Lamb is an Easter classic, and if you’re planning a bit of an Easter ‘do then you’re probably going to need a bottle or two of decent plonk to please your guests (or just yourself if you’re in full treat yourself mode).
It can be tricky to pair wines with such a flavourful meat, with some being overpowered completely by lamb’s unique flavour, and others clashing.
This is why you need our guide to the best wines to drink with lamb, however you’re cooking it.
What are the best wines to drink with roast lamb?
In general, wines with some body but also fresh acidity like Syrah or Pinot Noir go beautifully with a simple roast lamb. The wines cut through the deep flavours of the lamb as well as bring a fruitiness that complements the sweetness of the meat.
However, if you’re planning on a big old Sunday roast lamb, you’re going to need a wine that stands up to the unique and powerful flavours of the meat.
If you’re going full trad with gravy, roast potatoes and mint sauce, a good direction to go in is a Rioja or Merlot. These wines have good tannins (the taste you usually get with red wine that gives you a dry mouth feeling) to match the fat content in the meat, as well as deep berry flavours and a little earthiness and spice to complement the sweet and savoury flavours of the lamb.
For roast lamb with a slightly lighter spin – think Greek or Mediterranean inspired lamb dishes or even lamb kebabs, you can go lighter with the reds with something like a Beaujolais. It’s still got all those red berry flavours but with a little less intensity and body, so it won’t overwhelm delicate side dish flavours like fresh salads or yoghurt.
Another popular (and delicious) way to prepare roast lamb is with a Moroccan spin, so if you’re going this way something fruity with a little acidity like a Tempranillo would taste ace against the warming spice of a marinated roast lamb.
What are the best wines to drink with slow-cooked lamb?
If you’re slow-cooking your lamb, you’re going to want to go big or go home on the wine. A slow-roasted shoulder of lamb has loads of lovely fat on it that seals in all the flavour and gives the joint an almost gamey taste, so a powerful wine is needed on the table. Bordeaux blends involving Cabernet Sauvignon are the ideal pick for this type of wine dish, as these wines have body, spice, oak and black fruit flavours.
Sangiovese and Grenache wines are also a great choice with their berry flavours and good amount of body. If you want to splash the cash, a Brunello is a lovely choice, but if you’re operating on more of a budget then a Grenache from France is the way to go.
Can you drink rose wine with lamb?
Yes! Rosé is a great alternative pairing for lamb, especially ones made with majority red wine grapes like Grenache, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon, so look out for these on the bottle. You’ll need the rosé to be a dry one rather than sweet, so it’s not overpowered by even the pinkest of young lamb. Speaking of young lamb, you’ll want to pair your rosé with a lamb cutlet served pink rather than a big old roast, or your wine will be overpowered.
Rosé champagne is also a tasty option for pairing with lamb, especially if you’re planning a celebratory lunch. Pick a vintage one with loads of red fruit flavour for ultimate boujee pairing vibes.
What about white wine with lamb?
Now, this isn’t a classic pairing but that doesn’t mean that it won’t taste good. After all, wine pairing is all about what you like, as well as what tastes good together. In this instance, why not go with a geographical theme? If your lamb dish is Greek-inspired with loads of fresh salads and yoghurt dips, you could try a Greek white like Assyrtiko, which is medium-bodied and often oaked. For something more left-field, an orange wine from Greece like Paleokerisio would work well too, as it has more tannins and body to stand up to the strong gamey flavours of lamb.
However, if you can’t get your hands on a Greek bottle to go with your lamb roast, a medium-bodied Chardonnay with a little oakiness instead of something like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc would work wonders.
10 Wines That Pair Perfectly With Lamb
Louella is Delish UK's writer, and has years of experience writing about food and wine, but began her career working front of house at Salon restaurant in Brixton, London, where she developed a real passion for food, wine, and hospitality.
Outside of the office, you can usually find Louella in the kitchen cooking for friends, performing very badly in pub quizzes, or shaking up a margarita or two.
