What wine goes with game? Our reds for venison and wild boar
367 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.
Elena Walch - Pinot Nero Ludwig 2023
Black cherry and cedar, a Pinot Nero from South Tyrol that puts finesse above all.
Diemersfontein - The Original Pinotage 2023
A typical Wellington Pinotage with a rich and spicy profile
Matías Riccitelli - Republica del Malbec 2020
An exceptional wine, elegant and precise with round and silky tannins
Matías Riccitelli - The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree Malbec 2021
A full-bodied and intensely aromatic wine, made by a Malbec master!
Giménez Méndez - Viña Las Brujas 2019
The king grape variety of Uruguay, Tannat.
Vite Colte - Barolo Paesi Tuoi 2020
A straight, fragrant Barolo: cherry, rose and aniseed on tight-knit tannins.
Ceretto - Barbaresco Asili 2019
Asili, the silkiest of crus: rose, raspberry and star anise.
Domaine Dubois - Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Rouge Clos des Argilières 2020
Blackberry, violet and tobacco: a Nuits premier cru built for long ageing.
Agricola Brigatti - Motfrei Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo 2020
A cuvée that reveals all the nobility of Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo, combining depth, alpine freshness, tannic finesse, and aromatic complexity.
Silver Oak - Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
A legendary Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley
Vineka - Rosso Puglia 2022
2 indigenous grape varieties from Puglia blended to create a round and easy-drinking wine
The Sadie Family - Pofadder 2024
Old Cinsault vines on the Kasteelberg, aged in barrel then bottled unfiltered.
Renzo Masi - Chianti Riserva 2022
A magnificent Chianti with nuances of spices and wild fruits.
Álvaro Palacios - Camins del Priorat 2023
A sophisticated blend made by Álvaro Palacios, surely the most talented winemaker in Spain.
Morgenster - Lourens River Valley 2013
A sophisticated Bordeaux blend, resulting from a cooperation with the famous Château Cheval Blanc!
Hammeken Cellars - Tosalet Vieilles Vignes 2013
A concentrate of fruits and spices for power lovers!
Caelum - Malbec Gran Reserva 2016
A powerful and elegant high-altitude Malbec, where aromatic depth and freshness blend harmoniously. A great wine for laying down.
Cave des Amandiers - Syrah 2022
Syrah grown right up into the mountains: ripe, peppery and smoky on velvety tannins.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Mercurey 1er Cru Le Clos Fourneaux Monopole Rouge 2022
A Mercurey monopole, a dense premier cru, tobacco and black fruit.
Domaine Cachat-Ocquidant - Aloxe-Corton 2023
Aloxe-Corton Pinot Noir in its broad style: tannic and deep.
Ceretto - Barolo 2020
Tobacco, truffle and dried rose: a classic Barolo that calls for patience.
E's Vino - Ello Malbec de Ánfora 2022
A top-class Malbec, vinified using traditional methods in amphorae, combining aromatic intensity and refined structure.
Stellenrust - Kleine Rust Red 2019
An astonishing blend of Pinotage and Syrah, with flavors of red fruits and smoky spices
Herdade Do Mouchao - Dom Rafael 2019
Made from foot-crushed grapes, this cuvée embodies intensity, complexity and pleasure!
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.