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
“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.
Giacosa Fratelli 2022 Sarrocco Dolcetto (Dolcetto d'Alba)
The nose of this Dolcetto opens with the aromas of walking through the forest and finding a bush full of wild blackberries warmed in the sun. Notes of forest floor and fresh green herbs swirl around the deep core of black fruit. The palate lifts with tart plum compote with thyme and star anise finishing with earthy notes that make this wine suited for a roasted and herb-forward dish. 91 Points — Jeff Porter
$ Varies Maverick Beverage Co.
The Best Wine for a Turkey Burger
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.
Domaines Ott 2023 By.Ott Rosé (Côtes de Provence)
Fresh aromas of peach, pear, lemon and fresh cut grass burst from the glass of this pale rosé. It coats your mouth with lively flavors of stone fruits and ocean salinity. A robust rosé with great acidity and long spicy finish can be paired with with light proteins or is complex enough to drink on its own. 93 Points
$ Varies Wine-searcher
The Best Wine for a Cheeseburger
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.
Dominique Piron 2022 Côte du Py (Morgon)
This Morgon from Côte du Py has structure grounded in restraint. The wine opens with black plum and raspberry backed by spring forest floor and subtle, black-tea aromas. Silky in texture the wine reveals complex layers of fruit with some dried-field-herb notes on the finish. Drink now through 2035. Editor’s Choice. 95 Points — Reggie Solomon
$ Varies K& L Wines
The Best Wine for a Lamb Burger
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, former Wine Enthusiast Senior Tasting Editor Jim Gordon suggests a light style Cabernet Franc, which delivers similar floral and black pepper characteristics.
Xavier et Agnès Amirault 2020 Le Clos des Quarterons Vieilles Vignes Cabernet Franc (Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil)
This elegant Saint-Nicholas de Bourgueil basks in concentration. Plump black fruit and sweet baking spice open on the nose and are entrancing. On the palate, fresh pencil shavings and black raspberry interplay, lifted by grippy tannins. The organic and biodynamic wine is simply delicious. Editor’s Choice. 94 Points — R.S.
$ Varies Total Wine & More
The Best Wine for a Traditional Veggie Burger
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.”
Cleto Chiarli 2022 Vecchia Modena Premium Lambrusco di Sorbara (Lambrusco di Sorbara)
Aromas of a fresh basket of cherries, strawberries and raspberries all dripping with their own juices, leaps from the glass of this sensory overload of a wine, but in a good way). Subtle hints of rose and wild herbs emerge as the wine develops in the glass. Electric on the palate with fresh wild berries on center stage with hints of mint and savory herbs as backup and vibrant bubbles that lift the palate to ready it for the next sip. A great aperitivo, and a must with cured meats. Best Buy. 92 Points — J.P.
$18 Woodland Hills Wine Co.
The Best Wine for a Bison Burger
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 Rosé Gamay (Vin de France)
Aromas on the nose of this wine suggest pink roses, vanilla and raspberry. The palate is creamy, with a vibrant mousse that carries juicy strawberry flavors into a generous finish. Best Buy. 91 Points
$20 Artale & Co.
The Best Wine for a Seafood-Based Burger
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.
Gaia Wines 2022 Thalassitis Assyrtiko (Santorini)
The Best Wine for an Impossible or Beyond Meat Burger
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.
Echolands 2022 Poet-Nat Sparkling Cabernet Franc (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
The Poet is mildly effervescent, with dry, crisp flavors and aromas of quince, nasturtiums, ginseng and green tea. With apologies to Lord Byron: The Poet-Nat fizzes in beauty, like the night/Of Walla Walla climes and starry skies/And all that’s best of Cab Franc and bright. 94 Points — Michael Alberty
$35 Echolands WineryOur Pairing Coverage
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Last Updated: July 2, 2024
