What food goes with Malbec?
The best foods for Malbec
Steak
The classic. Malbec was built for grilled red meat, and its dark fruit and velvety tannin stand up to a fatty ribeye or a charred skirt steak.
Barbecue and ribs
Smoky, sticky ribs and grilled barbecue suit Malbec well, its ripe fruit playing off the char and the sweet sauce.
Lamb
Roast or grilled lamb has the fat and savoury depth to match Malbec's body, especially a bottle with some oak and spice.
Burgers
A juicy beef burger is the easy, everyday Malbec pairing: the tannin cuts the fat while the fruit echoes the charred patty.
Hard and aged cheeses
Aged cheddar, Manchego and other firm, salty cheeses stand up to Malbec's tannin while the wine's fruit lifts their nutty flavours.
What is Malbec?
Malbec is a full-bodied red grape with deep colour, medium acidity and smooth, medium to high tannins. Expect flavours of blackberry, plum and black cherry, often with cocoa, violet and a touch of smoke or vanilla from oak. It is the signature grape of Mendoza in Argentina, where high-altitude vineyards give ripe, plush wines, while its original French home of Cahors makes a firmer, earthier, more savoury style.
Why these pairings work
Malbec has the body and smooth tannin to cut through fat and char, and its dark fruit keeps pace with bold, savoury flavours. Grilled and barbecued red meats are its natural home, from ribeye to lamb to a weeknight burger, and the plush Argentine style flatters fattier cuts without drying the mouth. The same weight that loves firm cheese and dark chocolate is what overwhelms delicate food, so skip the light fish and crisp salads.
Grappi profiles Malbec by body, acidity and tannin, then matches it against a reference of 185,000 wines to score each pairing out of 100.
Serving tips
- Serve Malbec at 16-18C: too warm and the alcohol dominates, so chill a big Argentine bottle for 15 minutes before pouring.
- For the classic pairing, pour a ripe Argentine Malbec with grilled steak; for leaner or more rustic dishes, a firmer Cahors from France holds up better.
Not sure what's in your glass? Scan it.
Point Grappi at any label and get the grape, the tasting profile and the right dish to serve it with, in seconds, free.