Return to News
Want to impress your friends with a pork dinner this weekend? Why not go one step further and learn how to pair pork and wine like a pro:
Roast Pork
The succulent, sweet and juicy flavour or roast pork – along with the rich and crunchy crackling – is particularly well suited to a white wine with mid-range body and flavour. Other suitable wine pairings include:
White wine:
- Chardonnay with peach, stone fruit and citrus flavours – can be warm climate, cool climate or oak-matured
- Pinot Gris
- Verdelho
- Sauvignon Blanc
Red wine:
- A savoury Pinot Noir
- Spanish style Garnache
- Tempranillo
- Sangiovese
- Chianti
Tip: Avoid heavy reds like shiraz or cabernet, as these won’t balance well with the roast pork flavours.
Pulled Pork
The richness, spice and flavour of slow-cooked pulled pork works well with bold, flavoursome and bright wines like:
Red wine:
- Pinot Noir
- Tempranillo
- Sangiovese
- Merlot/Merlot Blends
White wine:
- Semillon-Sauvignon Blends
- Riesling
- Semillon
- Verdelho
- Arneis
BBQ Ribs
BBQ ribs are usually slow cooked in a marinade until they are sweet, sticky and falling off the bone. This richness calls for equally rich flavoured wines.
Consider pairing BBQ ribs with Rosé or:
Red wine:
- Pinot Noir
- Sangiovese
- Grenache
- Merlot
White wine:
- Pinot Grigio
- Semillon
- Riesling
- Cool-Climate Chardonnay
- Moscato
Pork Pie
Although it’s traditional to pair pork pie with a pint of bitter, wine can be equally as delicious. Most pork pies – with their rich slow cooked meat, herbs and spices – work well with wines of reasonably high acidity, as they help to cut through the fattiness. We recommend pairing pork pie with the following white wines:
- Riesling
- Western Australia Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc
- Oaked Chardonnay
- Viognier
Pork Chops with Apple Sauce
This simple but delicious meal can be taken to the next level with the right wine pairing. Consider pairing pork chops with white wines including:
- Cool-Grown Chardonnay
- Arneis
- French White Burgundy
- Unoaked Chardonnay with grilled nut and peach flavours
Pork Curry
To work well with a curry, wine needs to have plenty of bright fruit and soft tannins or crisp acidity. Consider Rosé or red wines like:
- Grenache
- Shiraz
- Pinot Noir
Glazed Ham
Glazed ham is usually eaten during celebratory occasions, so Champagne, Rosé or Sparkling Wine (white or red) is the perfect accompaniment. Otherwise, choose a red wine without too much power or tannins, like:
- Sangiovese
- Pinot Noir
- Tempranillo
This information is adapted from Cellar Masters. Now that you’ve got your pork and wine knowledge, why not scrub up on your beef and wine know-how?
Craving roast pork? Why not head to your local Woolworths and pick up some of our Cedric Walter Hot Roast Pork!
