There’s nothing quite like the pairing of a classic, fresh-off-the-grill burger and ice-cold beer on a hot summer day. But burgers and wine can be an equally delicious duo. After all, burgers are a casual, fun food—they wonderfully complement wines that share those traits.
Paula de Pano, sommelier and owner of Rocks + Acid, a wine shop and tasting room in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, wants her burger-and-wine experience to feel almost primal.
“I’m not looking for a revelatory moment when I choose to drink wine with a burger,” de Pano says. “I want it to be an everyman kind of experience, no-frills and gut-satisfying from both ends.”
Meanwhile, when Bambi Ray, sales manager at New York City’s Astor Wines & Spirits, thinks about burgers on the grill, she’s drawn to bright, uplifting wines.
“You don’t want something that’s going to feel super heavy and weigh you down,” Ray explains. “You want something refreshing—nothing that makes you want to take a nap.”
No matter what type of burger you’re cooking up this summer, consider this your sign to break out the wine glasses. (Plastic is fine—after all, this is a casual situation!) These burger and wine-pairing picks, dreamed up by drinks experts and matched with bottles from the Wine Enthusiast Tasting Department, are sure to keep the party going.
The Best Burger and Wine Pairings
The Best Wine for a Classic Hamburger: Massolino 2021 Dolcetto (Dolcetto d’Alba)
“A well-executed burger has incredible umami, which makes it versatile to pair with [many] styles of wines,” says Yannick Benjamin, Wine Enthusiast’s 2021 sommelier and beverage director of the Year. He suggests “a beautiful Dolcetto from Piedmont.” Dolcetto means “little sweet one” in Italian, and although it’s not sweet, its notes of juicy berry fruit and hint of savory heft helps it stand up to a quintessential beef burger. These wines are meant to be enjoyed young. “They have enough tannin to balance richer foods,” says Benjamin, but it won’t weigh you down.
Massolino 2021 Dolcetto (Dolcetto d’Alba)
Sour plums and boysenberries set the stage for this vivacious Dolcetto on the nose. The palate is plump and round with fine tannins giving the dense blackberry flavors a sturdy frame to hang on to. 89 Points — Jeff Porter
$23 Wine.com
The Best Wine for a Turkey Burger: Benanti 2021 Rosato Nerello Mascalese (Etna)
Ray recommends a fuller-bodied rosé to enjoy with a turkey burger. That’s because there are often a lot of flavors contained in a single burger, from toppings and sauces to the patty itself. Because turkey patties are a little milder than their beefy cousins, they’re arguably more likely to be tricked out with condiments.
“Rosé is something that won’t be at odds with the flavors of lettuce, tomato and avocado, and really pairs well with all the options,” Ray advises. She suggests opting for a heartier style of rosé with citrus and plum notes. It’s still refreshing enough to sip on a sunny afternoon with turkey burger in hand.
Benanti 2021 Rosato Nerello Mascalese (Etna)
Rose petal pink in the glass translates seamlessly to rose petals on the nose, along with bing cherries, strawberries and a hint of vanilla, before some notes of tar peeking out at the end. A juicy but tannic palate offers sour cherries, more rose petals and now gravel, with tannins proudly making themselves known against the fruit. 91 Points — Danielle Callegari
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The Best Wine for a Cheeseburger: Pierre-Marue Chermette 2021 Coeur de Vendanges Vignes Centenaires (Beaujolais)
Burger plus melted cheese equals a weighty flavor bomb, so you’re going to want “a bit more of a palate-cleansing wine, because the cheese brings an element of richness,” says Jahdea Gildin, sommelier at New York City’s Luthun. A lighter and brighter style of red wine that will lift you back up, like a Beaujolais, is a great option. It’s “nice and fresh, with red and black fruits, and a little bit of a floral note,” Gildin says. It’s a perfect foil for a meaty, cheesy cheeseburger.
Pierre-Marue Chermette 2021 Coeur de Vendanges Vignes Centenaires (Beaujolais)
These 100-year-old vines deliver concentration and impressive richness for a Beaujolais appellation wine. The wine is fruity and will be ready to drink later this year. 90 Points — Roger Voss
$25 Wine.com
The Best Wine for a Lamb Burger: Cooper-Garrod 2018 Francville Vineyard Cabernet Franc (Santa Cruz Mountains)
Jill Weber, owner of multiple restaurants in Philadelphia—Jet Wine Bar, Rex, Cafe Ynez and Sor Ynez—suggests a wine with a complex nose, vivid fruit flavors and herbal undertone to help stand up to the slight funk of lamb. She opts for an Areni Noir from Armenia when possible. “Especially if the burger has some feta cheese, which they typically do. The bright cherry and black pepper of an Areni Noir red is a perfect pairing,” she notes.
