What wine goes with lamb? Pairings for leg, shoulder and chops
713 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.
Boekenhoutskloof - Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch 2021
A precise and structured Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, where the freshness of the fruit meets the elegance of the oak.
Castello Di Ama - San Lorenzo 2019
A Chianti Classico Gran Selezione combining depth, freshness, and Tuscan elegance, driven by high-altitude Sangiovese.
Catena Zapata - Adrianna Fortuna Terrae 2022
A high-altitude Malbec of great finesse, where Andean freshness meets the depth of Gualtallary's limestone soils.
Dominio de Pingus - Pingus 2022
A Ribera del Duero Tempranillo of great depth, combining concentration, precision, and elegance.
Castello Di Ama - Vigneto La Casuccia 2019
A superb single-vineyard Chianti Classico, combining aromatic depth, structure, and Tuscan elegance.
Catena Zapata - Adrianna Mundus Bacillus Terrae 2021
A high-altitude Malbec, with rare mineral precision, that finely expresses the uniqueness of the Adrianna vineyard.
Blank Canvas - Anthem Vineyard 2019
A precise and elegant New Zealand red, where the freshness of Marlborough’s climate meets the depth of the Anthem Vineyard terroir.
Bond - Pluribus 2021
A Spring Mountain hillside Cabernet, deep, structured, and with great aromatic precision.
Bond - Vecina 2021
A hillside Cabernet Sauvignon that is at once powerful, precise and deeply rooted in the Napa Valley terroir.
Reta - Quebrada Chalinga 2022
A taut and deep Chilean coastal canyon Syrah, where granite freshness meets sun-drenched maturity.
Bond - Quella 2021
A hillside Cabernet Sauvignon combining fruit purity, freshness, and remarkable length.
Borgogno - No Name 2022
A Nebbiolo from the Langhe with a strong character, where aromatic finesse meets a deep and persistent structure.
Neyen Vineyards - Espiritu de Apalta 2017
An Apalta red wine combining depth, freshness and elegance, emblematic of the Neyen terroir.
Catena - Alta Cabernet Sauvigon 2019
An Argentinian high-altitude Cabernet, combining aromatic intensity, Andean freshness, and an elegant structure.
Bond - Melbury 2021
A precise and deep hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, combining aromatic intensity and elegant texture.
Herdade do Mouchão - Mouchão 2014
A great red from Alentejo, deep and structured, carried by the intensity of the Alicante Bouschet.
Avignonesi - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2022
A precise and elegant Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, where the purity of Tuscan Sangiovese is expressed with freshness, finesse and depth.
Felsina - Fontalloro Toscane 2019
A Tuscan Sangiovese with character, where the depth of the fruit meets the elegance of the great terroirs of Fèlsina.
Artadi - La Poza de Ballesteros 2022
A great single-vineyard Tempranillo, combining depth, fruit precision and a pure expression of the Rioja Alavesa terroir.
Chappaz - Grain Pinot Charrat 2023
A precise and elegant Pinot Noir from the Valais hillsides, where the purity of the fruit meets the mineral energy of Charrat.
Sottimano - Basarin Barbaresco 2020
A precise and elegant Barbaresco from Neive, where the finesse of Nebbiolo meets the depth of the Basarin cru.
Altos las Hormigas - Malbec Terroir Valle de Uco 2022
A precise and juicy high-altitude Malbec, where the freshness of the Uco Valley enhances the expression of the limestone terroir.
Tempos Vega Sicilia - Alión 2021
A Ribera del Duero Tempranillo that is powerful, precise, and elegant, bearing the hallmark of Tempos Vega Sicilia's meticulousness.
Dario di Vaira - Clarice 2022
A Tuscan red from Bolgheri combining fruit ripeness, maritime freshness and elegant structure.
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.