The mofo guide to pairing | Steak
If you’re searching for the best red wine pairing for the steak you’re grilling up, look no further mofo. Your sizzling wish has been granted, no matter the cut. Here’s our killer guide to tried & tested steak & wine pairings, and if you’re stuck for time we’ve loaded our top tips upfront to give you a rule-of-thumb steer.
Three killer steak pairing tips
High-fat cuts (like Scotch Fillet) are best paired with wines with high tannin & acid (think cabernet sauvignon)
Leaner cuts (like Eye Fillet) can favour lighter reds with softer tannins (think pinot noir, merlot).
Beefy cuts (like Flank and Skirt) can do well with a bold, full bodied wine (think malbec or shiraz)
Perfect wine & steak pairings by cut
Scotch Fillet (aka Ribeye)
Pairs great with: Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, grenache
Why? Scotch Fillet (ribeye to the rest of the world) is highly marbled and laden with juicy, unctuous richness - so you’ll want a wine that has enough acid & tannin to go toe-to-toe without sacrificing full-bodied flavour.
Eye Fillet (aka Tenderloin)
Pairs great with: Pinot noir, syrah, merlot, cabernet franc
Why? A leaner cut that’s milder with an almost buttery texture, too much oomph in your glass might overwhelm the steak. Opt for a red that has it’s foot slightly off the gas - pinot noir is a great shout, but don’t discount Syrah/Shiraz from cooler climates either.
Porterhouse (aka Sirloin)
Pairs great with: Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, sangiovese, tempranillo
Why? Another cut with decent marbling - think acid and tannin, with as much body as you fancy. My general rule - the thicker the porterhouse, the fuller the wine. Opt for sangiovese or tempranillo if cab sauv or shiraz feel too heavy.
T-Bone
Pairs great with: GSM, shiraz, primitivo, zinfandel
Why? The “why not both?” cut - both sirloin and fillet together in the same cut, so you want a wine that can offer the same. A blend like GSM (or another Rhone-style shiraz blend) is what you want here - but if you’re feeling juicy, plump for a zin.
Rump Steak
Pairs great with: Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, malbec
Why? Firmer than some cuts but just as robust, we’re looking for a wine with the gloves off - tannin and big bold flavours are the go.
Flank Steak
Pairs great with: Malbec, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, shiraz
Why? A beefy cut with a lot of full-flavoured grain, feel free to throw something bold and tannic with this - malbec would be our shout, but there’s a whole heap that will do a delicious job here.
Skirt Steak
Pairs great with: Malbec, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, shiraz
Why? Its similarity to flank steak means you can approach the pairing in the same way - bold flavours, big tannins, huge smiles around the table.
Tomahawk Steak
Pairs great with: Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, grenache
Why? Bone-in ribeye/scotch fillet, the steak that showboats on the plate. It’s still a ribeye/scotch fillet at heart though, despite the theatrics - so feel free to pair it with the same wines that work so well there. High tannin, high acidity, high gastronomy.
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