The Best Red Wines For Cooking | McGuigan Australia (2024)

FAQs

The Best Red Wines For Cooking | McGuigan Australia? ›

When it comes to cooking, your safest bet is to choose a mid-priced, medium-bodied red wine with moderate tannins, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Pinot Noir. Using a red wine that is too big, full-bodied and tannic, like Shiraz, may turn 'chalky' and astringent while cooking and ruin the flavour of your dish.

The single best dry red wine for cooking is Merlot. This is because it is one of the most flexible red wines on the market and can be used for meat, sauce, vegetables, and more. It can be medium to full-bodied with a range of fruity and coffee-like flavors.

In Australia, the most popular red wine varietal is Shiraz which accounts for 45% of red wine variety (433,305 tonnes of 959,131 tonnes). A little bit about Shiraz and why it is so popular. Shiraz grows in almost all wine regions of Australia and accounts for 25% of total wine production.

Red Burgundy is the traditional match for Beef Bourguignon, Merlot dominated blends from both Australia and Bordeaux. Red Bordeaux in particular, can be enjoyed more fully. A weighty Pinot Noir or a robust Ribera del Duero. Tempranillo wine is also fine.

Here's an easy red wine style guide to stick to while you're shopping: If you're cooking beef, lamb or stew, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are your friends. If you're cooking chicken, duck or pork, go with Merlot.

As wine cooks, its flavor becomes concentrated, so it also lends savoriness or sweetness to a dish. Generally, dry red and white wines are recommended for savory dishes. Whether cooking with red or white wine, avoid oaky wines (like Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay), as these become bitter when cooked.

Shiraz grapes are open to a more diverse climate suitable for the grape's cultivation, and overall, Australia has perfect climatic conditions. The Australian Shiraz has been made differently from the European Syrah, which has helped us stand apart and develop our own identity.

SHIRAZ. Bright, bold and full of personality, Shiraz is Australia's most popular variety. It grows in almost every wine region of Australia, accounts for one-quarter of total wine production and is our most exported wine.

A relatively cool (in Australian terms) Mediterranean climate of warm, breezy summer days and cool nights dominates the wine-producing areas. The resulting wines tend to combine fruit ripeness with freshness – an unusual combination in Australia – which makes the wines particularly appealing.

Is Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon better for Beef Bourguignon? ›

The most poetic match for Beef Bourguignon is, without a doubt, a red Burgundy, given that both the dish and the wine hail from the same region. The Pinot Noir grape, the heart and soul of red Burgundy, brings forward red fruit notes, underpinned by earthy undertones.

Best red wine for cooking beef - Merlot

Red wine and beef are a match made in heaven. While most medium-dry red wine varietals work well in beef dishes; a Merlot, with its medium tannins and moderate body is an excellent choice.

The best red wine for cooking beef stew

These wines can make your beef stew tender, rich, and flavorsome: Pinot noir. Grab a bottle of this if you're looking for a fruitier flavor, but you want to keep it fairly light. Merlot.

Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold and robust red wine variety that adds complexity and depth to a range of dishes. This wine pairs exceptionally well with red meat-based dishes, stews, and hearty sauces, imparting a rich and luxurious taste to your creations.

The best red wines to use when cooking pasta sauce are Cabernets, Chianti, Merlot and Pinot Noir. Chianti is an Italian origin wine, created using Sangiovese grapes. It's affordable, and ranges in a wide variety of flavor notes like mushroom, tobacco, and cherry.

Red Wine– Chianti, Pinot Pior, Merlot are great in Bolognese sauce. See below for substitution options. Crushed Tomatoes- Make sure you get the ground stuff, not chunky diced tomatoes.

Go for a pinot noir if you like your stews light and fruity, cabernet sauvignon if you like it strong and rustic, and a merlot if you fall somewhere in between. But most importantly, use a wine that you're also happy to drink.

Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and dry sparkling wines labeled "brut" are especially good choices. Fuller whites with strong, oaky flavors, like some Chardonnays, don't work as well for cooking because they are lower in acidity and don't provide as much punch as the crisper wines.

Finding the Perfect Flavor Balance. To choose the perfect wine to highlight your meal, you should consider the dish as a whole. Is it salty, bitter, spicy, sweet, acidic, or fatty? Once you determine the overall flavor profile, you can choose a wine that complements or contrasts with the dominant flavors.