The 13 Best Wines to Pair With Steak in 2024

By Dirk Smits

What are the best wines to serve with steak?

As every gourmand knows, wine is the consummate complement to steak. Selecting the right vino to pair with a particular cut of meat can spell the difference between a simply enjoyable meal and a transcendent feast.

We’ve chosen a diverse assortment of reds from around the world — and at varying price points — for GAYOT’s list of the Best Wines to Drink with Steak.

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Meat Guide
Echo & Rig Steakhouse & Butcher Shop, Chef Sam Marvin | Henderson, NV

1. 2019 Grounded Wine Company Collusion Red Table Wine } Columbia Valley, Washington

> Watch our exclusive video interview with winemaker Josh Phelps, founder of Grounded Wine Co.

Varietals: 43% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Malbec, 4% Syrah
Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington, USA
Price: $22
ABV: 14.1%

There’s a misconception about the climate of Washington state. It is often incorrectly assumed that the entire state receives very little sunshine, but the truth is that the eastern part of the state receives as much as 300 sun-kissed days per year. That makes Eastern Washington an ideal region for growing bold red wine grapes.

So, if you appreciate bold reds, this is a region you’ll want to explore, starting with the Grounded Wine Company. This winery is the vision of winemaker Josh Phelps. He’s the son of Chris Phelps, one of the Napa Valley’s most sought-after consulting winemakers. Grounded Wine Company is the younger Phelps’ attempt to build his own legacy, and he’s already being called a “rising star” of the American wine scene. Best of all, he’s doing it while only using grapes from sustainably grown vineyards.

This red blend offers aromas of blackberry and cooked cranberry, rounded out by notes of vanilla and cedar. Ripe cherry dominates on the palate. However, it’s that lingering note of baking spices on the finish that will make you want to come back for more.

> For more information, visit the Grounded Wine Company official website.

2. Chateau Montelena Winery, 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley, California

Chateau Montelena Winery 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin: Napa Valley, California, USA
Varietals: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
Price: $85
ABV: 13.8%

Fun fact: This Napa Valley institution was founded in 1882 as a barrel-aging facility called A.L. Tubbs, and was one of the first wineries in the area made of stone instead of wood. Another fun fact: Chateau Montelena’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s tremendous fun, actually.

Pure and powerful, this wine opens with fresh blueberries, blackberry pie and cassis. The endless dark fruit is complemented by a range of baking spices: vanilla at first, but also clove and cinnamon. The first sip instantly reveals the character of this Cabernet: dense and chewy with bright red fruit, incredible tension and pure, fine grain tannins. The finish is focused and stout. Abundant cocoa, espresso bean and black pepper dovetail into dark, black fruit while tart raspberry and strawberry jam linger.

Suggested Cut: A broiled T-Bone

> For more information, visit the Chateau Montelena Winery official website.

3. Don Melchor, Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 | Puente Alto, Chile

Origin: Puente Alto, Chile
Varietals: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $150
ABV: 14,5%

Don Melchor Vineyard, in Puente Alto, sits on the north bank of the Maipo River in Alto Maipo at the foot of the Andes, 650 meters above sea level. It encompasses 127 hectares divided into seven parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%), with smaller parcels of Cabernet Franc (7%), Merlot (2%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The Cabernet Sauvignon vines average more than 30 years of age and correspond to a selection originally brought over from Bordeaux at the end of the 19th century by visionary winemaker Don Melchor Concha y Toro. He was the first one to plant them in the Maipo Valley.

The wine shows a deep purplish-red in color, with an abundance of fresh red fruit and notes of blackcurrants and flowers. On the palate it has an enormous wealth of flavors, with breadth from beginning to end, and plenty of energy in perfect balance with the elegance of the textures and flavors.

Suggested Cut: Rib-eye or a rack of lamb

> For more information, visit the Don Melchor Vineyard official website.

KEEP READING: The Best Cabernet Sauvignon

4. Hickinbotham Brook Road, 2019 Shiraz | McLaren Vale, Australia

Hickinbotham 2013 Clarendon Vineyard Shiraz

Origin: McLaren Vale, Australia
Varietals: 100% Shiraz
Price: $75
ABV: 14,5%

Alan Hickinbotham established Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard in 1971, planting dry-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz on a 200-acre site that has since supplied fruit to produce many of Australia’s greatest wines including Penfolds Grange Hermitage and Hardy’s Eileen Hardy.

The 2019 Brooks Road exhibits the compelling dynamic between savory and fruit flavors. Sweet blueberry and rich red fruits interlace with notes of clove and menthol. The palate is expansive but pure finesses with a beautifully balanced acidity leading to a silky finish.

Suggested Cut: The flavor profile of the wine complements the delicate flavors of filet mignon.

> For more information, visit the Hickinbotham official website.

5. House Wine Steak House, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon | USA

House Wine 2014 Steak House Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin: USA
Varietals: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah, 15% Merlot
Price: $11
ABV: 13.5%

This is a blend of (mostly) Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot made with grapes sourced from Washington, California and Idaho. Yes, Idaho — believe it or not, the Gem State is one of America’s up and coming producers of quality vinifera. You’d be hard-pressed to find another steak mate with as much personality at this price point, which has been House Wine’s forte since its inception in 2004. The Steak House cab is lean, but by no means a pushover.

