Pairing Wine With Venison

Venison is truly at the upper end of the scale when it comes to meat dishes. It’s a great opportunity to pull out the big guns, the premium wines that can only be paired with lean, intense game meat. Its earthy and sometimes slightly sweet flavor profile requires a wine that can complement its boldness. In this article, we will explore some of the best wines to pair with venison, taking into consideration the different cooking methods that can influence the overall taste of the dish.

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Venison

Venison can be incredibly lean, so surprisingly, it’s not really necessary to seek out a highly tannic wine. Tannins are great for soaking up fat and oils, but in this case, you just need a wine with high acidity to stand up to the meat. Red wines are going to be preferable too, simply due to their savory-inclined flavor profiles. 

Best Red Wine To Drink With Venison

All of the red wines we’re recommending here have high levels of acidity, to provide a refreshing, palate-cleansing alternative to the rich meat. Many also have earthy or herbal flavors, such as mushroom, tobacco, or leather, which can enhance the natural flavors of the venison and provide a delicious complement to its gamey taste.

Pinot Noir

It may seem odd to pair a light red wine with such rich meat, but Pinot Noir fits the bill perfectly. It could be compared to a stripped-down racing car – almost completely devoid of tannins, but packed with crisp acidity to cut through the meat in the most efficient way possible. A classic red Burgundy is also defined by its umami flavors. Any given Pinot Noir can exhibit notes of forest floor, mushrooms, or “barnyard funk”, which are all brilliant flavors for harmonizing with the earthy taste of venison.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux is wonderfully complex, so although it comes with a fair share of tannins, it will still be a delicious pairing for venison. It is typically a very angular, acidic wine, ideal for cutting through any mushroom sauces or fattiness. We also recommend seeking out a Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blend – it’s one of Australia’s signature wines and would be a fantastic jammy companion for a grilled or fried venison steak.

Nebbiolo

If venison is the king of gamey meat, it deserves to be paired with an equally prestigious wine, such as Nebbiolo from Barolo or Barbaresco. These wines usually come with an incredibly deep well of flavors, including notes of truffle, leather, tar and roses. Although it is packed with mouth-puckering tannins, the wines’ complex array of flavors will serve to enhance and contrast the flavors of venison. Nebbiolo is also simply an incredible experience that can turn any meat-based dinner into a fine dining experience.   

Syrah

With a focus on the Rhône Valley, Syrah is a full-bodied red wine with bold flavors of dark fruit, spice, and earthy undertones. Its medium to high acidity is perfect for providing a refreshing balance to venison’s richness, without overpowering it. As well as being a delicious combination, all of Syrah’s characteristics work with the meat – they can elevate and enhance the flavor of venison, bringing out the meat’s natural sweetness and depth

Malbec

Malbec is a classic meat pairing, whether you opt for a French or an Argentinian iteration of the wine. Depending on how you seasoned your venison, the subtle notes of leather, molasses and  black pepper can complement it wonderfully. Its plentiful tannins can also help to balance out the natural sweetness of venison and provide a pleasing texture that enhances the overall dining experience.

Pairing Wine With Venison Prepared Different Ways

There are two main ways of preparing venison. When you have a lean steak or a medallion, you’re more than likely going to be frying. When you have a bigger hunk of meat from the shoulder or neck, you’re probably going to roast it. We believe it’s worth taking your wine pairing into consideration too because the method you use can affect the flavor of the meat. 

Wine With Roasted Venison

Roasted venison can exhibit incredibly deep, earthy flavors, and it can obtain some of the flavors of the seasoning you apply. An elegant Pinot Noir is still the quintessential choice here, but you can also try out a Syrah from the Rhône Valley, or a Barolo if you’re going all out. 

Wine With Fried Venison

Fried or grilled pieces of venison, be they medallions, steaks or burgers, tend to be on the juicier side. They are also more likely to pick up smokey characteristics, from the frying pan or the grill. For that reason, we recommend going for a Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blend from Australia or a single varietal Shiraz. Of course, Pinot Noir is still a brilliant pairing here. 

Best Wine To Drink With Venison

Just keep these points in mind when picking your wine, and you won’t go wrong: keep it highly acidic, earthy and bold. Tannic wines are not necessary, but the wonderful flavor profiles of some highly-tannic wines should not be ignored. These are our top 5 suggestions for pairing wine with venison:

• Pinot Noir
• Barolo/Barbaresco
• Syrah/Shiraz
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Malbec