156 pairings
Pinot Noir
Roast grouse with La Tache Grand Cru: Strongly flavoured game meat meets the wine's wild-spice depth and firm frame.
The short answer
Across 1,047 game pairings on 993 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Pinot Noir (156), Tempranillo (127), Syrah (108) and Cabernet Sauvignon (93). For example, La Tache Grand Cru from Burgundy with roast grouse: Strongly flavoured game meat meets the wine's wild-spice depth and firm frame.
By style: red 891, fortified 45, white 25, sparkling 21, rosé 6 of the 1,047 pairings.
The wines that turn up most: DOCa Rioja, DO Ribera del Duero, Brunello di Montalcino, Montefalco Sagrantino, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, DOC Porto.
The best grapes for game
127 pairings
Tempranillo
Wild boar braised with juniper with Malleolus de Sanchomartín: The wine's dark mineral core complements earthy, gamey braises.
108 pairings
Syrah
Braised hare with cognac and blood sauce with Hermitage Rouge: Rich, intense game sauce needs the mineral depth and concentration of Chave.
93 pairings
Cabernet Sauvignon
Wild boar stew with juniper with Giuseppe Quintarelli Alzero: Gamey, resinous stew finds its match in the wine's dried-herb and cedar notes.
91 pairings
Sangiovese
Pappardelle al cinghiale with Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve: The game-leather signature meets Flaccianello's spice register.
90 pairings
Grenache
Pigeon roti with Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge: Light-bodied but complex Grenache is a sommelier classic with roast pigeon.
81 pairings
Merlot
Roasted Bresse pigeon with black cherry jus with Petrus: The dark-fruit palate and gentle iron minerality complement the gamey sweetness of the bird.
62 pairings
Touriga Nacional
Wild boar stew with Barca Velha: Gamey richness meets the wine's dark fruit and spice.
Bottles to pour with game
The best-rated pairings, one per producer and no more than two from any one region, so the list travels.
Braised hare with cognac and blood sauce
Rich, intense game sauce needs the mineral depth and concentration of Chave.
Braised wild boar
Game intensity matches La Landonne's dark, smoky fruit register.
Roast grouse
Strongly flavoured game meat meets the wine's wild-spice depth and firm frame.
Roast venison with cassis jus
Game meat and a blackcurrant reduction echo a grand-cru Pinot's wild fruit and firm tannin.
Roasted Bresse pigeon with black cherry jus
The dark-fruit palate and gentle iron minerality complement the gamey sweetness of the bird.
Truffle-shaved game
Library bottle and white truffle classic.
Venison with berry reduction
Game intensity pairs with the wine's iron and dried-herb register; acidity cuts through the fat.
Wild boar braised with juniper
The wine's dark mineral core complements earthy, gamey braises.
Wild boar stew
Gamey richness meets the wine's dark fruit and spice.
Wild boar stew with juniper
Gamey, resinous stew finds its match in the wine's dried-herb and cedar notes.
Aged hard cheese boards
Honeyed-lemon register and oak spice partner aged Sao Jorge and well-cured presunto.
Game
Producer-recommended game pairing; wild-berry register meets venison directly.
Taste the pairing: food and wine in Tuscany
Food and wine tastings you can book in Tuscany, one of the regions whose bottles our editors pour with game.
Small-Group Tuscany Wine Tasting Safaris with Lunch / Dinner
Depart from Florence to eat and drink your way through Chianti, famous for red wines, cuisine, and stunning landscapes. Enjoy a Tuscan lunch or dinner and wine-tasting...
Florence: Mozzarella Cheese Making with Wine and food Tastings
Join a fun mozzarella-making class in Florence with wine tasting, local dishes and expert guidance in a small-group atmosphere. Let’s be honest: you didn’t come to Flo...
Florence: Chianti Wineries Tour with Wine Tasting
Visit two authentic wineries in the beautiful Chianti Hills during this half-day tour from Florence. Meet local winemakers, walk through stunning vineyards, and sample...
Food and wine tastings in Tuscany (86) · Wine and cheese tastings in Tuscany (18) · Wine tastings and winery visits in Tuscany (124) · Cheese tastings and dairy visits in Tuscany (6) · Cooking classes in Tuscany (232) · Food tours in Tuscany (81) · Olive oil tastings and mill visits in Tuscany (30) · Truffle hunting in Tuscany (31) · Wine tours and day trips in Tuscany (250) · Wine tours by bike in Tuscany (30) · All wine and food experiences
pairings by region
- Tuscany: 88 pairings, Tuscany food and wine pairing
- Valpolicella: 63 pairings, Valpolicella food and wine pairing
- Burgundy: 54 pairings, Burgundy food and wine pairing
- Rioja: 50 pairings, Rioja food and wine pairing
- Alto Adige: 46 pairings, Alto Adige food and wine pairing
- Rhone Valley: 45 pairings, Rhone Valley food and wine pairing
- Umbria: 45 pairings, Umbria food and wine pairing
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia: 39 pairings, Friuli-Venezia Giulia food and wine pairing
- Languedoc: 36 pairings, Languedoc food and wine pairing
- Ribera del Duero: 35 pairings, Ribera del Duero food and wine pairing
- Dão: 34 pairings, Dão food and wine pairing
- Beaujolais: 31 pairings, Beaujolais food and wine pairing
Wine with game, FAQ
What wine goes with game?
Across 1,047 game pairings on 993 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Pinot Noir (156), Tempranillo (127), Syrah (108) and Cabernet Sauvignon (93). For example, La Tache Grand Cru from Burgundy with roast grouse: Strongly flavoured game meat meets the wine's wild-spice depth and firm frame.
Red or white wine with game?
Most often red: of the 991 game pairings, the split by style is red 90%, fortified 5%, white 3% and sparkling 2%. The bottles below show which of each work and why.
Which wine regions are best with game?
The regions with the most game pairings on our bottle pages are Tuscany, Valpolicella and Burgundy.