What wine goes with grilled vegetables? Our merchant's picks
389 wines to serve with grilled vegetablesWith grilled vegetables, serve a supple, fruity red (Grenache, Syrah, Montepulciano) or a sunny white with ripe fruit, such as a Chenin Blanc or a Falanghina. Grilling brings smoky notes and caramelised sweetness: the wine answers with its fruit and lively acidity.
Peppers, courgettes and aubergines love reds from Italy and Greece. Roasted root vegetables call for a fuller white, from South Africa or Portugal. For a summer sharing board, a fresh rosé also works wonders. Find our pointers in the guide wine and barbecue.
Masseria Surani - Primitivo Cabernet Sauvignon Ares 2022
A Salento blend of Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon, fruity, enveloping and lightly spiced.
Masseria Surani - Fiano Arthemis 2024
A Fiano from Salento, fragrant and fresh, with notes of white flowers, citrus and tropical fruit.
Poggio al Tufo - Alicante 2020
An Alicante from the Maremma with a sunny, Mediterranean character, aged 15 months in large Slavonian oak foudres.
Poggio al Tufo - Vermentino 2024
A Vermentino from the volcanic soils of the Maremma, sapid and lively, with aromas of ripe and exotic fruit.
Ceretto - Barbera d'Alba Piana 2024
A Barbera d'Alba vinified in tank, juicy and lively, putting fruit and freshness centre stage.
Torresella - Prosecco Extra Dry
A Prosecco Extra Dry from eastern Veneto, with fine bubbles and aromas of citrus and white fruit.
La Bastide Blanche - Bandol Rouge 2022
A Bandol with 81% Mourvèdre, biodynamic, with dense, smooth tannins, round and Mediterranean.
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.
Domaine de Longue-Toque - Cairanne 2020
A generous Cairanne from the Garrigues sector, between Burlat cherry, vanilla and white pepper.
Domaine Les Sibu - Vacqueyras 2024
An organic Vacqueyras with hints of garrigue and pepper, full and structured, with surprising freshness.
Chavin - Zéro Rosé 2023
An alcohol-free rosé of Cinsault, Syrah and Grenache, with an explosive nose of yellow fruit and flowers.
Thiénot - Champagne Vintage 2015
A 2015 vintage dominated by Pinot Noir, rich and fine, matured for seven years in the Thiénot cellars.
David Moreno - Rioja Blanco 2022
A Viura from old high-altitude vines in the Najerilla, fresh and fruity, with a texture refined on the lees.
Bodega Santa Ema - Carmenere Reserva 2023
A velvety, spicy Chilean Carménère full of black fruit, matured in tank to keep its brightness.
Torelli - Barbera d'Asti DOCG I Mandorli 2022
An organic Barbera d'Asti, aged in tank until the following summer to keep all the verve of its fruit.
Catena - Malbec 2023
A high-altitude Malbec, deep and precise, between generous black fruit and mineral freshness.
Feudi Del Pisciotto - Cerasuolo Di Vittoria G.Valli Nero d’Avola 2020
Blackberry, pepper and cocoa: Sicilian Nero d'Avola at its most structured.
Altos las Hormigas - Malbec Reserva 2020
A terroir Malbec, precise and vibrant. Limestone freshness frames deep fruit.
Planeta - Santa Cecilia 2021
A deep, sun-drenched Nero d'Avola, where the freshness of Noto refines a generous body.
Hartenberg - Shiraz 2021
A Stellenbosch Shiraz that is both generous and precise, where the richness of the fruit is combined with an elegant structure.
Doña Paula - Los Cardos Red Blend 2022
Three grape varieties, a round, spicy Argentinian red that slips down easily at the table.
Les Maîtres Vignerons de Saint-Tropez - Château Gabriel Côtes de Provence 2025
Red fruit, citrus and dried herbs, a Provence rosé that keeps its poise on the palate.
Doña Paula - Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
Blackcurrant and pepper, a straightforward Argentinian Cabernet that needs no waiting.
Cayuse - Impulsivo 2019
Tempranillo from the pebbles of En Chamberlin: black cherry, cedar and marked salinity.
Which wine for which grilled vegetables?
