Pairing Wine With Pork Chops

The most popular cut of pork is undoubtedly the pork chop. This cut of meat is taken from the loin, and comes in all sizes and a variety of preparations: thick or thin, bone-in or bone-out, and can be grilled, baked, fried, and broiled. The meat tends to be very lean and mild in flavor, but juicy and delicious when cooked just right.

When it comes to wine pairing, pork chops are a fairly versatile dish and you can easily go with red or white. The important factor to consider is the preparation. We have some recommendations for you, both red and white, and when you should choose each.

Characteristic	Detail
Acidity	Medium-High
Tannins	Low
Fruitiness	Medium-high
Alcohol ABV%	Low
Body	Medium-Full

Wine With Pork Chops Prepared Differently

Pairing Wine With Grilled Pork Chops

We recommend picking out a wine with fruit forward flavors like a pinot noir, zinfandel or Beaujolais.

Pairing Wine With Pan Fried Pork Chops

Because there will be more fattiness in this dish, try to pick something more more acidity to help counteract the fat. You can also pick a wine that is bolder because it won’t overpower the dish as easily. Choose a Riesling, Pinot Noir or Zinfandel to drink with pan fried pork chops.

Pairing Wine With Smoked Pork Chops

A wine with a little smokiness in it should obviously go well with smoked pork chops. A syrah grown in the Northern Rhône might be great, but if it’s too bold it may overpower the wine. Cabernet Sauvignon might also go well, especially one with notes of tobacco. Pinot Noir is a safe choice that won’t overpower the dish, and can have some earthy notes that complement the smoked pork chops well.

Pairing Wine With Stuffed Pork Chops

This dish can have pecans and apples, bacon, mushrooms, cheese and anything else that goes well with pork chops. Choose a fruit forward merlot of pinot noir to go with your stuff pork chops. Or if you prefer a white wine, try a Riesling. One of our favorite delightful pairings is a stuffed pork chop with apples & pecans with a nice glass of fruity and smooth merlot.

Best White Wine to Pair with Pork Chops

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc tends to have higher acidity, floral aromatics, and notes of peach and honey. This makes it a lovely pairing to baked pork chops as the wine won’t overpower the meat.

Chardonnay

Pork Chops cooked with butter or cream-based sauces are excellent with an oaky Chardonnay. The crisp fruit and buttery flavor of the wine is the perfect match to these rich dishes.

Viognier

If your pork chop is prepared with a bounty of herbs such as thyme and rosemary, a Viognier is sure to elevate your meal. The soft, sweet melon notes of the wine balance the earthiness of the herbs.

Rosé

Rosé will pair well with most preparations, but it will really sing with pork chops that have pepper or mustard as the primary flavor. Rosé is bold enough to stand up to strong flavor profiles and the acidity of the wine cools any spice.

Best Red Wine to Pair with Pork Chops

Beaujolais

The bold red fruit flavor and smooth tannins are a perfect match for lean pork chops prepared in any style and won’t overpower the subtle flavor of the pork.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel has higher acidity making it a great red to pair with pork chops that have some spice. It will also pair nicely with pork chops coated in barbeque sauce.

Pinot Noir

Similar to Beaujolais, Pinot Noir is a silky, fruity, crowd-pleasing red. Known for being a food-friendly wine, Pinot Noir will elevate any pork chop meal.

Grenache

The bold, juicy flavor of Grenache is sure to elevate your grilled pork chop dish. The strong berry notes provide a lovely balance to the savory, char-grilled flavor of the meat.

Best Wine to Drink with Pork Chops

Pork is a great wine pairing food because you have so many options, there’s bound to a pairing to please even the pickiest wine drinkers. The key to a successful pairing is to consider the preparation, but you should find success in most instances with these wines.