What wine goes with pork?
Pinot Noir and Riesling are the best wines for pork, since pork is mild and slightly sweet, so a light red or a crisp white with a bit of fruit flatters it instead of burying it.
Pork sits right in the middle: richer than chicken, lighter than beef. That makes it one of the easiest meats to pair, as long as you don't reach for the biggest red in the store. What really decides the bottle is the sauce. Apples and mustard want white, smoky rubs want red.
4 bottles that actually work with pork
1. Bread & Butter Pinot Noir
about $17Pinot Noir · most grocery stores
Soft, ripe and easygoing, with barely any grip. It works with a roast tenderloin and a grilled chop alike.
2. Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling
about $12Riesling · grocery and wine shops
Pork and apples is a classic for a reason, and this is apples in a glass. A touch of sweetness and lots of acidity, so it also cuts through crackling and fatty roasts.
3. Josh Cellars Chardonnay
about $13Chardonnay · nearly everywhere
A little rich and round, with some apple and vanilla. The pick for pork chops in a creamy or mustard sauce.
4. La Vieille Ferme Rosé
about $9Grenache blend · grocery stores
The nine-dollar bottle that goes with nearly any pork you can think of. Dry, bright and best very cold, especially next to the grill.
Depends how you are cooking it
- Pork tenderloin or roast
- Lean and mild. Pinot Noir, or a dry rosé in summer.
- Pork chops with apples
- Riesling. The fruit in the wine matches the fruit on the plate.
- Pulled pork or ribs
- Sweet, smoky sauce needs a jammier red. Zinfandel, or a cold Lambrusco.
- Pork belly
- Very fatty, so you want acid or bubbles to cut through. Dry Riesling or a Brut sparkling wine.
What to skip
- Big, tannic Cabernet
- Pork is too mild for it. The wine is all you taste, and lean cuts make the tannin feel harsh.
- Super-oaky Chardonnay with lean cuts
- Fine with a creamy sauce, but next to a plain tenderloin it tastes like a mouthful of buttered wood.
Also worth a look
Last checked 2026-10-04.