What wine goes with lamb?

Rioja and Cabernet Sauvignon are the classic lamb wines. Lamb is rich and a little gamey, and a red with savory, earthy flavor and some grip matches it better than anything fruity and soft.

Lamb has more flavor than beef and a lot more fat, which means it can take a serious red. The trick is that it also has a slightly wild, herby edge, so the best wines aren't the sweetest or jammiest ones. Think dry, savory and a bit earthy. Rosemary and garlic on the lamb are a huge help here.

4 bottles that actually work with lamb

• 1. Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza

  about $15

  Tempranillo · grocery and wine shops

  Spanish red with dried cherry, a little vanilla from the barrel and a savory, leathery edge. Spain has been cooking lamb with this kind of wine forever, and it shows. The best value pick on this page.

• 2. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

  about $13

  Cabernet Sauvignon · nearly everywhere

  Enough backbone to stand up to a fatty rack or leg without being harsh about it. Dark fruit and a hint of herb that lines up with rosemary.

• 3. Catena Malbec

  about $18

  Malbec · grocery and wine shops

  Plush and dark, with less grip than Cabernet. Argentina grills a lot of meat and this is the wine they grill it with. Great with anything off the barbecue.

• 4. Whispering Angel Rosé

  about $22

  Grenache blend · grocery and wine shops

  For lamb in a pita with tzatziki, or a summer kebab. Dry, pale and crisp, and it handles yogurt, mint and lemon better than any red.

Depends how you are cooking it

Rack of lamb

The fanciest cut and the leanest. A Rioja or a softer Cabernet, nothing too heavy.

Roast leg of lamb

Garlic and rosemary all over it, so go savory. Rioja or Cabernet is perfect.

Gyro, kebab or lamb with tzatziki

Lighter and tangier. A dry rosé, or a chilled light red like Beaujolais.

Braised shanks or lamb stew

Slow-cooked and deep. Malbec or a Syrah-based Côtes du Rhône.

What to skip

Light, crisp whites

Lamb fat coats your mouth and a Pinot Grigio just disappears underneath it.

Sweet or very jammy reds

The sweetness clashes with the herby, slightly gamey side of lamb. Save those for barbecue.

Also worth a look

• What wine goes with steak?
• What wine goes with prime rib?
• What wine goes with duck?

Last checked 2026-10-04.