The Best Texas Wines For Grass-Fed Beef Dishes

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The Best Texas Wines For Grass-Fed Beef Dishes

Having been to my fair share of wine tastings, not to mention the many Sunday afternoons I’ve spent sipping away on perhaps a little too much vino, I consider myself a bit of a wine geek. Especially when it comes to pairing wines with different meats. And nothing complements a glass of red wine better than a delicious cut of grass-fed beef (how long does beef last?). Texas-raised, of course!

What Are The Best Wine For Beef

There is a good reason why wine enthusiasts want to know about the type of wine that would go well with beef. Not every wine would taste good with meat and so one needs to be selective of their wine type.

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Get your booze on this weekend and gorge on one of these perfect Texas wine and grass-fed beef combos.

Pedernales Cellars - 2018 Texas High Plains Tempranillo

At $40 a bottle, this full-bodied wine allows you to savor a blend of flavors that evoke deliciously earthy notes. It is a popular choice amongst Texans when it comes to drinking with their favourite beef meal.

'Tis the Season for Grass-Fed Steak: TexasRealFood Panhandle Edition

This beverage is complemented by younger Temp vines from Lahey that add to the rounded taste of the wine by supplementing it with bright, fruity, and floral aromas. Mourvedre and Syrah vines are also included to add further complexity to this neck-warming 14.2% ABV vintage. If you scouting for different ways of pairing wines with beef, then Tempranillo should be on the top of your list.

Pedernales Cellars - 2018 Texas High Plains Tempranillo

Best paired with a grilled Wagyu steak, this 2018 edition by Pedernales Cellars brings a complex set of flavors that go wonderfully with a cut of succulent beef.

Address: 2916 Upper Albert Rd, Stonewall, TX 78671

Contact: (830) 644-2037

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Bending Branch Winery - 2019 Texas Tannat

Known as Bending Branch Winery’s signature red wine, the 2019 Texas Tannat delights with its profile consisting of sour cherry, sage, and smoked blackberries. The taste of this $30 tipple is finished off with lingering flavors of graphite and Kalamata olive. These wonderful full-bodied flavors develop and mature in oak barrels for 20 months, producing a smooth 12.9% ABV vintage. It is one of the best choice with beef dishes.

Bending Branch Winery - 2019 Texas Tannat

The ultimate beverage to savor with some Texas barbecue, Bending Branch Winery’s 2019 Texas Tannat is perfect for wine enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike.

Address: 142 Lindner Branch Trl E, Comfort, TX 78013

Contact: (830) 995-5850

Fall Creek Vineyards - 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

Established by the first pioneers of Texas Hill Country’s wine-growing tradition, Fall Creek Vineyards was opened in 1975. This vineyard’s 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts delicious flavors of tea, cranberry, and tart cherry that perfectly complement the aromatic notes of worn leather.

Soft tannins greet each drinker in the midpalate with lingering flavors of licorice (how long does licorice last?) and cassis. This 12-month-old aged Cabernet Sauvignon is best paired with a pan-seared steak or flank steak served with lashings of mushroom gravy.

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  • Locate the best sources for premium grass-fed beef in Austin with our guide to 7 farms that offer top-quality, locally raised, and sustainable meat.

Fall Creek Vineyards - 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

Fall Creek Vineyards’ 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to the vineyard’s years of experience in the wine-making industry.

Address: 1820 County Road 222, Tow, TX 78672

Contact: (325) 379-5361

Duchman Family Winery

Designed to have the look and feel of a Tuscan wine producer, Duchman Family Winery grows Italian grape varieties in the Texas Hill Country. This winery sources their grapes from the Texas High Plain AVA, where the climate is ideal for growing the fruits used in their beverages.

A great choice with a dish of Angus prime beef rib, Duchman Family Wineru’s 2016 Aglianico constitutes many layers of flavors, such as dried cherry, stewed fruit, and cranberry. This flavor profile is finished off with firm tannins as well as hints of dried herbs(how long do dried herbs last?) and spices. 

Duchman Family Winery, TX

The Duchman Family Winery offers wines that celebrate world-renowned grape varieties grown in the Texas Hill Country. 

Address: 13308 FM-150, Rm Rd, Driftwood, TX 78619

Contact: (512) 858-1470

Grape Creek Vineyards

Established back in 1983, Grape Creek Vineyards was acquired by Brien and Jennifer Heath in 2006. This husband-and wife-duo started out as wine hobbyists, and eventually expanded their passion into what is now known as an award-winning vineyard – one that produces a whopping 700,000 bottles per year!

The 2019 Grape Creek Vineyards Merlot showcases notes of black cherry, plum, and ripe blueberry that mingle beautifully with its vanilla, chocolate, and cigar box aromas. Enjoy this great wine with a hearty grass-fed T-bone fatty steak.

Grape Creek Vineyards, TX

Grape Creek Vineyards produces wines that are guaranteed to elevate each and every meal they accompany.

Address: 10587 E US Highway 290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Contact: (830) 644-2710

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Kuhlman Cellars

Offering a selection of premium wines, Kuhlman Cellars was opened to the public back in 2014. This wine cellar employs wine-making principles from the Old World. As a result, they produce some of the best wines in the Texas Hill Country, which go perfectly with your favorite, fatty, grass-fed Angus beef dishes. Their 2019 Zinfandel packs quite the punch with its notes of bramble fruit and licorice.

Kuhlman Cellars, TX

Kuhlman Cellars offers high-quality wines that pair wonderfully with grass-fed Angus beef.