The colour and texture of the vegetable guide the choice. Here are our pointers for the most common dishes.
| Dish | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled peppers marinated red peppers, pepper stew | Supple red: Grenache, Syrah, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | The red fruit of the wine embraces the sweetness of the softened pepper. |
| Grilled aubergines miso aubergine, smoked aubergine caviar | Fleshy red: Primitivo, Negroamaro from Puglia | The melting, smoky flesh calls for a round wine with ripe tannins. |
| Grilled courgettes and fennel courgettes à la plancha, fennel with lemon | Lively white: Sauvignon Blanc, Falanghina, Greek white | A taut acidity refreshes these delicate vegetables and their herbs. |
| Roasted root vegetables carrots, parsnips, baked sweet potato | Full-bodied white: South African Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay | The richness of the wine answers the caramelised sweetness of the roots. |
| Grilled mushrooms ceps, barbecued portobellos | Fine red: Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo | The earthy aromas of the wine extend the forest floor flavour. |
| Barbecued vegetable skewers onion, tomato, pepper, halloumi | Rosé with character or fruity red: Pinotage, Italian rosé | A fruity, fresh wine follows the variety of flavours on the skewer. |
| Escalivada and Mediterranean vegetables escalivada, grilled ratatouille, vegetables in olive oil | Red from Spain or Portugal: Tempranillo, Douro blends | The sweet spices of the wine go well with olive oil and herbs. |
A drizzle of balsamic vinegar or a pesto points to a fresher, livelier wine.
Fruit before power
Our take on grilled vegetables: favour fruit and freshness over oaky power. The grill concentrates the sugars and leaves a smoky touch. A juicy red such as the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Fantini or the Primitivo from Vineka goes naturally with this richness and keeps the vegetables in the foreground. Served slightly chilled, it gains even more brightness.
For white, look to southern Italy and South Africa. The Beneventano Falanghina from Vesevo brings notes of citrus and almond that lift courgettes and fennel. A fuller South African Chenin Blanc welcomes roasted root vegetables and tahini sauces. For very smoky dishes, The Original Pinotage from Diemersfontein, with its mocha notes, creates a surprising echo with charred aubergine.
Three pairings to try
Pairing 1. Oven-roasted peppers and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, for a fruity, generous duo.
Pairing 2. Grilled fennel with lemon and Falanghina, a meeting of citrus and aniseed.
Pairing 3. Smoked aubergine caviar and South African Pinotage, to play up the smokiness.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and grilled vegetables
What red wine goes with grilled vegetables?
Choose a supple, fruity red with mellow tannins: Grenache, Syrah, Montepulciano or Primitivo. These grape varieties answer the caramelised sweetness of peppers and aubergines. Serve it slightly chilled, at around 15 °C, to keep some zing against the smoky notes. Reds from Italy and Spain are our first recommendations.
White or red wine with grilled vegetables?
Both work: it all depends on the vegetable. Red, fleshy vegetables (pepper, aubergine, tomato) lean towards a fruity red. Delicate green vegetables (courgette, fennel, asparagus) prefer a lively white such as a Sauvignon Blanc. Roasted root vegetables go very well with a full-bodied white, Chenin Blanc or Chardonnay.
What wine to serve with barbecued vegetable skewers?
A rosé with character or a light, fruity red is ideal with barbecued vegetable skewers. The fruit of the wine follows the variety of flavours, from grilled onion to softened tomato. If the skewer includes halloumi, a fresh white from southern Italy brings a lovely saline tension.
What wine goes with ratatouille or escalivada?
A Mediterranean red with aromas of herbs and sweet spices goes perfectly with ratatouille and escalivada: Grenache, Tempranillo or a red from Portugal. Olive oil and herbes de Provence find an echo in these sun-drenched wines. In summer, a structured rosé nicely takes over.
What wine goes with grilled mushrooms?
Pinot Noir is the star pairing for grilled mushrooms. Its forest floor aromas and silky texture extend the earthy flavour of ceps or portobellos. For a more intense version, with garlic and parsley, a Nebbiolo from Piedmont brings depth and lovely freshness.
At what temperature should wine be served with grilled vegetables?
Serve reds between 14 and 16 °C and whites between 9 and 11 °C. A slightly chilled red keeps its bright fruit against the heat of the grill. Full-bodied whites, such as Chenin Blanc or Chardonnay, show best at around 11 °C. For a rosé, aim for 8 to 10 °C.