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.
Tricerchi - Brunello di Montalcino 2019
A fine and elegant Brunello di Montalcino, with a distinguished aromatic imprint
Quinta de la Rosa - La Rosa 2022
A rich, long and complex Douro wine
Balnaves - The Blend - Coonawarra 2020
A Bordeaux-style blend of great complexity!
Escarpment - Pahi Pinot Noir 2022
A single-plot Pinot Noir, silky and deep, born on the gravels of Te Muna Road.
El Porvenir - Pequeñas Fermentaciones Garchacha 2024
A vibrant and fruity version of Grenache, illustrating all the finesse of the Andean terroir
Antiyal - Pura Fé Carménère 2023
A completely mastered Carménère, both creamy and very digestible
Decoy - Zinfandel 2019
Blackberry, plum and black pepper: Sonoma Zinfandel in its most indulgent style.
Savage Wines - Savage Red 2022
A Syrah worked in lace, intense and magnificently balanced.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - Artemis 2020
A Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the largest estates in California
Cousiño Macul - Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
An elegant Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon with intense notes of black fruits and spices.
Undurraga - Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
A very pretty Cabernet Sauvignon typical of Chile!
D'Arenberg - The Stump Jump Red 2021
A blend of 3 grape varieties bringing together power and aromatic intensity!
Ziereisen - Tschuppen 2023
A beautiful expression of Pinot Noir full of elegance and flavors!
Santa Rita - Triple C 2021
Blackcurrant, cedar and pepper, a firm blend where Carménère brings its roundness.
Felton Road - Cornish Point Pinot Noir 2024
A precise and intense Pinot Noir from Central Otago, combining purity of fruit, finesse of tannins and aromatic depth.
Creation - Viognier 2024
Cool-climate Viognier, apricot and white flowers on an unctuous palate.
Crystallum - Bona Fide 2024
A haute couture pinot noir, with superb aromatic complexity.
Panos Sarris - Lygia 2023
An elegant and refined maceration wine made from a rare grape variety from the island of Kefalonia
Berton Vineyards - Opal Ridge 2019
A beautiful Australian blend with flavors of ripe fruit and spices
Joostenberg - Family Red 2018
A vintage made with finesse, with smoky and spicy nuances
La Famille K - Le Père Rouge 2018
A Beaujolais from century-old vines combining structure and delicacy
Sebastiani and Sons - Pepperwood Grove
A rich, full-bodied and spicy zinfandel from California.
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.