We all know that wine goes perfectly well with beef. We want to target the question of what wine goes well with prime rib. Prime rib is one of the best cuts of beef because it tastes great roasted and it is often served at celebrations. Here we explore 7 awesome wines that go with prime rib.
During the winter season is when the most awaited holidays are celebrated. The Winter season is usually the time to bring out those rich meats like beef and any deep red meat. The meat keeps our stomachs lined and warm. This is also the main reason why these meats are often served during the festivities like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.
It’s usually during this time that roast beef, grilled beef, stewed beef, and other beefy delights are served.
What else goes well with beef and a party, though? Booze. Which booze in particular? Wine.
It’s no secret that wine goes perfectly well with beef and it’s almost always the tannic reds that harmonize the flavors in your mouth.
Reds often go well with beef because the tannic content of the red wine balances well with the protein of the beef. The marriage between the two in your mouth creates an exhilarating dining experience.
1. Cabernet Sauvignon
When pairing beef with red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon is usually the first choice with reason! It’s a full-bodied wine with medium acidity. It’s may seem off to have this kind of wine at the beginning of the meal, without having it with the prime rib but when you have these side by side, it creates a great balance in your mouth. Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of dark fruit, vanilla, pepper, and tobacco. These flavors blend in with the meat perfectly well, even more so with roasted prime rib.
2. Zinfandel
Zinfandel is another great match with prime rib because of its medium tannic level. It has notes of fruits like blueberries, blackberries, cherries, cranberry, and boysenberry. It also has a hint of licorice making it so fluid with stronger tasting cuts of beef like prime rib. Zinfandel is lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon. It has high acidity making it a great match to balance the richness of the beef.
3. Merlot
Merlot is a medium to full-bodied red wine. It has moderate acidity and medium to high alcohol content. It has notes of herbs and berries with layers of spices like cloves and vanilla. This is a typically dry wine that tastes great with beef. Its acidity levels counter the richness of the beef. We love how this wine can handle fuller-flavored meats like beef and other possible side dishes like beans with it.
4. Shiraz
Shiraz has highly tannic wine making it darker than Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a full-bodied wine with spice notes of pepper, vanilla, and tobacco. It also has some fruit notes of berries. The smokiness of this wine goes well with smoked or grilled prime rib.
5. Malbec
Malbec is another highly tannic wine, perfect to serve with prime rib. It is dry, juicy, and jammy. It has notes of plum, tobacco, and garlic. All of these notes pair really well with beef and they enhance the flavor of the meat even more.
6. Barolo
It’s time to bring out what Italy has to offer. We often think that Chianti wines would pair best with any kind of dish. For prime rib, Barolo wins the race. This is a wine from the region of Piedmont in Italy. It has high tannic levels and is full-bodied. It has notes of rose, tar, and dried herbs. The best kind of Barolo to have with prime rib is the one that has been aged for at least 5 years.
7. Rioja Gran Reserva
Rioja Gran Reserve is Spain’s version of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a strong fruity wine that has strong notes of dark cherries and blackberry. It is a perfect match with stronger-tasting cuts of beef like prime rib. Rioja is a delicious blend of Spanish Tempranillo and Grenache wine.
