What wine goes with lamb? Pairings for leg, shoulder and chops
723 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.
Santa Rita - Floresta Carménère 2022
A Carménère from old vines in Apalta, fresh and juicy, floral and herbaceous, with no oak.
Greenwing - Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A Cabernet from Washington State, sunny and juicy, between wild strawberry, plum and sweet spices.
Chateau Montelena - Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A concentrated yet fresh Napa Valley Cabernet, with red and blue fruit, spice and sage.
Duckhorn - Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
A mountain Cabernet from Napa, dense and deep, with black fruit, cedar and cocoa.
Luna Sicana - Perricone Pizziferru 2019
An organic single-varietal Perricone, fermented with its own yeasts and aged in barrique, intense and unforgettable.
Masseria Surani - Heracles Primitivo di Manduria 2022
A powerful, intense Primitivo di Manduria, with notes of violet, black cherry and liquorice.
Masseria Surani - Primitivo Cabernet Sauvignon Ares 2022
A Salento blend of Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon, fruity, enveloping and lightly spiced.
Paternoster - Synthesi Aglianico del Vulture 2019
An Aglianico del Vulture that sums up its volcanic terroir: black fruit, pepper and velvety tannins.
Carpineto - Brunello di Montalcino 2021
A Brunello from some of the highest-altitude vineyards in Montalcino, aged three years in large foudres.
Poggio al Tufo - Alicante 2020
An Alicante from the Maremma with a sunny, Mediterranean character, aged 15 months in large Slavonian oak foudres.
Vite Colte - Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019
A low-yield Nizza Riserva, made only in great vintages, concentrated, elegant and deep.
Vite Colte - Langhe Nebbiolo Rosso Corallo 2023
An organic Langhe Nebbiolo vinified in tank, with scents of red fruit and violet, supple and warm.
Vignobles Dourthe - Château La Garde 2018
A Cabernet Sauvignon-led Pessac-Léognan, powerful and smoky, with very fine tannins.
Vignobles Dourthe - Diane de Belgrave 2018
The second wine of Château Belgrave, a round and voluptuous Haut-Médoc with very fine tannins.
Vignobles Dourthe - Château Pey La Tour Réserve du Château 2021
The grand vin of Pey La Tour, a round, silky Bordeaux Supérieur, between blackberry and spice.
Château Belingard - Bergerac 2022
A red Bergerac from Pomport, supple and fruity, a blend of Merlot, the two Cabernets and Malbec.
Domaine Ampelous - Minervois Chez Clovis 2023
43-year-old Grenache and Carignan at the foot of the Montagne Noire, for a concentrated, creamy Minervois.
La Bastide Blanche - Bandol Rouge 2022
A Bandol with 81% Mourvèdre, biodynamic, with dense, smooth tannins, round and Mediterranean.
Domaine du Météore - Faugères Léonides 2021
An organic Faugères from Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault, aged 28 months, fresh, silky and spicy.
Domaine Mucyn - Saint-Joseph Les Salamandres 2023
A dense, peppery organic Saint-Joseph, with black fruit and violet, structured by fine tannins.
Domaine Mucyn - Crozes-Hermitage Les Entrecoeurs 2023
An organic Syrah from old vines, aged in tank for purity of fruit: juicy, peppery and mineral.
Château La Nerthe - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes 2022
The cuvée from La Nerthe's oldest vines: a dense, elegant Châteauneuf built for ageing.
Château La Nerthe - Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe Rouge 2022
A Côtes-du-Rhône Villages from 40-year-old vines, crunchy and spicy, with hints of Provençal garrigue.
Château La Nerthe - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2020
The great red wine of Château La Nerthe, sunny and silky, remarkably balanced and with good ageing potential.
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.