The fruit — dominated by raspberry, pomegranate, and leather — shows front and center, with a fair degree of spiciness bringing up the rear. Big tannins coat the palate with flavors of vanilla and red flowers and a balanced acidity gives the wine a bright clean finish.

Suggested Cut: Flat-iron steak seared on a charcoal grill

> For more information, visit the House Wine official website.

6. Miner Family Winery, 2018 “Emily’s Cuvée” | Napa Valley, California

Miner Family Winery 2013 "Emily's Cuvee"

Origin: Napa Valley, California, USA
Varietals: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Price: $60
ABV: 14.2%

This blend is a grand tribute to the late Emily Miner, who co-founded the award-winning winery back in the mid-90s. Winemaker Gary Brookam applied modern technology to Old World techniques to coax the very best from the exceptional Napa Valley vineyard sites. You’ll marvel at how much good stuff this robust red has going on.

There’s an abundance of delicious black fruit enriched with hints of mocha, espresso and toasted oak. So meaty it practically sizzles.

Suggested Cut: A pan-fried, dry-aged Kansas City Strip

> For more information, visit the Miner Family Winery official website.

9. Sbragia Andolsen Vineyard, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon | Sonoma County, California

Sbragia 2013 Andolsen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin: Dry Creek Valley, California, USA
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $50
ABV: 14.8%

A standout medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from one of California’s most prominent winemakers, Ed Sbragia, formerly of Beringer. The Andolsen Vineyard cab boasts silky tannins and a fleshy mouthfeel. A small amount of Cabernet Franc was added to imbue the wine with structure and herbal characteristics.

You’re likely to detect hints of ripe cherries, charcoal and leather as well.

Suggested Cut: Will reward a richer, more marbled cut of meat

> For more information, visit the Sbragia official website.

10. Stoller Family Estate, Dundee Hills, 2018 Pinot Noir | Willamette Valley, Oregon

Stoller Family Estate 2014 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir

Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Price: $35
ABV: 14.1%

As a LEED Gold certified winery (the first in the world) with sustainable vineyards, Stoller is as resource efficient an operation as you’ll find in the Pacific Northwest.

The savory 2018 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is very approachable, with notes of mistletoe, exotic spices and Bing cherry. The palate is soft and supple, with dark cherry flavors balanced by a delicate tension from the tannins — a classic representation of the Dundee Hills.

Suggested Cut: The wine’s flavors mesh well with Delmonico-style ribeye.

> For more information, visit the Stoller Family Estate official website.

KEEP READING: The Best Pinot Noir Wines

11. Travaglini, Gattinara 2014 | Piedmont, Italy

Travaglini 2011 Gattinara

Origin: Piedmont, Italy
Varietals: 100% Nebbiolo
Price: $35
ABV: 13.5%

The ancient town of Gattinara and its surrounding area isn’t as well-known as some of Piedmont’s other DOCGs, but it belongs in the conversation about Northern Italy’s finest Nebbiolo-producing regions. The Travaglini family has been making Nebbiolo (known locally as “spanna“) in Gattinara for nearly a century and, since 1952, putting it in unique curved bottles designed to catch sediment during decanting.

There are sweet floral aromas, from violet to rose petal, up to take on spicy and balsamic mottling with the passage of time on the nose. Full-bodied palate, with intense flavors of cherry, raspberry and spice culminating in a long and smooth finish.

Suggested Cut: Steak tartare

> For more information, visit the Travaglini official website.

12. 2019 Villa Creek, Garnacha | Paso Robles, California

Varietal: 100% Grenache
Origin: Paso Robles, California, USA
Price: $75
ABV: 15%

Grenache can be big, dark and rich or it can be more translucent and bright
depending on where it’s grown and the touch of the winemaker. Villa Creek likes to
allow the grapes from two different vineyards to bring sheer delight to your
table.

A dark ruby profile draws you to the glass. The nose expresses aromatics of steeped
cherries, cured meats, crushed rocks and licorice transitioning into a generous
palate with great purity, balance and grace. This 2019 Garnacha strikes a perfect
balance of fruit and savory framed by a modest structure that will go perfectly with
your steak.

> For more information, visit the Villa Creek official website.

13. Vérité, La Joie 2013 | Sonoma County, California

Vérité 2013 La Joie

Origin: Sonoma County, California, USA
Type: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Price: $390

Simply put, this is one of the finest American wine releases in recent memory. A near-perfect union of climate, soil, fruit and winemaking, courtesy of legendary vigneron Pierre Seillan, who dubbed his celebrated methodology droit du sol, “right of the soil.” While it hails from Sonoma County, the La Joie is a kindred spirit to the best wines of France‘s Pauillac.

The 2013 growing season was truly a perfect one in Sonoma County. The nose is rich, complex and creamy, dominated by fruit with a very discreet nose of oak. The wine shows itself on the palate without restraint and expresses its complexity, power, delight and richness with notes of ripe, round black fruits such as cassis and black cherry. This La Joie is a grandiose wine in an excellent vintage and will age for 30 years or more.

Suggested Cut: A prime cut filet mignon

> For more information, visit the Vérité official website.

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