All-American Cookout

BBQ Burgers

Juicy, Charred & Endlessly Customizable

The ultimate BBQ burger — thick patty with excellent char, melted cheese, crispy onions, and your choice of sauce. The fat from beef, the richness of cheese, and the complexity of toppings create a wine pairing challenge that's deliciously fun to solve.

Rich & savory
Flavor
Grilled over open flame
Method
Ground beef patty
Type

Wine Pairings

All-American Classic
Zinfandel

Zinfandel is made for the American BBQ burger — jammy fruit, black pepper, and casual accessibility are a perfect match.

Bold Choice
Malbec (Mendoza)

Malbec's dark plum fruit, velvet tannins, and earthy depth elevate a great burger into a wine moment worth remembering.

Easy-Drinking Red
Côtes du Rhône Rouge

A simple, fruit-forward southern Rhône red is excellent with burgers — you don't need a special bottle for a backyard cookout.

American Grape
Petite Sirah

For a thick, cheese-loaded double patty, Petite Sirah's inky body and massive dark fruit can match the intensity.

Sparkling Option
Lambrusco (dry)

A dry fizzy Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna is the Italian burger wine — bubbles cut through fat and the flavor is a delightful match.

Avoid
Expensive Bordeaux or Barolo

Save the great bottles for a nice dinner. A great burger deserves honest, uncomplicated wine — expensive wine is wasted against ketchup.

FAQ

What wine pairs with a BBQ burger?
Zinfandel is the classic American choice — jammy, casual, and bold enough to match. Malbec and Côtes du Rhône are excellent alternatives.
Beer or wine with burgers?
Both! For wine: Zinfandel, Malbec, or dry Lambrusco are the best options. Keep it casual and affordable.
What wine with a cheeseburger?
American cheese: Zinfandel. Aged cheddar: Malbec. Blue cheese: a bigger Syrah or even a bold Sauternes-style for the contrast.

More BBQ Pairings