254 pairings
Tempranillo
Roast lamb with Barca Velha: Firm tannins and herbs frame roast lamb.
The short answer
Across 1,325 lamb pairings on 1,308 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Tempranillo (254), Grenache (238), Syrah (221) and Cabernet Sauvignon (145). For example, Barca Velha from Douro Valley with roast lamb: Firm tannins and herbs frame roast lamb.
By style: red 945, white 277, sparkling 53, rosé 26, orange 14 of the 1,325 pairings.
The wines that turn up most: DO Ribera del Duero, DOCa Rioja, DOQ Priorat, DOC Dão, AOC Champagne, DOC Douro.
The best grapes for lamb
238 pairings
Grenache
Roasted leg of lamb with black olive tapenade with Hommage a Jacques Perrin: The wine's olive and iron notes are a direct echo of the dish.
221 pairings
Syrah
A perfect roast rack of lamb with 30 years of age on the wine with Hermitage Cuvee Cathelin: Mature Hermitage and roast lamb is the canonical Rhone pairing.
145 pairings
Cabernet Sauvignon
Roasted Pauillac lamb saddle with Château Margaux: The signature Bordeaux pairing: structured first-growth tannins and mineral precision meet the finest regional lamb.
101 pairings
Carignan
Cordero asado al sarmiento with Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial: Vine-roasted lamb is the historic match for this grand old-school Gran Reserva.
86 pairings
Mourvedre
Leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic with Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge: Mourvedre's iron-and-herb profile is a classic match for roasted lamb.
85 pairings
Merlot
Rack of lamb with black truffle jus with Chateau Ausone: Iron-mineral tannin structure integrates with lanolin and truffle earthiness; Cabernet Franc lifts the finish.
69 pairings
Touriga Nacional
Cabrito assado da Serra da Estrela with Quinta da Pellada Carrocel: Roast kid from the mountains above the estate has the fat and herb crust to meet the wine's firm tannin.
Bottles to pour with lamb
The best-rated pairings, one per producer and no more than two from any one region, so the list travels.
A perfect roast rack of lamb with 30 years of age on the wine
Mature Hermitage and roast lamb is the canonical Rhone pairing.
Lamb rack with herbs de Provence
Classic Rhone pairing; the wine's pepper note echoes the herbs.
Rack of lamb with black truffle jus
Iron-mineral tannin structure integrates with lanolin and truffle earthiness; Cabernet Franc lifts the finish.
Roast lamb
Firm tannins and herbs frame roast lamb.
Roasted Pauillac lamb saddle
The signature Bordeaux pairing: structured first-growth tannins and mineral precision meet the finest regional lamb.
Slow-braised lamb (lechazo)
Castilian slow-cooked lamb finds a structural equal in the wine's firm tannins and earthy complexity.
Whole roasted lamb (lechazo)
Only the grandest Castilian roasts are a worthy match for this wine's scale.
Agnello cace e ove
Lamb bound with egg and pecorino finds a match in the wine's leather and cocoa register.
Cordero asado
Slow-roast lamb's sweet fat is the historic foil for aged Tondonia.
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-roasted lamb for one of Rioja's greatest Gran Reservas.
Goat cheese with truffle honey
Fresh goat cheese pairs with the wine's juicy acidity; truffle honey echoes the wet stone minerality.
Grilled lamb chops
Firm tannins and high acidity cut through the fat of grilled lamb while complementing its gamey notes.
Taste the pairing: food and wine in Lyon and the Rhône Valley
Food and wine tastings you can book in Rhone Valley, one of the regions whose bottles our editors pour with lamb.
2h immersive tasting in Beaujolais - Wine and Chocolate Accord
Discover the Beaujolais vineyard with Inès and Anaïs, passionate wine experts. You will discover the gourmet pairing between wine and artisan chocolate, and learn to b...
Lyon French Wine & Cheese Experience with a Sommelier
What makes this experience unique is the combination of authentic French wine culture and a private tasting salon located in the heart of Lyon. The tasting takes plac...
Guided tour and wine tasting Northern Rhône Valley
A unique guided tour to meet the wines and winemakers of the Rhone Valley North. I am Justine PONCET, founder of SUR LES SENTIERS DE L'OENOTOURISME. I am your local G...
Wine and cheese tastings in Lyon and the Rhône Valley (4) · Wine tastings and winery visits in Lyon and the Rhône Valley (15) · Food tours in Lyon and the Rhône Valley (29) · Wine tours and day trips in Lyon and the Rhône Valley (52) · All wine and food experiences
pairings by region
- Ribera del Duero: 115 pairings, Ribera del Duero food and wine pairing
- Rhone Valley: 95 pairings, Rhone Valley food and wine pairing
- Languedoc: 87 pairings, Languedoc food and wine pairing
- Rioja: 78 pairings, Rioja food and wine pairing
- Priorat: 73 pairings, Priorat food and wine pairing
- Provence: 64 pairings, Provence food and wine pairing
- Bordeaux: 57 pairings, Bordeaux food and wine pairing
- Dão: 48 pairings, Dão food and wine pairing
- Loire Valley: 47 pairings, Loire Valley food and wine pairing
- Alentejo: 39 pairings, Alentejo food and wine pairing
- Sicily: 38 pairings, Sicily food and wine pairing
- Alto Adige: 34 pairings, Alto Adige food and wine pairing
Wine with lamb, FAQ
What wine goes with lamb?
Across 1,325 lamb pairings on 1,308 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Tempranillo (254), Grenache (238), Syrah (221) and Cabernet Sauvignon (145). For example, Barca Velha from Douro Valley with roast lamb: Firm tannins and herbs frame roast lamb.
Red or white wine with lamb?
Most often red: of the 1,320 lamb pairings, the split by style is red 72%, white 21%, sparkling 4% and rosé 2%. The bottles below show which of each work and why.
Which wine regions are best with lamb?
The regions with the most lamb pairings on our bottle pages are Ribera del Duero, Rhone Valley and Languedoc.