The right wine pairing depends on the meat’s fat, richness, and how it is cooked. The sauce and seasoning can influence the choice too, sometimes as much as the meat itself.
This guide names the exact wine for each meat, down to specific bottles from Belle Wine Bar that you can order by the glass. It also covers Balinese dishes, where the usual pairing rules do not always hold up. The recommendations below are based on each wine’s body, acidity, tannins and flavour profile.
What Wine Pairs Best With Beef
Rich cuts of beef pair particularly well with bold reds. The right choice still depends on how the beef is cooked.
Why Red Wine Pairs Best With Beef
Beef is rich and full of protein and fat. Red wine contains tannins – the compounds that give red wine its dry feel.
Tannins interact with the proteins in meat and in your mouth. This interaction makes a bold red taste smoother next to beef. The wine’s acidity refreshes your palate between rich, fatty bites.
This balance is why a light red can get lost next to a fatty steak or a heavily charred cut. It may not have enough tannin or acidity to stand up to the richness.
Choosing Red Wine Based on How Beef Is Cooked
|
How It Is Cooked |
Order This |
|
Grilled steak |
Shiraz. Try Belle’s 19 Crimes Shiraz, Australia. |
|
Braised or slow-cooked |
Tempranillo. Try Belle’s Protos Tempranillo, Spain. |
What Wine Pairs Best With Chicken
Chicken has less fat than beef or lamb. So it pairs best with a lighter red or white wine.
Why Lighter Wine Pairs Best With Chicken
Chicken breast is lean and delicate. A bold, tannic red can overpower it and taste harsh instead of smooth. This is why chicken breast usually calls for a lighter red or white wine, depending on how it is cooked.
Choosing Wine Based on How Chicken Is Cooked
|
How It Is Cooked |
Order This |
|
Poached |
Pinot Grigio. Try Belle’s Leonardo Da Vinci Pinot Grigio, Italy. |
|
Roasted |
Chardonnay. Try Belle’s Château d’Aussières Chardonnay, France. |
|
Grilled |
Pinot Noir. Try Belle’s Mount Rozier Pinot Noir, South Africa. |
What Wine Pairs Best With Pork
Pork is leaner than beef and fattier than chicken. It pairs well with light red and white wines.
Why Light Red and White Wines Pair Best With Pork
Pork has enough fat to handle a light red, but not so much that it needs a bold one. Unlike beef, pork can also pair well with white wine, especially when the dish has some sweetness. A wine with excellent acidity can also balance a lightly sweet glaze without making the pairing feel heavy.
Choosing Wine Based on How Pork Is Cooked
|
How It Is Cooked |
Order This |
|
Roasted |
Pinot Noir. Try Belle’s Mount Rozier Pinot Noir, South Africa. |
|
Sweet glaze (honey, apple) |
Riesling. Try Belle’s Leo Buring Dry Riesling, Australia. |
|
Grilled chops |
Tempranillo or Primitivo. Try Belle’s Protos Tempranillo, Spain, or San Marzano Primitivo, Italy. |
What Wine Pairs Best With Lamb
Lamb’s distinctive flavour pairs particularly well with full-bodied wines.
Why a Bold, Intense Wine Pairs Best With Lamb
A full-bodied wine has enough body and flavour intensity to match the meat without being overpowered by it. The seasoning matters too. Herbs like rosemary and thyme add earthy, aromatic flavours to lamb. A red with fruit, spice or savoury notes can complement these flavours.
Choosing Wine Based on How Lamb Is Cooked
|
How It Is Cooked |
Order This |
|
Roast lamb |
Shiraz. Try Belle’s 19 Crimes Shiraz, Australia. |
|
Cooked with Mediterranean herbs (rosemary and thyme) |
GSM blend. Try Belle’s Envyfol GSM, France. |
What Wine Pairs With Balinese and Indonesian Meat Dishes
Lighter, aromatic wines often pair better with Balinese meat dishes than bold reds. You can also serve lighter reds slightly chilled. The cooler temperature makes the wine feel fresher with spicy food, especially in the climate of Bali.
Why Lighter Wines Pair Best With Balinese Dishes
Balinese food can combine chilli, aromatic spices, sweetness and umami, which changes the usual wine-meat pairing rules. Umami, found in ingredients like fermented terasi, can make tannic reds taste more bitter. High-alcohol wines can also make chilli feel hotter.
|
Dish |
Order This |
|
Satay (grilled meat skewers with peanut sauce) |
Pinot Gris. Try Belle’s Tempus Two Pinot Gris, Australia. |
|
Babi guling (Bali’s spit-roasted pork) |
GSM blend. Try Belle’s Envyfol GSM, France. |
|
Ayam betutu (slow-cooked spiced chicken) |
Sauvignon Blanc. Try Belle’s Two Rivers Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand. |
Find Your Wine and Meat Pairing at Belle Wine Bar, Ubud
Every bottle named in this guide is available by the glass at Belle Wine Bar, alongside over 25 wine varieties from nine countries. These pairings are a starting point, so feel free to explore our wine list and find combinations you enjoy. Our team can help you find the right glass for your dish.
Visit us to explore our wine list and find a pairing that fits what you are eating.