Cabernet Sauvignon Food Pairing

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular type of wine in the world, and for good reason. There are thousands of different types of Cabernet Sauvignon. The type of cab you have may also dictate which food would pair best with it. In order to have the best experience possible, we always recommend trying to pair the food you’re eating with the wine you are drinking.

Younger varieties from California, Washington, Chile, Australia tend to be more fruit forward, have less acidity and harsher tannins (or in your face flavors). Older styles of Cab from regions in Europe are more often found in blends like a bordeaux or super tuscan. Those styles traditionally have softer tannins.

Believe it or not, each type of Cabernet Sauvignon pairs best with different types of foods. So don’t automatically assume that all cabs pair best with specific foods, because there is some nuance to it.

Meat That Pairs Well With Cabernet Sauvignon

New world versus old world cabs should determine which meat to prepare. Older styles tend to go better with leaner meat, because of the softer flavor those wines have. Tenderloin, filet mignon, tri-tip, and sirloins are fantastic cuts of steaks to eat with old world cabs. Lamb, venison,

New world wines that are younger and bolder are fantastic with fattier cuts of meat. Ribeyes, prime rib, New York strips, and smoked brisket are excellent to pair with these types. Meatballs, ribs, duck, meatloaf, cheeseburgers are also tasty with a good cab.

If you are looking for something a little healthier, a steak salad with blue cheese crumbles is delicious (add mushrooms for a bonus).

Cheese That Pairs Well With Cabernet Sauvignon

The same concept for meat can be used for cheese to pair with cabernet sauvignon. Cheeses with bold flavors and a bit of fat to them pair the best. Thankfully most cheese fits this description. Blue cheese, aged cheddar, or gouda are easy choices. If you want to experiment, goat or sheep’s cheese can have some big flavor to complement a good cab. The same can be said for cheeses with herbs, like rosemary (more on that below). Another terrific option is to find earthy tasting cheese like a brie, to go with the earthy tones of some cabernets. Gouda, Gruyere, Roquefort, and aged cheddar cheeses all pair nicely included in a charcuterie board.

Appetizers That Pair Well With Cabernet Sauvignon

Beef sliders are an obvious choice here. Any appetizer that is wrapped in bacon is sure to be good. Other appetizers that go well with cab are bacon wrapped anything, nuts, chips and dip, and even some types of fattier sashimi goes surprisingly well. Of course, a charcuterie board is the PERFECT finger food that goes with cabernet sauvignon!

Vegetarian Dishes That Pair Well With Cabernet Sauvignon

Don’t be afraid to pair a big bold cabernet sauvignon with vegetarian dishes. If you do pair them together, try to find types of vegetarian dishes that also have big bold flavors. The earthy tones cabernet sauvignon can sometimes have is excellent paired with mushrooms, and mushroom sauces. Portobello mushrooms are a fantastic choice to eat with cab. Another great option is a smoky black bean vegetable burger. Vegetables like asparagus and brussel sprouts have an extremely strong flavor that won’t be overpowered by the cab.

And let us not forget about chocolate. Wine and chocolate are a match made in heaven. Generally speaking, when pairing wine with dessert you want your wine to be slightly sweeter than the food. However, Cabernet Sauvignon makes a perfect pairing with chocolate when done right. Dark chocolate, truffles, or chocolate infused with coffee or espresso offer enough bold flavor to hold up to the Cabernet and the way they highlight the wine’s tannins is perfect.

Herbs That Pair Well With Cabernet Sauvignon

Rosemary, basil and thyme are three fantastic herbs to put on food that you will be eating with a big, bold cab.

Best Foods To Eat With Cabernet Sauvignon

A bold wine needs bold food. Dishes that have strong flavors and higher fat content are a great match with Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich meats such as ribeye, grilled lamb, burgers, and braised short ribs are perfect matches for Cabernet. The full-bodied wine stands up to the strong flavor of the meat and the natural acidity cuts through the fat. Our favorite is a nice fatty ribeye grilled to perfection with a high quality cabernet sauvignon from California.