Pairing Wine With Ribeye Steaks

Pairing wine with ribeye steaks, ribeye roasts (prime rib), tomahawk ribeyes, cowboy cut, dry aged and any other variations of the cut are all relatively the same. The juiciness, fattiness and strong flavor of the steaks pair fantastic with a dry red wine that has high acidity, tannins and bold flavors.

You don’t have to worry about overpowering the steak with the wine you choose. In fact the bigger and bolder the wine the better, because it cuts through the fat of the meat and enhances the flavors. The saltiness and buttery-ness of the steak can help the wine be more enjoyable as well.

Wine Flavors To Pair With Ribeyes

Flavor	Detail
Sweetness	Dry
Acidity	High
Tannins	High
Body	Bold
Notes	Dark Berries

Best Red Wine To Drink With Ribeyes

As mentioned above, dry red wines that are big and bold go best with ribeyes. The strong flavor of the wine pairs perfectly with the tenderness, juiciness, and flavor of ribeyes. The steaks also tend to be salty from the seasonings used and the fat content of the steak. Choose a wine that has high acidity and high tannins to cut through the fat flavors or bold and dark fruit flavors to contrast the ribeye perfectly.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Younger cabernets often tend to have harsher tannins, which will be mellowed out by a ribeye steak. Old cabernets may be softened over time, and potentially overpowered by the high fat and protein. But either are an excellent classic choice when pairing with a ribeye.

Bordeaux

Similar to cabs, a bordeaux can have either soft or harsh tannins depending on the age of the wine. The harsher the tannins and acidity of the wine, the better in this case. That way the wine isn’t overpowered by the steak.

Zinfandel

The fruitiness and bold flavors contrast perfectly with a ribeye without being overpowered. Zin can be hard to pair sometimes because of the big flavor profile. But ribeyes are excellent with these “fruit-bomb” wines.

Merlot

If you are making an au jus gravy or mushroom steak sauce, a merlot is the perfect choice to cook with and drink with the ribeye. The spicy notes in the wine are also great to season the steak with to enhance the flavors all around.

Syrah

A nice syrah or shiraz will have notes of smokiness, black pepper, vanilla, blackberry, plum and raspberries. These flavors pair wonderfully with a nice fatty ribeye that is grilled to medium-rare.

Best White Wine To Drink With Ribeyes

It is a myth that white wine doesn’t pair well with steak. However, it can be difficult to find a good pairing. If you prefer whites over reds, try a sauvignon blanc (made from the same grapes as a cabernet sauvignon). Try to find one with a high mineral flavor. Chardonnays are also delicious with ribeyes. The oaky, smoky & nutty flavors enhance a ribeye perfectly.

We also enjoy white wine and a nice ribeye steak when eating al fresco in the summer. It can be hard to enjoy a big red wine when the temperatures outside are over 90 degrees. That’s when a white wine can be a surprisingly refreshing combination.

Best Wines To Drink With Ribeyes

From a dry-aged wagyu ribeye cut to a choice cut ribeye purchased on sale at the supermarket, you can’t go wrong pairing it with a nice full bodied red wine. It enhances both the steak and the wine flavors. A combination that goes unmatched with food and wine. Here are the best red wines to pair with ribeyes.