plot Sangiovese, combining floral finesse and depth of fruit. The elegant signature of Montepulciano.
Monteraponi - Baron Ugo 2019
A great high-altitude red, all earthy finesse and energy. Chianti at its most ethereal.
Tedeschi - La Fabriseria 2017
A deep, velvety terroir Amarone, where rich fruit meets an elegant spicy structure.
Golan Heights Winery - Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A high-altitude Cabernet, ample and deeply spiced. The volcanic signature of the Golan Heights.
Giacomo Fenocchio - Barolo Villero 2020
A precise and profound single-vineyard Barolo, finely expressing the noble character of the Villero terroir.
Pegaso - Granito 2022
A high-altitude Garnacha, vibrant and deeply granitic. Floral finesse meets a generous body.
The Mascot - The Mascot 2021
A great Napa Valley red, intense and refined, from the Harlan family's young vines.
Planeta - Burdese 2018
A great Sicilian red with character, where Bordeaux elegance meets Mediterranean generosity.
Tenuta San Guido - Guidalberto 2023
A refined Tuscan red, where the freshness of Bolgheri meets fruity, spicy depth.
La Spinetta - Gallina 2019
A Barbaresco from the Gallina cru, combining depth, aromatic precision, and textural elegance.
Portal del Priorat - Negre de Negres 2021
A generous, deep Priorat, between black fruit, spice and slate minerality.
San Polino - Brunello 2018
A precise, deep Brunello, driven by fruit, spice and mineral freshness.
Giacomo Fenocchio - Barolo Bussia 2021
A deep and structured Barolo from Bussia, precisely expressing the classic elegance of Nebbiolo from Monforte d'Alba.
Clos Mogador - Manyetes 2021
A deep, mineral Priorat from the hillsides, intensely revealing the purity of Carignan on schist.
Pegaso - Pizarra 2021
A deep, mineral high-altitude Garnacha. Slate gives it a fine, persistent palate.
Vinya del Vuit - Vinya del Vuit 2016
A deep, mineral Priorat, shaped by the slate slopes of Gratallops.
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.