Qué beber con el asado: the Argentine pairing guide
Malbec and steak is only the beginning. How to drink your way through an asado like a local — and match Argentine wine to the rest of the country's food.
The marriage of Malbec and grilled beef is, as Argentines like to say, as famous as Maradona. And it deserves the fame — there may be no more natural pairing in all of wine. But an Argentine asado is not a steak; it is a slow, sprawling, multi-act feast, and the best tables pour more than one wine across it. Here is how to drink your way through an asado like a local — and how to match Argentine wine to the rest of the country's food.
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01The classic Malbec
It isn't an accident or marketing.
Leer el capítulo 1 →Beyond Malbec
Match the weight of the wine to the weight of the dish light with light, bold with bold.
Leer el capítulo 2 →Pairing the rest of Argentine food
Empanadas it depends on the filling.
Leer el capítulo 3 →Simple rules to remember
A real asado unfolds in stages, and a clever host changes gears as it goes.
Leer el capítulo 4 →Respuestas rápidas
What wine goes best with asado?
Malbec is the classic choice — its firm tannins cut through the fat of grilled beef while its dark fruit echoes the smoky char. For the richest, fattiest cuts, a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Cabernet–Malbec blend adds extra structure.
Why do Argentines drink white wine with asado?
Because an asado includes rich, fatty starters like provoleta cheese and offal (sausages, sweetbreads). A crisp, high-acid white such as Torrontés cuts through that fat far better than a tannic red, which is why many Argentine sommeliers pour it early in the meal.
What wine pairs with empanadas?
It depends on the filling. Beef empanadas suit a medium-bodied Bonarda or Malbec, while cheese, corn or vegetable empanadas pair beautifully with a crisp Torrontés. The spiced empanadas of Salta are a natural match for the region's own Torrontés.
What's the simplest rule for pairing Argentine wine and food?
Match the weight of the wine to the weight of the dish — light wines with light dishes, bold wines with rich ones — and use high-acid whites with anything fatty or fried. When in doubt at a barbecue, Malbec is rarely wrong.
What wine goes with Argentine dessert like dulce de leche?
A sweet wine works best, such as a late-harvest Torrontés or a Moscatel. Matching the sweetness of the wine to the dessert keeps the wine from tasting thin or sour.