Do you like Bordeaux wine? Perhaps you’re partial to Tanners Claret or a sumptuous Sauternes. Or maybe you’re yet to discover some affordable gems. Bordeaux Wine Month is here so naturally it’s the perfect time to explore the wines of this well-loved region.
You could read endless articles about why Bordeaux wines are great. From climate to grape varieties, the blend of historical Châteaux with up-and-coming producers and the latest winemaking techniques, as well as the notorious vintage variation, there is a lot to unpack in Bordeaux. But what about food pairings?
There are many guidelines that can be followed when it comes to food and wine pairing. Although they’re not strict rules, they can help you navigate a complex world of food and wine matchmaking. There are core technicalities to consider such as salt, fat, bitterness, sweetness, acidity and umami flavours as well as stylistic and personal preferences to take into account. So, whether you decide to pair food and wine based on weight – a lighter wine will naturally suit a lighter meal; or perhaps you wish to pair by place eg pair Italian food with Italian wine; or if you just fancy a nice bottle of red or white, then go for it, you’ll enjoy the wine far better if you pick what you would like rather than what you feel you should drink.
As well as the quality and diverse styles found in Bordeaux, it is a match made in heaven for a variety of dishes, so let's explore some budget-friendly Bordeaux food and wine pairings.
Starters
What works with Charcuterie?
Great for sharing and fuss-free hosting, a Charcuterie board is an all-year-round crowd-pleaser. Full of mouth-watering flavours from fennel salami to aged Prosciutto and Wild Venison Chorizo, the tantalising flavours of Charcuterie will pair perfectly with a Bordeaux red.
Wine to try: Pick up a bottle of Château La Prade, Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux 2019. Ripe and plummy, it’ll cut through any fat of the meat making it a melt-in-your-mouth pairing.
What wine goes with a mixed salad?
Moving into Autumn, the Summer salad season is evolving into earthier flavours and richer textures. Try a warm mushroom and goat's cheese salad with a crisp Bordeaux white.
Wine to try: With fresh citrus notes, Château Puygueraud Blanc, Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux 2021 will match beautifully with the creamy cheese turning this salad into a delicious starter or even a lighter main course.
Main Courses
What to pair with Pizza?
You may be tempted by Italian wine for this popular dish and there are many great bottles to choose from, but a Bordeaux red will match with a tomato-based pizza beautifully. The creamy cheese will absorb acidity from the tomatoes and the wine. Whether it’s an easy post-work dinner or a Friday night takeaway treat, pick a Merlot-dominant wine for a delicious match.
Wine to try: Château Tour de Luchey is a firm favourite at Tanners. Soft, supple and a great easy-drinking wine, it’s a top-value Bordeaux red that will work with all sorts of pizza, especially pepperoni.
Wine to try: Try Château Tour de Mirambeau, Reserve Rosé with a Pizza Bianca topped with a plethora of roasted vegetables.
What is the best Burger wine?
From classic beef to a mushroom and gruyere burger, homemade burgers can be innovative, tasty and more than just a quick pick-me-up from a fast-food chain.
Wine to try: With a great mix of red fruit and grippy tannins, a bottle of Château Moulin de Mallet will seamlessly pair with a cheeseburger, cutting through the fat of the meat and the cheese and any fruity tomato ketchup or not-too-smoky barbecue sauce. Or, for a vegetarian mushroom burger, try a bottle of Saint-Emilion, Jean-Pierre Moueix which will match up to the earthy flavours and ‘meaty’ texture of the mushroom.
What wine works with roast chicken?
Roast chicken is a beautifully versatile dish which is great news for a variety of Bordeaux styles of wine. Whilst a white wine may be an instinctive pick, red wine (and rosé) can be perfect matches too. From a Sunday lunch with all the sides to a chicken supreme with mashed potatoes and tender-stem broccoli, a Bordeaux wine should have a place on your table.
Wine to try: A classic buttery roast chicken will match with Château du Courlat, Lussac-St-Emilion. With a plummy softness and a touch of oak, it has fruit and complexity that will not only make it a firm favourite, but it will impress any Bordeaux lover sitting at your table. For a creamier chicken dish, pair a white wine. A bottle of Château Doisy-Daëne, Bordeaux Grand Vin Sec, Dubourdieu will pair well with the creaminess of the dish. Encompassing a blend of fresh fruit, a touch of oak – but nothing too overpowering – the wine and the food will work in harmony.
