7 Perfect Wine Pairings For Beef Tenderloin

Beef tenderloin is one of my favorite dinners.
I'm an experienced food writer and passionate cook. My website, Cookindocs.com, features accessible, informative, and engaging content with quality recipes and articles that are thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read. You can trust my expertise with 8 years of experience in the field. Learn more about me and my work on this website, and check out my featured articles on TastingTable, Mashed, and 5-Minute Crafts. Read more about me HERE.
It’s a nice treat for special occasions, but it’s easy to prepare and is delicious every time.
The best way to serve wine with beef tenderloin is to choose the right red wine that has smooth, silky tannins, flavors of dark fruit, and earthy spice undertones.
This article will discuss some of the most popular wines for a beef tenderloin that will help your next meal reach restaurant quality.
What is beef tenderloin?
[amazon fields=”B07QL1BHZZ” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Beef tenderloin is a cut of beef from the area between the rib and loin sections.
This section includes three subprimal cuts: the chateaubriand, tenderloin, and top sirloin.
The chateaubriand comes from the center portion of this muscle group, while both tenderloin and top sirloin come from either side.
Beef tenderloin has a round and long appearance, and it is reputed for being the most tender and leanest cut of beef.
This is why this is also among the priciest cuts that are always sought-after on the market.
When cooked correctly, beef tenderloin is very tender while being moist, with a relatively mild flavor that makes them ideal for pairing with wine.
It can be baked, roasted, grilled, stir-fried, or made into any dish by any method that you like.
What to consider when choosing a wine pairing for beef tenderloin?
There are a few things you need to consider when choosing a wine to serve with beef tenderloin.
Think about the main flavor of your dish
Is it spicy, sweet, or savory?
The wine you serve should match the flavor of your beef tenderloin.
And not only the main course but also the other sides will affect how you choose a wine.
So don’t forget those accompaniments either.
Next, think about texture
On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being soft and 10 being hard), how would you describe the texture of your beef tenderloin?
Because you might not be able to end up with the desired texture every time you cook a tenderloin.
If it’s more on the soft side, then you may want to opt for a softer red varietal like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon—or even a white varietal like Chardonnay or Riesling.
You can also go with sparkling wine if you want something festive but still low-key.
Consider what kind of occasion you’re having
Is this an everyday dinner or something special?
If it’s an everyday dinner, then consider going with something more affordable like Pinot Noir or Cabernet Franc.
In case it’s for a special occasion, then go for something fancier like Champagne or Port!
7 best wine pairings for beef tenderloin
Here is the list of the seven best kinds of wine for you to serve with beef tenderloin:
Malbec
[amazon fields=”B086TBNJWR” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
There’s no doubt that Malbec is a fantastic wine to pair with beef tenderloin because it has an earthy flavor that complements the richness of the meat.
Malbec is made from grapes that are native to France, but it’s grown in Argentina, Chile, and California as well.
The grape itself is dark purple in color and has a berry-like hue.
When you drink Malbec, you’ll notice that it has a slightly bitter taste and is full-bodied.
This gives it a bold flavor that pairs well with beef tenderloin because the rich texture of this dish complements the bolder flavors of the wine.
If you’re looking for something new to try with your next meal, consider serving up some Malbec alongside your main course!
Pinot Noir
[amazon fields=”B09Y29TLPG” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
The other perfect wine to serve with beef tenderloin is a Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noirs are light in body and color, high in acidity (think of the tartness of a lemon), and high in tannins (the astringent sensation you get from certain foods or drinks).
This means that they will complement the sweetness of the beef’s rich taste while also providing a contrast through their bright acidity.
Cabernet Sauvignon
[amazon fields=”B07VTKGM7B” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine grape variety with origins in Bordeaux, France.
While it is grown all over the world, Cabernet Sauvignon’s home country produces some of the best wines from this varietal and it has become synonymous with Bordeaux wine.
This dark-skinned grape is considered to be one of the most versatile grapes used in winemaking.
Cabernet Sauvignon blends well with many other varieties and can be aged for years to develop even more complexity.
These characteristics make Cabernet Sauvignon a great choice when pairing your beef tenderloin as well as many other meat dishes.
Zinfandel
[amazon fields=”B07GRCFCD9″ value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Zinfandel is a great wine to serve with beef tenderloin.
It has a lot of flavors, and it’s not as sweet as some other red wines, which means it will accentuate the savory flavors of the beef better than a sweeter wine would.
Zinfandel also has a high alcohol content (around 14%), which means that it can stand up to the high heat of cooking meat like beef tenderloin without losing its flavor or becoming too harsh or bitter.
Shiraz
[amazon fields=”B0779PZLV4″ value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
When you’re serving beef tenderloin, you want to make sure that your guests have a great time.
And Shiraz is just the wine for the job.
It’s a full-bodied wine that isn’t too sweet or dry (and therefore won’t overpower the beef).
Shiraz is also known for its high tannin content.
This gives Shiraz a long finish, which means that it leaves your mouth feeling fresh after you’ve swallowed it down.
You want something that can be enjoyed at every bite, but you also want something with enough flavor and body to keep your mouth busy while you’re chewing through each piece of tenderloin.
This is what makes Shiraz such an ideal partner for a beef tenderloin: it complements the meat but doesn’t distract from it.
Merlot
[amazon fields=”B00826K4EQ” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Merlot is a popular red wine grape that is used to make a wide range of wines around the world.
It’s also one of the most widely grown grapes in the United States and Australia, so you’re likely familiar with it if you’ve spent any time sipping on American or Australian wines.
Merlot has earned its reputation as one of the softest and fruity reds out there, which makes it an excellent choice for pairing with beef tenderloin.
It’s important to choose high-quality Merlot when pairing with this kind of meat because Merlot is known for being soft and fruity, and those qualities should mesh well with your main course!
Tempranillo
[amazon fields=”B07N58757T” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Tempranillo is a red wine grape that has been grown in Spain and Portugal since at least the 10th century.
The name of the grape comes from the town of Tempranillo, which is located in La Rioja Alta in northern Spain.
Tempranillo grapes are used to make wine in many different countries outside of Spain, including California, Australia, and South America.
In Rioja—a region within La Rioja Alta—Tempranillo is often blended with Mazuelo (also known as Graciano) and Garnacha (Grenache) to produce rosés or full-bodied reds like Crianza or Reserva wines.
Tempranillos tend to be medium-bodied wines with good acidity levels; they can also give off aromas of black cherry and cocoa beans along with earthy notes that come from aging in oak barrels for up to two years before release into markets around the world!
It has a high tannin content, which helps you digest the red meat better, so you can enjoy your meal without feeling too full or bloated.
Conclusion
One of the great things about serving beef tenderloin is that it goes well with many different types of red wine.
You can experiment with various styles depending on your taste preferences and budget.
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article, and the answer is going to depend on the type of meal you’re serving.
Good luck!
- 7 Best Spread Recipes To Serve With Beef Tenderloin Sandwiches
- 6 Healthy Beef Tenderloin Substitutes For Vegans And Vegetarianstutes
- Beef Tenderloin Smells Like Rotten Eggs: Why Does My Beef Tenderloin Smell So Bad?
- 7 Best Sauces To Serve With Beef Tenderloin
- 7 Best Side Dishes To Accompany Beef Tenderloin Sliders