Pairing Wine With Fajitas

Who doesn’t love a good Mexican fajita night!? Especially, when you get to pair it with some excellent wines. When the main course is full of punchy flavors of beef seasoned with spices and sauteed onions and peppers, you’ll want a nice red wine to complement the boldness like Malbec, Zinfandel, or a Cabernet Sauvignon.  White wine lovers, the good news is that light, crispy, and acidic whites are also a go-to option for fajitas especially if you are going for chicken or veggies instead of beef. The citrus and herbaceous notes of a Sauvignon Blanc will balance out the smokiness that comes from fajitas.

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Fajitas

Fajitas offer a complex mouthful of flavors with chipotle and other spices at the center. The wholesome taste of this delicious main course makes it an ideal candidate for many wines.

Best Red Wine To Drink With Fajitas

Since most fajitas are either beef, pork, or chicken, selecting a red wine is not going to be difficult – you have one too many to choose from. Zinfandel, Malbec, and Grenache would all be great choices given their soft to medium tannins and intense flavors. 

Malbec – One of the easiest choices to pair with fajitas is a Malbec given its slightly fruit-forward tasting notes. The dark fruit aromas, spiciness, and medium to full-bodied characteristics will complement the fattiness of the leaner-cut meat styles typical of fajitas.

Zinfandel – The rounded and soft cherry, and strawberry notes of Zinfandel make it dance in perfect harmony with fajitas. The tartness of the fruits will offer a complex finish to the overall meal.

Grenache – Spicy and exotic main courses like fajitas call for more exotic wines like Spanish Grenache. This beautiful and bright-colored red is full of rich aromas of smoked tobacco, fig, plum, and dark fruits. You won’t be disappointed serving this up with fajitas to spruce up any fajita meal.

Best White Wine To Drink With Fajitas

The variety of ways in which fajitas are served, including the meat and veggie options make it a great accompaniment for a host of white wine options including a crowd-pleasing favorite, cava.

Sancerre – We suggest starting off with a light, herbal, and grassy white, like Sancerre. This will be a great option to bring out the spicy notes of grilled fajitas and peppers with its fresh fruity notes.

Chenin Blanc – The medium perfumy and floral notes of a Chenin blanc make it another great wine to pair well with fajitas. Its slight sweetness and strong aromas will be a delight to enjoy with this meal.

Pinot Grigio – We love the light, citrus, and lemon-tasting notes of a Pinot Grigio. When the food is packed with strong flavors, you’ll want a wine that doesn’t overpower, but enhances the experience.

Cava – Saving the best for the last, we think fajitas are an excellent opportunity to pop open a sparkling white too. Who doesn’t like a bubbly cava paired with the earthy chipotle notes of grilled fajitas? 

Pairing Wine With Veggie Fajitas

Along with meat options such as beef, pork, or chicken, veggie fajitas or even mock-meat-based vegan fajitas are a popular item on the menu today. If you’re looking for savory yet umami-packed flavors, the veggie options with mushrooms don’t disappoint! They can be best enjoyed with a semi-dry rosè from Spain.

Best Wine To Drink With Fajitas 

Fajitas make any casual night fun or can spruce up a dinner party with DIY counters. The best part is that you don’t need fancy wines to pair with this rich and exotic dish. Instead, you can make it casual with a couple of classic reds like Malbec or fancy with a bottle of Cava. Our best recommendations for a mackerel would be:

• Malbec
• Zinfandel
• Grenache or Garnacha
• Sancerre
• Chenin Blanc
• Pinot Grigio
• Cava