Wine Pairings with Roast lamb

Roast lamb is a dish of great character, often enriched with herbs, garlic and long cooking that brings out its succulence. Pairing it with the right wine has to support the savouriness and the richness of the meat, while also setting off any spicing. Let's discover the best wines to pair with roast lamb.

Characteristics of Roast Lamb and General Pairings

The choice of wine depends on several factors:

• Cut and cooking: leg, shoulder or rack slowly roasted in the oven.
• Seasonings: rosemary, garlic, lemon, mustard or honey.
• Intensity of the flavour: flavourful, juicy meat, possibly with a crust on the outside.

Best Food and Wine Pairings for Roast Lamb

Recommended Structured Red Wines

• Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG – Perfect for classic cuts with rosemary and garlic.
• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG – Great for slow-cooked lamb with herbs.
• Barolo DOCG – Ideal for substantial dishes and well-browned meat.
• Cannonau di Sardegna DOC – Suited to roast lamb with spicy notes and light marinades.

Spicy and Mediterranean Red Wines

• Syrah – Excellent with lamb flavoured with pepper or mustard.
• Grenache/Garnacha – Perfect with lamb cooked with honey or sweet spices.

Mistakes to Avoid in Pairing

• Avoid light or overly young wines, which would be overpowered by the meat.
• Watch out for overly acidic wines, if the dressing contains citrus or honey.
• Avoid sweet wines, unless the lamb is marinated in a sweet sauce.

Specific Pairings for Certain Preparations

• Classic roast lamb with rosemary → Chianti Classico, Cannonau
• Lamb with mustard and honey → Syrah, Grenache
• Roast lamb with garlic and potatoes → Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo
• Rack of lamb with Mediterranean herbs → Chianti Riserva, Syrah