Pairing Wine With Carne Asada

Carne Asada is a supple cut of marinated meat, which can be served on its own, or with any traditional Mexican dish, be it burritos, tacos, nachos, or with a salad. The meat itself is usually enhanced by a delicious marinade, which can be spicy, depending on how you like it. For carne asada, a bottle of red wine is typically the way to go, but we’ve given some options for white wine too.

When choosing a wine, you want something that will enhance the spices in the carne asada, without getting overpowered by the dish. You also want something that is bold enough to cut through any of the fattiness of the meat. A full-bodied, jammy red with some spice flavors is the way to go.

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Carne Asada

Characteristic	Detail
Sweetness	Dry
Acidity	Medium
Tannins	Medium
Body	Bold
Tasting Notes	Jammy and fruity, sweet spice and smoke Flavors

Best Red Wine To Drink With Carne Asada

It all comes down to personal preference, but with spicier dishes, you generally want a wine that can interact with the spice, rather than drown it out, or get overpowered by it. Spice flavorings with some smoky and savory elements are ideal for interacting with grilled, spicy meats.

Zinfandel

Packed with fruit flavors, and with a delicious jammy quality, Zinfandels are an ideal pairing for carne asada. To keep the dish and the drink in the same general region, you could go for a rich Southern Californian Zinfandel from Paso Robles. A typical Zinfandel has a good amount of spice, which will intertwine nicely with the spices of Mexican food. It is also big, bold and potent enough to stand up to a dense flank steak. This is probably not a good choice if the Carne Asada is on the spicier side, as the high alcohol content will make the dish seem spicier. If you enjoy spicy food, then this is a wonderful choice.

Tempranillo

With its tart acid and flavors of smoke and spice, Tempranillo is a fantastic choice for any Mexican or Spanish dining experience. These usually show a great balance of fruity and savory flavors, and are generally extremely enjoyable wines. Its medium body should really allow the thinly cut marinated meat to come to the fore, without overpowering it’s delicious flavors.

Malbec

You have a couple of options when pairing Malbec with carne asada. You can try a French Malbec, which is usually quite savory and brooding, a great match for fatty meats. However, you can also go for an Argentinian Malbec, which is fruitier and may also feature a subtle red pepper heat – arguably a better match for carne asada. However, if your dish is spicy, avoid anything that is high in alcohol. Both options are fantastic, it really comes down to personal preference and availability.

Syrah

A quality Syrah or Shiraz is ideal for grilled meats, as they usually feature a pleasant smokiness. Depending on how spicy your carne asada is, Australian Shiraz may be the better option. It is more fruit-forward and harmonious in the mouth, complementing a spicy flank steak wonderfully.

Best White Wine To Drink With Carne Asada

Generally speaking, the best pairings for red meats are red wines, but nobody is stopping you from enjoying a white wine with your carne asada. If you do, there are a couple of options that can handle a slice of rich red meat, and they will also match well with the additional flavors that you gain in a carne asada marinade.

Riesling

Riesling is a fantastic partner for spicy dishes due to its sweetness, and while that quality is usually reserved for Asian food, there is no reason not to enjoy a Riesling with Mexican dishes. Additionally, your carne asada may be marinated in some tart, citrus juices such as lime and orange, so the citrus side of Riesling will match the tender meat very well. For their savory and citrus elements, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay can also go well with red meats.

Best Wine To Drink With Carne Asada

There’s a lot of room for variation with carne asada, depending on the cut of meat and the marinade, but it’s difficult to go wrong if you stick with bold and fruity red wines. Carne asada usually won’t be quite as spicy as other Mexican dishes but is extremely flavorful. If you’re making the dish yourself, seek out wines with flavors that match your marinade. Here are the best red wines to pair with supple, flavorful meats: