What to drink with 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.
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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.
What's inside
01The classic Malbec
It isn't an accident or marketing.
Read Step 1 →Beyond Malbec
Match the weight of the wine to the weight of the dish light with light, bold with bold.
Read Step 2 →Pairing the rest of Argentine food
Empanadas it depends on the filling.
Read Step 3 →Simple rules to remember
A real asado unfolds in stages, and a clever host changes gears as it goes.
Read Step 4 →Quick answers
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.
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