Pairing Wine With Flat Iron Steak

A nice big juicy steak, with a glass of cabernet? Perfection. Flat iron steaks are cuts of steak from the shoulder of the animal, generally referring to that of a cow. A flavorful, well-marbled and tender cut of meat, and where there is fat, there is flavor.

Flat iron steaks are usually cooked straight on the skillet or in the oven, but they can be grilled as well. The optional sauce it is served with should be factored in when pairing it with wine.

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Flat Iron Steaks

Characteristic	Detail
Sweetness	Dry
Acidity	Medium to High
Tannins	Medium to High
Body	Medium to High
Notes	Earth, Dry Fruit, Ripe Fruit

Referring to the levels of sweetness, we want a wine which is completely dry. No sugar whatsoever is preferred when pairing with any meat.

Acid levels in the wine are best to be medium or even high which give the wine a nice structure and balance out the tannins and alcohol. This gives the wine a nice full mouthfeel and will match up with the strength of the steak in terms of flavor intensity.

Tannins need to be quite high which will help break down those proteins in the meat and also clean the palate up nicely. Tannins provide strength and power on the palate.

The overall body as mentioned earlier should preferably be medium to high as well to match the intensity and flavor profile of the dish. A ripe juicy wine with red fruit and earthy aromas with a hint of herbal nuances would be ideal.

Best Red Wine To Drink With Flat Iron Steaks

Most red wines are bigger and bolder when compared to white wines. Exactly the type of wines we want to be drinking with a nice juicy steak.

Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

These grapes can generally be found as a blend and make up a perfect wine to go with steak. The power and strength from the cabernets along with a little merlot to mellow it down and round it up nicely. Common regions include Bordeaux, France and California.

Malbec from Argentina

This new world wine is typically juicy, fruity, and bold, which makes it a great pairing for steak. It packs a punch with alcohol levels reaching 15% due to the warm sunny climate. Argentina is well known for its steak and the quality of its beef. Pair that with a beautiful ripe Malbec makes it a match made in heaven.

Beaujolais Cru

The region of beaujolais is known for its light and fruity red wines. However these type of wines come from the south of beaujolais. If you go further north, the granitic soil gives rise to age worthy wines made from Gamay which have great tannic structure. These are labeled “Cru Beaujolais”. There are 10 Crus, take your pick. Any of them will do just fine!

Wine With Different Flat Iron Steak Preparations

Most often, flat iron steaks are grilled and then flavored with different toppings/dips/etc. Here are a few different specific recommendations that we would suggest for each flavoring of flat iron steak.

Wine With Grilled Flat Iron Steak

Since we are dealing with spices, we recommend that you stick to the powerful reds that can match the flavor intensity. Rhone valley, Bordeaux, Australian Shiraz are a few that will give you the power you need.

Wine With Flat Iron Steak & Mushroom Sauce

A red wine with a little age on it will tend to give off more earthy or “tertiary” aromas which can pair really well with the mushroom sauce. Red Bordeauxs with more than 7 years on them would be a great option. Chataneuf du pape from the Southern Rhone Valley produces great wines which can age well making it another great choice.

Best Wine To Drink With Flat Iron Steak

A wine that’s strong enough to match the “meatiness” of the steak in terms of aromas along with good tannic and acid structure would be perfect. A few of our favorites are mentioned below.