While almost anything can be cooked on the barbecue, we sometimes lack inspiration when it comes to choosing the right wine to accompany our grilled dishes. Fortunately, Kokko offers the best pairings so you know exactly what to bring up from the cellar. Enjoy responsibly, of course!
What to drink with beef?
Ribeye, sirloin or rib of beef: these superb cuts are truly enhanced on the barbecue. To complement the grilled aromas of this flavourful meat, choose powerful, oaky red wines. You can bring out your finest Bordeaux grands crus, or opt for more modest but full-bodied wines such as Bandol, Côte du Rhône or a wine from the Pays D’Oc.
Discover our recipes to elevate beef on the BBQ:
Marinated picanha cooked on a lava stone
What to serve with poultry?
Turkey skewers, grilled chicken, spiced, marinated, with lemon, thyme, rosemary, garlic, teriyaki sauce… The possibilities are endless for flavouring poultry. With a citrus-infused marinade, go all in on freshness with a rosé gris. White wine lovers will prefer a Pouilly-Fumé or a dry Jurançon, and for those who prefer red wine, a Saumur-Champigny.
With spiced chicken, a red wine is usually the best choice. Head to the Loire region with a Saint-Joseph or a Crozes-Hermitage. Finally, for grilled chicken, a wine from Languedoc or Beaujolais will be a perfect match.
Our recipe ideas to elevate poultry on the BBQ:
Roast chicken “beer can” style
Chicken drumsticks with sweet and sour sauce
Jamaican-style chicken with mango salsa
Don't forget to add a twist to your dishes by smoking your food: instructions for becoming the king of smoking with Kokko.
Which wine to pair with fish?
Let’s head to the south of France to enjoy grilled sea bream or bass, paired with a rosé from Provence or Corsica. Planning a sardinade? Stick with rosé, but choose a fuller-bodied one like rosés from Roussillon or Collioure. If you prefer white wine, opt for dry, crisp varieties such as Côtes de Gascogne, Baux de Provence, or Bandol blanc to balance the grilled flavour of the fish. For seafood, a Chablis or Chardonnay is an excellent choice.
Discover our best grilled fish recipes:
How to serve sausages?
Merguez, chipolatas, knacks, Morteau sausage, Toulouse sausage, and more—they’re the stars of the barbecue! No need to bring out your finest vintages; keep it simple with a rosé, preferably from Bordeaux like Clairet, which has more character—ideal with herbed chipolatas. A Beaujolais or a Rhône red, both fruity and spicy, will pair beautifully with merguez.
Which wine pairs best with pork?
Sometimes overlooked during the rest of the year—except on charcuterie boards or in classic lentil stews—pork is particularly well suited to barbecue cooking: chops, ribs, belly... It’s a taste of American-style grilling! Young, fruity wines are the perfect match. Choose a Burgundy Pinot Noir or Gamay, or try a red Sancerre from another region.
Here are some pork barbecue recipes to delight your taste buds:
Pork escalopes with Cajun spices
Grilled pork chops with barbecue sauce and whisky
And with a vegetarian barbecue, what should you drink?
And yes, it’s not just meat and fish lovers who can enjoy a barbecue. Tofu, seitan, tempeh: it all depends on how you prepare them. Plant-based alternatives are usually marinated to enhance their flavour, which is perfect for BBQ cooking! Depending on the flavours you choose, you can pair them with wine just as you would with meat or fish—there’s nothing complicated about it!
Still not convinced by vegetarian cooking? Rediscover the joy of barbecuing with our delicious vegetarian recipes!
Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. Please drink responsibly.