Does Bordeaux pair with fish?
With different textures and flavours, pairing wine with fish can be tricky and overwhelming, especially if you’re hosting friends and family. The age-old question of whether pairing red wine and fish almost makes people check over their shoulder to make sure nobody is listening; it’s been created as a social faux pas to pair red wine with fish. But it can actually be a great pairing.
From grilled seabass with a lemon and herb crust to baked cod with a potato gratin, a good Bordeaux blanc makes a great alternative to the usual suggestions of Muscadet or Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc. For more robust, meatier fish you can try a red wine. For example, a roasted salmon biryani with a fruity merlot would work beautifully.
Wine to try: Two great value white wine options are Château Tour de Mirambeau, Reserve Blanc and Château Puygueraud Blanc. For your red wine, try Château Tour de Luchey which is fruit-forward but not tannic or acidic.
What red wine pairs with lamb?
One of the core grapes of Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, is often highlighted as a strong match for lamb-based dishes. With a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon emerging from the Left Bank of Bordeaux, the wines from here will typically pair nicely with lamb. That being said, younger and fruitier Bordeaux blends can work equally as well.
Not just an Easter dish, roast lamb with minted gravy and plenty of sides can make a wonderful partner to a bottle of Bordeaux.
Wine to try: Try it with a bottle of Tanners Super Claret, Moulis-en-Médoc 2018. Featuring a blend of 61% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and barrel-aged for 12 months, it exudes freshness and bursts with ripe black fruit and rich cassis, all followed effortlessly with silky tannins and a touch of oak. A wine produced for Tanners by Mélanie Barton Sartorius at Château Mauvesin Barton, this is a superb value claret that will be a crowd-pleaser for family and friends over a hearty lunch.
Lamb is not only a roast dinner favourite though. You could try a tomato-based lamb curry with a young and fruity Bordeaux.
Wine to try: Sarmentine, Bordeaux, F Thienpont 2021 will make a great partner for lamb curry, as long as it’s not a creamy curry. This merlot-dominant wine is fruity and great for easy-sipping.
What wine pairs with Pork?
From roast pork to slow-cooked chops served with cream and pineapple sauce, a full-bodied white Bordeaux will be a match made in heaven.
Your wine to try: With hints of honey and ripe orchard fruit, Château Olivier Blanc, grand cru classé Pessac-Léognan 2019 will elevate any pork dish into a truly sumptuous meal.
Does Bordeaux work with vegetarian dishes?
Of course! Bordeaux wines are not exclusively for red meat dishes, although they are renowned for their harmonious pairing. Bordeaux rosé and white wines are fantastic partners to vegetarian food.
If you’re having a roasted vegetable and couscous salad, a vegetable paella, or a more autumnal dish of butternut squash and sage risotto then you must try a wine that has recently caught the attention of Will Lyons in The Times.
Wine to try: Château Argadens Blanc, Bordeaux 2023 is not only great value, but offers a slightly ‘creamy and nutty texture’ according to Will Lyons in his article ‘For great value white wines, buy in Bordeaux’, The Times, July 31, 2024.
Or, if you’re looking at dishes such as lentil Bolognese or a mushroom and beetroot wellington then keep it simple with a Claret.
Wine to try: Pick up a Tanners Claret, Bordeaux. A firm favourite and a timeless classic, this red Bordeaux is filled with hedgerow fruit and ripe plums. It’s a great wine to open before cooking and enjoy throughout dinner and into evening sipping.
Dessert
There is a well-known saying in the world of food and wine pairing that sweet wine pairs with sweet food. It’s not a strict rule, but as soon as you try the sweet combination, it’ll revolutionise your dessert pairing.
If you’re having a slice of white chocolate mousse cake or are embracing Bordeaux wine month with a canelé or two, then you’ll need a delicious Sauternes.
Wine to try: A sweet staple, Tanners Sauternes – Half is rich yet fresh. It’s not cloying so a tipple or two will go down a treat.
Whether you’re already a Bordeaux wine fan or feel inspired to elevate your meals with this region’s celebrated wines, raise a glass to Bordeaux wine month this September.
