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.
Far Niente - Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
This magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon is considered one of the best in Napa
Anselmo Mendes - Contacto 2020
A mineral and fine wine, made by a master of Vinho Verde
Vigneti Canosini - Tufarello Nero di Troia 2023
Nero di Troia, an indigenous grape variety from northern Puglia
Kusuda - Syrah 2021
A Martinborough Syrah of great precision, combining freshness, finesse and aromatic depth.
Damascene - Syrah Stellenbosch 2022
A precise and fresh Stellenbosch syrah, where the purity of the fruit meets the elegance of the coastal terroir.
Tetramythos - Laurier Noir nature 2023
A deep and balanced red wine
Damascene - Syrah Swartland 2022
A precise and profound Swartland Syrah, where the freshness of the terroir enhances the concentration of the fruit.
Kanonkop Wine Estate - Kadette Cape Blend 2024
A precise and generous Cape Blend, which marries the soul of Pinotage with the elegance of Bordeaux grape varieties.
Torbreck - Hillside Vineyard Grenache 2021
Grenache at its best Australian expression
Argiano - Non Confunditur 2023
Four grape varieties, a round and approachable red, with blackberry and gentle spices.
Doña Paula - Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Citrus and herbaceous notes, a lively Argentinian white to serve well chilled.
Jasci - Montepulciano sans soufre 2021
A concentrate of red fruits and sweet spices in this cuvée dedicated to pleasure.
Bella Union - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The union of 2 extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, this is the first wine made by Belle Union.
Twomey - Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2023
A premium Pinot Noir from the cool climate of the Anderson Valley
Vesevo - Beneventano Falanghina 2023
A cuvée made from Falanghina, an indigenous grape variety from Campania
Montecrocetta - Roncaiolo Apassite 2017
A Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, made using the ripasso method
Jay Christopher - Basalte Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018
A world-class Pinot noir, with notes of spices and undergrowth
Paso Primero - Paso Primero Blanco 2019
A lovely white wine from Northern Spain, from vineyards at the foot of the Pyrenees
Emmerich Knoll - Grüner Veltliner Loibner Federspiel 2024
A white wine of great finesse from steep vineyards over 40 degrees!
Etchart - Privado Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Etchart's Cabernet: blackcurrant and cedar, with firm but ripe tannins.
Gianni Gagliardo - Roero Arneis 2022
Roero Arneis in its straight-lined style: pear, almond and a clean finish.
Fenech - Maddalena 2020
A unique wine made from Malvasia from the island of Salina
La Rural - Rutini Apartado Gran Malbec 2018
A dense and complex Malbec from a selection of 3 exceptional terroirs
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.