The salty taste of jerky of all types complements various wines perfectly.
Even though pairing wine with food may sound like a daunting and complicated task, in reality, it is much easier than it seems! As long as you know the basics, it will be a very easy and even fun task for you to accomplish. So let’s learn more about wine and jerky pairing.
What Are the Principles of Wine Pairing?
At the end of the day, it all comes down to taste and flavor. For example, similar flavor profiles go well together, and contrasting flavors complement and help to highlight one another.
Moreover, you should also source the best beef jerky to make the pairing a roaring success. Try beef jerky from https://jerkybrands.com to get the best of the lot.
Here are a few general rules of thumb when it comes to wine pairing with meats:
- Wine with an acidic profile complements acidic flavored meats.
- Bubbly wines pair perfectly with salty and fatty meats.
- Game meats and cured meats pair well with wines with an earthy profile.
- Sweet wines complement cured and preserved meats very well.
- Wine with a high alcohol content will complement the spiciness of meats.
- Wine with a low alcohol content reduces the heat of meats.
- A dry rosè is always a good option for meats.
- Red wines and red meats (pork, beef) are best friends.
- Red wines are always a go-to choice for pairing with meat.
- White wines pair well with white meats like turkey and chicken.
When pairing wine with anything, take into account the flavor of the food it is going to be paired with. Jerky has a strong cured flavor, usually with salty and sweet notes. But keep in mind what flavor the jerkies are because it will affect the pairing as well.
9 of the Most Popular Wines that Pair Well with Jerky
1. Pinot noir
Pinot noir is a medium-bodied red wine. It has a very fruity taste, with notes of strawberries, raspberries, cherries, etc. It has a low tannin level, but it develops more flavor the longer you allow it to mature and age.
Try pairing it with our Original Beef Jerky.
2. Carignan
Carignan is a medium-bodied, rich, and fruity red wine. It has a smooth taste and finish and low levels of tannins. Other flavor notes include berries, cinnamon, star anise, etc. Due to its deep and rich flavor profile, it complements cured and smoked meats very well.
Try pairing it with our Jalapeno Beef Jerky.
3. Syrah
Syrah is a full-bodied wine with rich and complex flavors. It has very high alcohol and tannin content and goes best with crushed red pepper beef jerky.
4. Malbec
Malbec wine, made from Malbec grapes, is a full-bodied, rich, and fruity red wine. It belongs to the bold red wine group. It is one of the most popular red wines across the US.
It is best paired with lean beef jerky that’s spicy with a sweet and fruity tone.
5. Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a dry and full-bodied red wine rich in fruity and spicy flavors. It has a relatively high tannin content.
This wine makes a perfect match with beef jery that has a chilly note and also packs in full flavors.
6. Merlot
Merlot can be made from a single variety of grapes or with multiple varieties blended together. It is a dry red wine with a medium level of acidity. It has a wonderful rich flavor profile consisting of flavors like vanilla, smoke, chocolate, and woody notes.
With Merlot, it’s best to pair original beef jerky so that the basic flavors of the meat do not get overshadowed by the wine flavor.
7. Sangiovese
Also known as “the blood of Jove,” it is a medium-bodied red wine with a high alcohol and tannin content and is very acidic.
The type of jerky that has the flavor of pizza goes well with this Italian wine. Any jerky that has the overtones of garlic, onion, basil, and oregano is good to go with Sangiovese.
8. Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a medium-bodied, fruity red wine. It has a deep purple color and medium levels of tannins and alcohol content. Its flavor profile has notes of warm spices, berries, and fruits.
With Zinfandel, you should pair teriyaki-flavored beef jerky. The sweet jerky with a hint of tanginess to it is well-complemented with this wine with an earthy aroma.
9. Riesling
Riesling is categorized as a dessert wine. It is very fruity in taste. Riesling’s sweet taste is complemented by its natural acidity, which makes it popular among wine lovers.
Choose beef jerky that’s hot and spicy to complement the sweetness of Riesling.
Be Adventurous with Jerky and Wine Pairing
Just because you are pairing wine with jerky doesn’t mean you have to strictly limit yourself to wine and jerky only. A vast array of other ingredients can be paired with wine and jerky to complement them both.
A list of some of the most popular ingredients to be had with your wine and jerky:
- Cheese: Cheese and wine are always a good match, especially hard cheeses. Cheese, much like wine, has depth and intensity. Its salty and nutty taste brings out the sweet notes of wines and spicy and meaty notes of jerky. Examples: Parmesan, Brie, and bleu cheese.
- Fruits: Fruits are a wonderful, fresh, and vibrant ingredient to pair with wine and cured meats. Pair up a range of juicy and dried fruits with your wine and cheese. For instance: apples, watermelon, pineapples, plums, dates, grapes, etc.
- Bread and Crackers: Cheesy or salty crackers work best here.
Final Words
The wines listed here are fairly common and popular. In theory, they are all good matches, but the best pairings are subjective.
Wine pairing is a very rewarding and fun activity. It allows you to experiment and discover wonderful and amazing flavor combinations. Add beef jerky to that and you’re in a whole new world of pairing!
So add some excitement to your life and give wine pairing with beef jerky a shot!