What wine goes with game? Our reds for venison and wild boar
395 wines to serve with gameWith game, serve a red with character and mellow tannins: Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon, ideally with a few years of bottle age. The forest floor and leather aromas of a mature wine answer the wild meat.
Game birds, more delicate, prefer a Pinot Noir or a Barbaresco. Ground game in a civet calls for a Barolo, an Amarone from Veneto or a Brunello di Montalcino. Italy takes a large place in our selection, alongside Spain, South Africa and the United States.
Tenuta Buon Tempo - Brunello di Montalcino 2018
A voluptuous Brunello di Montalcino with a persistent and tasty aromatic imprint.
Thymiopoulos - Aftorizo 2020
One of the estate's Grands Crus, produced from ungrafted vines
Rijk's - Private Cellar Pinotage 2021
A rich and complex Pinotage produced by a specialist estate
Tricerchi - Brunello di Montalcino 2019
A fine and elegant Brunello di Montalcino, with a distinguished aromatic imprint
Álvaro Palacios - Gratallops Vi de Vila 2021
A fresh, intense and mineral Grenache-Carignan duo from the slopes of Priorat.
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.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - Artemis 2020
A Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the largest estates in California
Cousiño Macul - Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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 2018
A blend of 3 grape varieties bringing together power and aromatic intensity!
Vite Colte - Barolo Paesi Tuoi 2021
A straight, fragrant Barolo: cherry, rose and aniseed on tight-knit tannins.
Doña Paula - Estate Smoked Red Blend 2023
A wine made to accompany your wild barbecues!
Pierre Elie Carron - Cornalin Pietra Plata 2022
A Cornalin with a mineral and distinguished profile from the Valais terroir
Santa Rita - Triple C 2021
Blackcurrant, cedar and pepper, a firm blend where Carménère brings its roundness.
Matías Riccitelli - Viñedos de Montaña - Cabernet Franc 2020
A high-class Cabernet, located in the high vineyards of Mendoza
Ritual - Alcaparral Block Syrah 2018
A high-end syrah with complex aromas of black fruits and spices.
Vinicola Aurora - Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
A lovely vintage for lovers of power with a balanced and persistent profile on the palate.
Crystallum - Mabalel 2024
Single-plot Pinot noir from the coolest place in Crystallum
Crystallum - Bona Fide 2024
A haute couture pinot noir, with superb aromatic complexity.
Joostenberg - Family Red 2018
A vintage made with finesse, with smoky and spicy nuances
Sebastiani and Sons - Pepperwood Grove
A rich, full-bodied and spicy zinfandel from California.
Which wine for which game and preparation?
Game birds call for finesse, ground game for power. The sauce then refines the choice.
| Dish | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Wild boar civet civet, wild boar daube | Barolo, Amarone, Valpolicella Ripasso | A blood-thickened sauce calls for a powerful, deep wine with mellow tannins. |
| Venison with grand veneur sauce medallions, fillet or haunch of venison | Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Brunello di Montalcino | The poivrade sauce and red berries go well with the dark fruit and spice of the wine. |
| Roast pheasant pheasant, partridge, wild guinea fowl | Pinot Noir, Barbaresco | The delicate meat of game birds loves finesse and forest floor aromas. |
| Pigeon and quail pink squab, quail with grapes | Pinot Noir, Langhe Nebbiolo, Cornalin from Valais | Pink, flavourful meat calls for an elegant red with lively acidity. |
| Hare à la royale hare, jugged hare | Amarone, appassimento, mature Barolo | A rich, intense dish calls for the most concentrated of reds, with notes of dried fruit. |
| Roast venison roast, venison steak | Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinotage | Lean, pink meat appreciates a supple wine with fine tannins and fresh fruit. |
| Game terrine venison pâté, pheasant terrine | Chianti Riserva, Ruchè, Rosso di Montalcino | Served cold, the terrine goes well with a fresh, spicy, easy-drinking red. |
The more the game is hung or marinated for a long time, the more the wine benefits from age.
Italy, land of hunting and great reds
For game, our favourites come from Italy. Piedmont's Nebbiolo, in a Barolo or a Barbaresco, blends cherry, faded rose, truffle and leather: an obvious match for a wild boar civet or roast venison. With a few years of ageing, like the Barolo Bricco delle Viole from 460 Casina Bric, its tannins become silky and wrap around the meat.
In Veneto, Corvina and Rondinella give Amarone, made from dried grapes. The one from Zeni, rich in dried fruit and spice, is an ideal match for hare à la royale. For a simpler meal, a Valpolicella Ripasso offers the same character with more lightness. And in Tuscany, the Sangiovese of Tricerchi's Brunello brings welcome freshness against the richest sauces.
Three pairings to try
Wild boar civet and Barolo. The depth of Nebbiolo answers the sauce made with wine and blood.
Pheasant with cabbage and Barbaresco. A more ethereal Nebbiolo for delicate meat.
Venison terrine and Ruchè. The floral, peppery notes of this Piedmontese red refresh the starter.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and game
What wine goes with wild boar civet?
With a wild boar civet, serve a powerful, mature red: Barolo, Amarone or a Cabernet Sauvignon with a few years of age. The sauce, thickened with blood and wine, calls for depth and mellow tannins. A Valpolicella Ripasso offers a more accessible version of this pairing.
What red wine goes with venison?
With venison, choose a spicy red with dark fruit, such as a Syrah, a Brunello di Montalcino or a Cabernet Sauvignon. Grand veneur sauce, with its berries and pepper, finds a natural echo in these wines. For more ideas, see our guide what wine goes with game.
What wine goes with pheasant or partridge?
For a pheasant or a partridge, serve a fine, elegant red: Pinot Noir from Burgundy or elsewhere, Barbaresco, or Langhe Nebbiolo. Game birds have delicate meat that prefers finesse to power. An oaked Chardonnay also works for pheasant in a cream sauce.
Can you serve white wine with game?
Yes, a white wine can go with some game birds, especially in a creamy or mushroom sauce. In that case choose a rich, oaked white, such as a barrel-aged Chardonnay or a wine with a broad texture. For ground game and red wine sauces, red remains the best choice.
Should you decant wine for game?
Yes, decant a young, powerful red one to two hours before a game dish: its tannins soften and its aromas open up. For a mature wine, simply decant it just before serving, to preserve its delicate forest floor notes. For more serving tips, see our food and wine pairing page.
At what temperature should wine be served with game?
Serve powerful reds for game between 16 and 18 °C, and finer reds, intended for game birds, at around 15 °C. A controlled temperature keeps the wine fresh and precise against rich sauces. Open the bottle in advance to give it time to breathe.