What to drink with locro
Locro is Argentina's hearty national stew — corn, beans, pumpkin, smoked meats. Which Argentine wine to drink with it, from Cabernet to Malbec to Bonarda.
There is no more Argentine dish than locro. It is a thick, slow-cooked stew of white corn, beans, pumpkin and smoked meats — chorizo, pork belly, sometimes bacon, often mondongo (tripe) — simmered for hours until everything melts together into something deep, smoky and almost autumnal. Argentines eat it on the country's national holidays — May 25 and July 9 — when winter is closing in and the table is meant to mean something. The wine you pour with it should mean something too. Here is how to think about it.
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01What is locro
Locro is a slow lunch, not a quick one.
Leer el capítulo 1 →Wine for the stew
The rule of thumb Locro is a slow-cooked, hearty winter stew.
Leer el capítulo 2 →Regional variations
Light, delicate reds.
Leer el capítulo 3 →Respuestas rápidas
What wine goes best with locro?
A structured Argentine red. Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic match — its firm tannins cut through the fat of the chorizo and pork, while its savory cedar and tobacco notes echo the smoked meats. A Cabernet–Malbec blend or a serious, oak-aged Malbec from the Uco Valley are equally excellent.
What is locro?
Locro is a hearty Argentine stew of white corn, beans, pumpkin and smoked meats — chorizo, pork belly, sometimes tripe — slow-cooked for hours. It is the national dish of Argentina's patriotic holidays on May 25 (May Revolution) and July 9 (Independence Day), eaten in the cold months.
Can I drink white wine with locro?
It's not the best choice. Locro is rich, smoky and slow-cooked — qualities that overwhelm even Argentina's best aromatic whites like Torrontés or Sauvignon Blanc. The dish calls for the weight and savoriness of a structured red wine.
What's the best wine for a special-occasion locro?
A Cabernet–Malbec blend — one of Argentina's Bordeaux-style icon wines. It gives you Cabernet's structure and savoriness alongside Malbec's plush, smoky-fruit flavors. Decant it thirty minutes before serving and pour in a generous glass.
Does locro need a heavy, high-alcohol wine?
No — match the weight, not the alcohol. A wine over 15% will fight the rich, salty broth and tire the palate. Look for a balanced Mendoza red around 13.5–14.5%, with structure but not heaviness.