What wine goes with game? Our reds for venison and wild boar
433 wines to serve with gameWith game, serve a red with character and mellow tannins: Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon, ideally with a few years of bottle age. The forest floor and leather aromas of a mature wine answer the wild meat.
Game birds, more delicate, prefer a Pinot Noir or a Barbaresco. Ground game in a civet calls for a Barolo, an Amarone from Veneto or a Brunello di Montalcino. Italy takes a large place in our selection, alongside Spain, South Africa and the United States.
Bear Creek & Samantha Bailey - Rib Tickler Shiraz 2023
A suave and gourmet expression of Syrah
Veramonte - Pinot Noir 2024
A typical Chilean Pinot Noir, well structured, delicious and organic!
Wildeberg - Coterie Cabernet Franc & Malbec 2020
A superb blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec
Buglioni - L'imperfetto Valpolicella Superiore 2023
Round and velvety with a deep and long intensity on the palate
Groot Constantia - Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2019
A sophisticated Bordeaux blend with complexity worthy of a great vintage
Antiyal - Kuyen 2020
A lunar and complex vintage, produced using the precepts of biodynamics.
Diemersfontein - Thokozani Pinotage 2020
A round and generous Pinotage with flavors of red fruits and spices
Fattoria di Basciano - Chianti Rufina 2024
A full-bodied Chianti combining complexity and freshness
Gaia - Notios Red 2024
A unique wine made from the indigenous Agiorgitiko grape variety and a hint of Syrah. Roundness and spices are there!
Hamilton Russell - Pinot noir 2023
A long-lasting Pinot noir with complex and refined notes
Matías Riccitelli - Sobre Suelos Calcareos Malbec 2020
A Malbec reflecting the purity and expression of the Gualtallary terroir reveals freshness and purity
Cantina Cellaro - Luma Nero d'Avola 2024
A powerful Sicilian red wine with rich, spicy flavors
San Marzano - Primitivo di Manduria SUD 2023
A cuvée of fabulous structure and complexity, from the star region of Primitivo.
L.A. Cetto - Nebbiolo Reserva Privada 2019
A great Italian grape variety grown in Mexico, what could be more exotic to discover this intense and spicy red wine.
Thymiopoulos - Terra Petra 2020
A harmonious blend of Greek red grape varieties, grown in the foothills of Mount Olympus
460 Casina Bric - Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2016
A single-plot Barolo from the highest altitudes of Barolo
Château Sainte Michelle - Syrah 2020
When Syrah meets Washington State
Atamisque - Serbal Malbec 2024
A juicy and floral Malbec, crafted with finesse and balance.
Vineka - Negroamaro 2023
An elegant and delicious red, symbol of Guglielmo Zito wines
Montecrocetta - Argione Appasimento 2015
An Amarone type wine made from 2 emblematic Bordeaux grape varieties
Peregrine Estate - Pinot noir 2015
A Pinot Noir that combines purity and elegance, concentration and length.
460 Casina Bric - Barolo Comune di Barolo 2014
A powerful Barolo deeply imbued with its high altitude terroir
Crystallum - Cuvée Cinéma 2024
A haute couture Pinot Noir, with exceptional aromatic concentration rivaling the great wines of Burgundy.
Which wine for which game and preparation?
Game birds call for finesse, ground game for power. The sauce then refines the choice.
| Dish | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Wild boar civet civet, wild boar daube | Barolo, Amarone, Valpolicella Ripasso | A blood-thickened sauce calls for a powerful, deep wine with mellow tannins. |
| Venison with grand veneur sauce medallions, fillet or haunch of venison | Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Brunello di Montalcino | The poivrade sauce and red berries go well with the dark fruit and spice of the wine. |
| Roast pheasant pheasant, partridge, wild guinea fowl | Pinot Noir, Barbaresco | The delicate meat of game birds loves finesse and forest floor aromas. |
| Pigeon and quail pink squab, quail with grapes | Pinot Noir, Langhe Nebbiolo, Cornalin from Valais | Pink, flavourful meat calls for an elegant red with lively acidity. |
| Hare à la royale hare, jugged hare | Amarone, appassimento, mature Barolo | A rich, intense dish calls for the most concentrated of reds, with notes of dried fruit. |
| Roast venison roast, venison steak | Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinotage | Lean, pink meat appreciates a supple wine with fine tannins and fresh fruit. |
| Game terrine venison pâté, pheasant terrine | Chianti Riserva, Ruchè, Rosso di Montalcino | Served cold, the terrine goes well with a fresh, spicy, easy-drinking red. |
The more the game is hung or marinated for a long time, the more the wine benefits from age.
Italy, land of hunting and great reds
For game, our favourites come from Italy. Piedmont's Nebbiolo, in a Barolo or a Barbaresco, blends cherry, faded rose, truffle and leather: an obvious match for a wild boar civet or roast venison. With a few years of ageing, like the Barolo Bricco delle Viole from 460 Casina Bric, its tannins become silky and wrap around the meat.
In Veneto, Corvina and Rondinella give Amarone, made from dried grapes. The one from Zeni, rich in dried fruit and spice, is an ideal match for hare à la royale. For a simpler meal, a Valpolicella Ripasso offers the same character with more lightness. And in Tuscany, the Sangiovese of Tricerchi's Brunello brings welcome freshness against the richest sauces.
Three pairings to try
Wild boar civet and Barolo. The depth of Nebbiolo answers the sauce made with wine and blood.
Pheasant with cabbage and Barbaresco. A more ethereal Nebbiolo for delicate meat.
Venison terrine and Ruchè. The floral, peppery notes of this Piedmontese red refresh the starter.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and game
What wine goes with wild boar civet?
With a wild boar civet, serve a powerful, mature red: Barolo, Amarone or a Cabernet Sauvignon with a few years of age. The sauce, thickened with blood and wine, calls for depth and mellow tannins. A Valpolicella Ripasso offers a more accessible version of this pairing.
What red wine goes with venison?
With venison, choose a spicy red with dark fruit, such as a Syrah, a Brunello di Montalcino or a Cabernet Sauvignon. Grand veneur sauce, with its berries and pepper, finds a natural echo in these wines. For more ideas, see our guide what wine goes with game.
What wine goes with pheasant or partridge?
For a pheasant or a partridge, serve a fine, elegant red: Pinot Noir from Burgundy or elsewhere, Barbaresco, or Langhe Nebbiolo. Game birds have delicate meat that prefers finesse to power. An oaked Chardonnay also works for pheasant in a cream sauce.
Can you serve white wine with game?
Yes, a white wine can go with some game birds, especially in a creamy or mushroom sauce. In that case choose a rich, oaked white, such as a barrel-aged Chardonnay or a wine with a broad texture. For ground game and red wine sauces, red remains the best choice.
Should you decant wine for game?
Yes, decant a young, powerful red one to two hours before a game dish: its tannins soften and its aromas open up. For a mature wine, simply decant it just before serving, to preserve its delicate forest floor notes. For more serving tips, see our food and wine pairing page.
At what temperature should wine be served with game?
Serve powerful reds for game between 16 and 18 °C, and finer reds, intended for game birds, at around 15 °C. A controlled temperature keeps the wine fresh and precise against rich sauces. Open the bottle in advance to give it time to breathe.