If a bottle like this isn’t available, Wine Enthusiast Senior Tasting Editor Jim Gordon suggests a light style Cabernet Franc, which delivers similar floral and black pepper characteristics.
Cooper-Garrod 2018 Francville Vineyard Cabernet Franc (Santa Cruz Mountains)
This is a brilliantly fresh and vibrant Cabernet Franc, starting with snappy aromas of cranberry, raspberry, white peppercorn and damp earth. Tannins grab hold of the palate right away, leading through flavors of dark red fruit, hard spice and zesty cracked pepper. Editor’s Choice. 93 Points — Matt Kettmann
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The Best Wine for a Traditional Veggie Burger: Venturini Baldini NV Montelocco Lambrusco (Lambrusco dell’Emilia)
When it comes to old-school veggie burgers, the kind where you can see black beans and corn right in the patty, “there’s still heft and richness, even though it’s vegetarian, so I don’t want anything to add too much weight,” says Ray.
She goes for Lambrusco di Sorbara, which hails from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. “It’s not super dark and inky like some Lambrusco,” Ray explains. “It drinks more like a full-bodied rosé or a light-bodied red, with good acidity, refreshing lift and enough acid to cut through a veggie burger.”
Venturini Baldini NV Montelocco Lambrusco (Lambrusco dell’Emilia)
This is a Lambrusco for those wanting some power. The wine is inky purple in color, which stains the glass as you swirl it. The aromas are powerful and intense with loads of savory spices, black pepper, plum, black cherries and blackberries. The palate is as brooding as the nose, with those dark fruits dominating the other flavors. 88 Points — J.P.
$17 Wine.com
The Best Wine for a Bison Burger: Lingot Martin NV Cuvée Suzanne Pet-Nat Gamay (Vin de France)
A bison burger is quite lean, so choose a light, slightly fizzy and zippy wine that will complement, rather than overpower it. De Pano recommends a super drinkable Gamay, “with a light fizz that interplays well with bison’s leanness.” She says sipping the wine is “almost like taking a joyride in a 50s Thunderbird—electric and fun with sour cherry, crunchy red delicious apples, coriander and citrus peel.” For an even better combination that’s celebratory too, Gordon suggests a rosé variety.
Lingot Martin NV Cuvée Suzanne Pet-Nat Gamay (Vin de France)
Apples and sweet pears show strongly in this wine. It has a fresh feel from the lively acidity reflected in the pale, rosé color. It’s a summer wine, ready to drink now. 88 Points — R.V.
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The Best Wine for a Seafood-Based Burger: Domaine Sigalas 2018 Kavalieros Assyrtiko (Santorini)
The Assyrtiko grape is one of the most celebrated native Greek varietals. It originated in Santorini, but is now grown all over Greece. Sipping this with a tuna or salmon burger brings out the citrus, saline flavors of the wine while complementing the relatively delicate flavors of the fish.
“Assyrtiko has a nice, full mouthfeel, acidic freshness and ample fruit,” says Weber. But it’s the “sea kiss” of the wine that makes it a spot-on choice for seafood. Tuna and salmon burgers are often dressed up with bold additions like Sriracha or ginger, and Assyrtiko plays nicely with these zingy, spicy flavors, too.
Domaine Sigalas 2018 Kavalieros Assyrtiko (Santorini)
Aromas of lemon, juicy peach and fresh jalapeño headline this elegant Assyrtiko, while the palate has notes of white peach and lemon chiffon. It’s a refreshing pour with a hint of roundness to the body thanks to the 18 months the wine spent sitting on its lees. 92 Points — Emily Saladino
$40 Total Wine & More
The Best Wine for an Impossible or Beyond Meat Burger: Lu & Oly 2021 Untethered Bubbles Sparkling Wine Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, WA)
Gildin was a vegetarian for 21 years, and although he eats burgers on occasion now, he understands the longing for a non-meat, yet meaty, experience.
“Impossible burgers are new, so it makes sense to choose a wine that is also new,” he says. Gildin suggests a wine that has “bright freshness and white fruit” to “cut through the richness of faux meat.” Gordon likes sparkling wines from Washington, because they embody novelty and are light-bodied. But especially with burgers, don’t be afraid to experiment and play. Chances are, you’ll surprise yourself with something satisfying and tasty.
Lu & Oly 2021 Untethered Bubbles Sparkling Wine Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA))
This sparkler packs frisky bubbles and aromas of lemon meringue pie and coconut. The wine’s powdery texture is an excellent backdrop for lemon verbena, tangerine and melon flavors. A spicy olive oil note marks the finish. Lu & Oly deliver tangy, citrus-laden fun. 90 Points — Michael Alberty
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Published: June 30, 2023
