While almost anything can be cooked on the barbecue, we sometimes lack inspiration when it comes to choosing the right wine for our grilled dishes. Fortunately, Kokko offers the best pairings so you’ll know exactly what to bring up from the cellar. Enjoy responsibly, of course!
What to drink with beef?
Ribeye, sirloin, or côte de bœuf: these exceptional cuts are truly enhanced on the barbecue. To complement the smoky flavors of this bold, flavorful meat, choose full-bodied, oaked red wines. Feel free to open your finest Bordeaux, or opt for a more modest but robust wine like a Bandol, Côte du Rhône, or a Pays d’Oc.
Discover our recipes to elevate beef on the BBQ:
Marinated picanha cooked on lava stone
What to serve with poultry?
Turkey skewers, grilled chicken, spicy, marinated, with lemon, thyme, rosemary, garlic, teriyaki sauce… The possibilities are endless for flavoring poultry. With a citrus-infused marinade, go all in on freshness with a gris rosé. White wine lovers will enjoy a Pouilly-Fumé or a dry Jurançon, while red wine fans can opt for a Saumur-Champigny.
With spiced chicken, a red wine is the perfect match. Head to the Loire Valley with a Saint-Joseph or Crozes-Hermitage. And for grilled chicken, a wine from Languedoc or Beaujolais will be just right.
Our recipe ideas to elevate poultry on the BBQ:
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: step-by-step guide to mastering smoking with your 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 a rosé 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 smoky flavor of grilled fish. For seafood, a Chablis or Chardonnay is always a great choice.
Discover our best grilled fish recipes:
What to serve with sausages?
Merguez, chipolatas, knacks, Morteau or Toulouse sausages—they’re the stars of the barbecue! No need to bring out your finest vintages; keep it casual with a rosé, preferably from Bordeaux like Clairet, which has more character—ideal with herbed chipolatas. A Beaujolais or a Rhône red, with their fruity and spicy notes, are perfect with merguez.
Which wine pairs best with pork?
Often overlooked the rest of the year—except on charcuterie boards or in classic lentil stews—pork is especially well-suited to kamado grilling: chops, ribs, belly... It’s a taste of American-style barbecue! Young, fruity wines are the perfect match. Try a Pinot Noir or Gamay from Burgundy, or switch regions with a red Sancerre.
Here are some delicious pork barbecue recipes to try:
Grilled pork chops with barbecue sauce and whisky
And with a vegetarian barbecue, what should you drink?
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 flavor—perfect for BBQ cooking! Depending on the seasonings you choose, you can pair them with wine just as you would with meat or fish—nothing complicated!
Still not convinced by vegetarian cooking? Rediscover the joy of grilling with our delicious vegetarian recipes!
Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. Drink responsibly.
