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.
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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.
What's inside
01What is locro
Locro is a slow lunch, not a quick one.
Read Step 1 →Wine for the stew
The rule of thumb Locro is a slow-cooked, hearty winter stew.
Read Step 2 →Regional variations
Light, delicate reds.
Read Step 3 →Quick answers
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.
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