Wine Pairings with Braised meat
Brasato is an iconic dish of Italian cuisine, characterised by long cooking of the meat in wine, which gives tenderness and depth of flavour. Pairing with the right wine should enhance the succulence of the meat and the cooking juices without overpowering them. Let’s discover the best wines to pair with brasato.
Characteristics of Braised Beef and General Pairings
The choice of wine depends on several factors:- Type of meat: beef, wild boar or game affect the ideal pairing.
- Wine used in cooking: brasato is often made with Nebbiolo, Barolo or Barbera, so the wine to pair with it must harmonise with that base.
- Aromatics and spices: the presence of cloves, bay leaf, pepper or aromatic herbs calls for a wine of great structure.
Best Wine and Food Pairings for Braised Beef
Recommended Structured Red Wines
- Barolo DOCG – Perfect for brasato al Barolo, with its power and longevity.
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG – Excellent with braised game or beef, for its elegant tannins and aromatic persistence.
- Barbera d'Asti Superiore DOCG – Ideal for lighter braises with pork or veal.
Recommended Intense Red Wines
- Nebbiolo Langhe DOC – Perfect for less structured braises, with its freshness and fine tannins.
- Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – Excellent for dishes with a red wine reduction, thanks to its complexity.
Recommended Sparkling Wines
- Champagne Blanc de Noirs – Perfect for enhancing the softness of the meat with a fresh, mineral note.
Mistakes to Avoid in Pairing
- Avoid wines that are too light, which would not manage to stand up to the structure of the braised meat.
- Watch out for overly acidic wines, which could clash too much with the cooking juices.
- Avoid aromatic wines that are too sweet, which would clash with the spices in the braised meat.
Specific Pairings for Some Types of Braised Meat
- Beef braised in Barolo → Barolo, Nebbiolo Langhe
- Braised wild boar → Brunello di Montalcino, Amarone della Valpolicella
- Braised veal → Barbera d'Asti, Champagne Blanc de Noirs
- Braised beef with a red wine reduction → Amarone della Valpolicella, Brunello di Montalcino
Braised beef: My personal podium
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1
Crozes-Hermitage 2023 - Dard et Ribo
- Type: Red Wine
- Region: Crozes-Hermitage, France, Rhône
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2
Crozes Hermitage AOC Rouge "Les Baties" 2022 - Dard et Ribo
- Type: Red Wine
- Region: Crozes-Hermitage, France, Rhône
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3
Savigny-Lès-Beaune Rouge 2020 - Le Grappin
- Type: Red Wine
- Region: Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, France
All those I have tried