Address: 18421 US-290 E, Stonewall, TX 78671

Contact: (512) 920-2675

Next time you’re planning on cooking up a steak or two, why not pair your dish with one of these six Texas wines. Lifting the flavors of meat, these wines offer complex flavor profiles that are truly heaven-on-earth when accompanied by a cut of delicious, grass-fed Texas beef. 

Looking for fresh, grass-fed meat delivery? Try these 9 Farms Providing Fresh Grass-Fed Meat Delivery in Texas!

The Combination of Beef and Wine

You've probably heard that red wine is traditionally the greatest match with steak. Pairing wines, especially the red ones is probably the best match.

Tannins, which are contained in red wine, are responsible for this effect. Tannins combine with the proteins found in red meat to create a flavorful new compound that breaks down the fat to make more taste available.

Researchers have also discovered that dry red wines and fatty meats pair well because they balance each other in the mouth in terms of the textures they provide.

The astringency of the red wine acts as a counterbalance to the slickness of the fat. Regarding steaks, remember that the rarer the meat is, the more the flesh will work to mask the flavor of the tannins.  

If that is what you like, there is nothing wrong with drinking white wine or rosé with steaks and recipes that call for grass-fed beef. Because beef and red wines share taste components, matching red wines with beef results in a harmonious coupling.

Nevertheless, pairing lighter white wine with beef results in fascinating and opposing flavor combinations. Wine pairings can be easy if you are sure about your taste preference.

It may be common knowledge that red wines go well with red meat, but the truth is that this is one of those classic combinations that is so inherently delicious that there is no need to change it.

When paired with a robust red wine, the rich fruit flavors and tannins (astringency) of a fine steak may be complemented and moderated by the juiciness and mellow fat of a decent steak; on the other hand, similar traits can often overpower white wines.

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What Kind of Wine Goes Well With Beef Steaks?

The traditional cut of steak is a ribeye that has been cooked and then seasoned with salt and pepper. This cut has sufficient fat and flavor to hold against the aged wines, assuming that the wine in question has sufficient acidity to cleanse the palate.

Although Cabernet is traditionally served with beef steak, upgrading to a Cab Franc, aged Bordeaux mix, or other wine with herbal undertones and spicy tannins will enrich the meal.

Filet mignon, also known as beef tenderloin (What wine goes well with beef tenderloin?), is a leaner steak with a more subdued taste. This opens the door to lighter-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir and Mourvèdre, which is the savory and fragrant "M" in your GSM Rhône mix. Because tenderloin is often served with a sauce, you will want to ensure that the sauces you choose are well-balanced with Pinot Noir and Mourvèdre.

Medium bodied red wines tends to have a more alcohol content and tannins than a light-bodied red wine.

Another one of the iconic dishes associated with Paso Robles that may be enjoyed in a less formal setting is the sirloin tri-tip cooked over wood. This preparation is often generously coated with salt, pepper, and garlic, and it is typically served in thick slices over buttered, toasted garlic bread and a side of ranch beans that are not very sweet.

A beautiful, fruity Zinfandel is the perfect complement to the smokey taste of real oak fires and the lean, well-grained, delicious meat. This homey meal of tri-tip and Zin will give you as much joy as the most lavish dinner you've ever attended.

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How to Choose the Best Wine For Your Beef Dishes

Although there is a lot of directive advice on finding the perfect wine to go with beef - it is not an exact science. It's more of an interpretative art than anything else, so let your imagination, sense of humor, and overall enjoyment guide you. When it comes to matching wines with a beef dish, here is a list of non-rules to keep in mind when you pair wine:

  • No ironclad regulations can rely upon 100 percent of the time.

  • The palette will feel cleaner after drinking acidic wines.

  • Proteins have a taming effect on tannins.

  • The sweetness of the wine helps to temper the heat of the dish.

  • Wines high in acidity and tannin go well with salty foods (What wine goes well with salty foods?).

It's possible to have a good time with pairing wine with beef; try putting together complementary flavors or go in the opposite direction for a wackier experience.  

Tips For Combining Cabernet Sauvignon With Steak 

The New York Strip is the most adaptable steak for pairing with various cabernet sauvignon varieties. The Strip has a texture, taste, and fat content about in the middle of the spectrum, which adds to the adaptability of the cut.

Pairing thinner cuts of beef, such as filet mignon, with a cabernet sauvignon that is also more on the lean side is ideal.

In general, the most delicious cuts of beef, such as ribeye and butcher cuts (flank, hanger, and flat iron), go well with fruit-forward, younger cabernet sauvignons that are higher in tannin.

Older cabernet sauvignon, which has less tannin, creates a food and wine pairing where the wine's more subtle fruit and spice flavors are elevated by the fat, protein, and peppery spice in more flavorful cuts, such as ribeye and flat iron. This is because older cabernet sauvignon has a lower tannin content.

Conclusion

Cooking is an art, and when you master pairing wine with your favorite dishes, you raise the bar for yourself as a skilled cook in your kitchen. Just like when preparing Italian food (What wine goes well with Italian food?) you can experiment, you can try out different various of wines with beef dishes. Wine drinkers would love to know what combination would wines would go well with their preferred beef dish.

For pairing wine with grass-fed beef recipes, one must first be aware of the flavors in the dish. In general, wines ought to be more acidic and sweeter than the food they accompany, and they frequently have a flavor profile comparable to the primary dish they are served with.

Looking for grass-fed beef in Austin? Here are 7 Farms to Pick Up Grass-Fed Beef in Austin.

 
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