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.
Felsina - Berardenga Chianti Classico 2022
A precise and energetic Chianti Classico from Berardenga, where the Sangiovese clearly expresses the depth and freshness of the Tuscan terroir.
Antonio Madeira - Vinha da Serra 2022
A deep, airy mountain red, where granite meets the finesse of old vines.
Gianni Gagliardo - Barolo Lazzarito Vigna Preve 2020
Lazzarito at its peak, a Barolo dense in tannins that demands a great deal of patience.
Felton Road - Block 5 Pinot Noir 2024
A Pinot Noir from Bannockburn that is both precise and profound, which finely expresses the singularity of Block 5.
Nicolas Jay - Pinot Noir l'ensemble 2019
Nicolas Jay's top cuvée: an Oregon Pinot built for long ageing.
Tabalí - Roca Madre Malbec 2018
High-altitude Malbec, grown at 1,600 metres on volcanic soils
Château La Croix Saint-Vincent - Pomerol 2021
A supple, flavourful Pomerol, with dark fruit, spice and silky tannins.
St. Supéry - Elu 2016
A great Bordeaux-style blend from Napa Valley, dense and elegant. Black fruit and toasty notes unfold with finesse.
David & Nadia - Elpidios 2021
A Swartland blend that is fragrant, fresh and structured. Grenache leads the dance with finesse.
Ink Grade - Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2018
A deep, taut and mineral mountain Cabernet. Napa Valley at its most vertical.
Stark-Conde - Stellenbosch Syrah 2022
A Jonkershoek Syrah that is floral, spicy and deeply mineral. The elegance of Stellenbosch in a sleek style.
Quinta da Carolina - Quinta da Carolina 2019
A broad, spicy Douro red, where ripe fruit meets an elegant tannic structure.
Catena - Alta Malbec 2021
A deep, nuanced high-altitude Malbec. Mineral freshness balances its generous black-fruit structure.
Bondar - Rayner Vineyard Shiraz 2021
An old-vine Shiraz, intense yet restrained. The depth of McLaren Vale carried by a fresh, saline backbone.
Portal del Priorat - Somni 2017
A deep, mineral Priorat, where black fruit meets spice and schist.
Elizabeth Spencer - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019
A broad, velvety Napa Valley Cabernet, between black fruit, cocoa and sweet spice.
Jardin de Hormigas - Meteora 2021
A vibrant, taut and mineral high-altitude Malbec. The purity of Altamira in a precise, deep style.
Ridge Vineyards - Monte Bello 2022
A great Californian mountain red, taut with freshness and minerality. A bottle built for the cellar and for fine dining.
Tapanappa - Whalebone Vineyard 2020
A great Australian red of freshness and precision. The finesse of Cabernet on the limestone of Wrattonbully.
Boekenhoutskloof - Syrah 2021
A dense, racy Swartland Syrah, carried by black fruit, spice and lovely freshness.
Catena Zapata - Nicolas 2021
A great mountain blend, precise and deep. Andean freshness in the service of a Bordeaux-style structure.
Maverick - Twins Barrel Select Shiraz 2021
A generous Barossa Shiraz, deep and silky. Toasted oak underlines its vivid black fruit.
St. Supéry - Rutherford Merlot 2018
A generous, precise Rutherford Merlot, balancing black fruit, cocoa and freshness.
Casal da Coelheira - Terraços do Tejo Tinto 2021
An intense, elegant and spicy red wine
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.