6 Best Wine Pairings To Serve With A Beef Stew

There are not many things better in life than a hot, hearty bowl of beef stew, especially on a cold, rainy day!

Beef stew is also one of the most versatile meals out there.

You can add just about any vegetables you like, as well as seasoning and spices to match.

These extra flavors make it difficult to decide which wine will pair best with your homemade beef stew.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the top options for wines that will go well with the classic dish.

Let’s get started!

What is a beef stew?

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Beef stew is a hearty, warm and comforting dish.

It can include beef chunks (normally beef chuck), potatoes, onions, and carrots stewed in a flavorful broth or sauce.

The main ingredients of this dish are meat and vegetables that are typically cut into chunks before cooking in a liquid such as wine, broth, or even water.

To give the dish more flavor you can add some herbs such as thyme, bay leaves, and spices like garlic to the pot prior to simmering it on the stove for several hours.

The French have been credited with inventing beef stew, which they called boeuf a la mode.

The English did not eat beef until they were forced to by Elizabeth I in 1558 after she banned all meat except beef, pork, and mutton from being consumed by her subjects.

Whatever its origins, the beef stew has been around since ancient times, when people would make pot roasts by boiling them in pots over fire pits or campfires.

Beef stew has many variations across different cultures.

It may include a variety of different ingredients depending on the region where it’s prepared.

What to consider when choosing a wine pairing for beef stew?

When pairing wine with beef stew, you want to consider the following:

The flavor of the wine should bring out the richness of the beef stew

The flavor of the wine should bring out the richness of the beef stew to make sure that the whole meal will be balanced and enjoyable.

First, you need to choose a wine that matches your recipe in terms of the body, tannin, and acidity.

For example, if your stew has a lot of spices and herbs in it, then you’d want to choose a wine with higher tannin to add more flavor and body to your dish.

You also want something that’s dry enough so it won’t overpower all of those flavors from the spices and herbs but not too dry where it will be too bitter to drink on its own.

A good rule of thumb is usually any wine that has an alcohol content of about 10% or less will taste great with beef stew because the alcohol content can overpower some of the spices and herbs in your recipe without being overpowering itself!

Your budget

It is also important when choosing what kind of bottle to buy—you don’t want to spend $30 on a bottle only for it to go bad before you can finish it!

If you’re on a tight budget, try going with a less expensive bottle of wine—you can still enjoy it!

But if you have some extra money to spare, go ahead and splurge on something special!

No matter what the option is, you should do some research to find a good bottle at a particular range of prices.

6 best wine pairings to serve with a beef stew

It’s time to explore the six ideal wine pairings that will help enhance your rich hearty beef stew:

Merlot

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Merlot is a red wine grape that is widely planted throughout the world, but more so in the United States than anywhere else.

It’s a very popular wine here and can be found at most grocery stores.

In fact, Merlot is one of the most popular wines for everyday drinking in America.

Their popularity has led to their widespread cultivation across many regions, including California and Washington state.

While Merlot makes a great everyday drinking wine, it also pairs well with beef stews because of its sweet flavor profile.

The sweetness of this varietal helps balance out some of the heartier flavors found within beef stewed dishes like pot roasts or braises.

Cabernet sauvignon

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Cabernet Sauvignon is among the most common red wine pairings for beef stew.

It’s full-bodied, tannic, and high in alcohol content, so it’s not for beginners.

This is definitely a great choice for those who want to go bold with their dinner pairings.

Cabernet Sauvignon has a very bold flavor profile that makes it a great choice for pairing with beef stews and other hearty dishes.

It has a deep red color and an intense aroma; it’s also full-bodied, which means it has a lot of body and weight in its mouthfeel.

This wine option tends to be expensive because grapes used to make it are difficult to grow (they need specific weather conditions), so if you can find one that matches your generous budget, go for it!

Malbec

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Malbec is a red wine grape variety used to make full-bodied red wines with high tannins, aromas of plum, dark fruit, and vanilla, and a characteristic “pencil shavings” aroma derived from new oak barrels in which the wine ages.

It is the most widely planted variety in Argentina, but it also has some plantings throughout other parts of the world.

The grape has been known under many synonyms throughout its history: Avignonesi noir (France), Balzane (Italy), Bordeaux gris or Pied de cochon (France), Boutenac gris (France), Boutenac rouge (France), Brachetto bianco or Pinot blanc cépage val d’Aoste (Italy).

In cooking beef stew, you want to pair your wine with something that will work well on your palate.

So what does Malbec taste like?

Well if you haven’t tried it already, then let me tell you that it can be described as having flavors of berries and berries with hints of spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.

Syrah (Shiraz)

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Syrah (or Shiraz) is a great wine to serve with beef stew because it has a full body, which means it’s not too delicate or light and can stand up to the bold flavors of the stew.

It also has a strong tannic structure, which means that it will stick around in your mouth after you drink it.

This is helpful when you’re eating a meal that’s rich and hearty, like beef stew.

Another reason Syrah works well with beef stew is that it’s got enough acidity to cut through some of the fat and richness of the dish.

This keeps your palate from getting overwhelmed by all the different flavors of your meal.

Zinfandel

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Zinfandel is a red wine grape variety that originates from Croatia, but has been grown worldwide since the 19th century.

The most famous examples come from California, where it’s also known as Primitivo.

It’s known as a bold fruit-forward wine with flavors of blackberry and licorice.

This makes Zinfandel a great match with beef stew!

Petite Sirah (Duran)

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This last option is also a great match for the rich flavors of the beef stew because it doesn’t overpower them.

Petite Sirah has a deep color that makes it look like it’s made from black grapes—but it’s actually made from red grapes.

The grape used to make Petite Sirah is called Duran, which is also the name of this grape varietal.

It was first grown in France but today it is grown all over the world.

The best way to drink Petite Sirah is with beef stew because it’s got so much flavor that you don’t need anything else—which means you get more bang for your buck!

It’s also quite affordable, so you can enjoy it without breaking your bank!

Conclusion

So, there you have it.

With a few simple tips from the experts, we can all enjoy delicious beef stew paired with equally delicious wines.

And if you’re still not sure where to start, remember that the best wine is “the one that works best with your taste buds.”