Best wines to pair with barbecue food

Fire up the grill this summer and see what to pair with those barbecue classics like steak, burgers, sausages, and more. Our wine experts weigh in on the best wines to serve at your next al fresco feast.

Food Editor

Emily Lambe

Burger, glass of sangria, grilled chicken

Sunny days and long evenings mean one thing – it’s barbecue season. Throw your favourites on the grill and let the summer festivities begin. But before you get started, discover the best wines to pair with barbecue food to create a match made in heaven. See our top bottles from the Foodhall to pair with burgers, steak, and more.

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What wine goes best with barbecue food?

The best wine to pair with your barbecue depends on what you’re cooking. Lighter options like grilled chicken and fish pair wonderfully with bright and lively white wines, while hearty burgers and steaks complement full-bodied red wines, with their deep, rich flavours. Or you can use a bottle of wine to create a summery spritz or a big batch of sangria.

Barbecue recipes

Summer wines to add yo your barbecue

Top wine and barbecue pairings

A good bottle of wine is a great addition to any barbecue. Pair your favourite summer recipe with one of our favourite bottles and see our wine experts top advice.

How to barbecue better

Steak

Pair a meaty steak, like this sirloin steak with chimichurri recipe by Tom Kerridge, with a red wine with high tannins. Our Classics Malbec makes a great choice – it’s complex with deep fruity notes of berries and plums. “If you’re looking at Italian wines, think Barolo or Chianti. If we look in France, the wines of Bordeaux like Classics Claret are good to pair,” says M&S senior wine buyer, Dror Nativ.

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Burgers and sausages

Digging into a satisfying wagyu burger with caramelised onions or a gochujang-spiked Korean-style hot dog? Pair them with juicy, medium to full bodied reds like our Classics Cabernet Sauvignon, from the renowned wine region of Maipo Valley, Chile. Dror also recommends, “Juanicó Uruguay Tannat is a great one to go with burgers and sausages as it’s both really juicy and has some structure to it, so it goes well with meats.”

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Grilled chicken

Smoky and succulent, our beer can chicken recipe ensures maximum flavour with minimal effort. Pair with a bright and zingy white wine for the best match. “Full-bodied whites are brilliant for grilled chicken. Chenin Blanc from South Africa is a fantastic match – it’s cool and coastal but has a richness that pairs well with the chicken,” says M&S wine expert Sue Daniels. Our Collection Chablis is another good choice, with notes of green apple and blanched nuts.

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Grilled fish and seafood

Light and fresh, grilled fish and seafood is best paired with white wines with a bright, zesty acidity. “Traditional matches are Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or the Loire Valley in France,” says Dror. Our spritzy, unoaked Vinho Verde also works well, combining floral aromas with refreshing citrus and green apple notes. “Coastal wines tend to go well with fish, since wine and food evolve together,” says Sue.

Fish and seafood

Published 7.28.2025