Beef Stew Is the Most Comfortable and Hearty Food
Beef stew is a classic French dish that exists in many variations, such as beef bourguignon. Hands-down, this is the ultimate comfort food. Think of it: Juicy chunks of marbled beef seared in vegetable oil and gently braised with onions, garlic, and carrots in a creamy broth.
Following a long, slow time in the oven, the meat becomes tenderer than you could ever imagine. Sure, it might not be the quickest food to prepare, but it’s worth the hassle. The reason for this is that aside from being savory, it’s a great one-pot meal for family and friends. Plus, you can prepare it a day or two ahead and then heat it before serving. But, what is the secret to making the most delicious beef stew?
The answer is great seasoning. Add salt, pepper, dried herbs, and perhaps a bit of Worcester sauce to your beef before sautéing it in your pot. Remember to sprinkle the meat with flour, too. Finish your beef stew with broth, a bit of sugar, bay leaves, potatoes, and carrots. Serve after cooking for 2-3 hours on medium heat.
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(4.5 / 5) What Wines Pair Well With Beef Stew?
With the arrival of winter, there is nothing better than comfort food, such as a rich beef stew or a casserole. But, as with any hearty dish, you have to pair beef stew with a wine that will enhance the bold flavors. Beef stew pairs perfectly with full-bodied red wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah. Because stews tend to be flavored with thick sauces, pairing beef stew with a heavy red wine is the obvious choice. Of course, you can also complement your stew with rustic red grape varieties, like Tempranillo or Malbec, if you like to.
Moreover, if your stew is spicy, a sweeter style of red wine, such as Zinfandel, is possibly the best red wine with beef stew. I mean, you shouldn’t serve your stew with super sweet wine, but going with wines that match sweet-flavored vegetables, like butternut squash, corn, or even sweet potatoes, is a surefire way to an irresistible beef stew wine pairing. So, for the perfect beef stew wine match, keep reading!
Best Red Wines With Beef Stew
Colomé Malbec Estate
- Winery — Colomé
- Country/Region — Argentina, Salta, Calchaqui Valley
- Type — Argentinian Malbec
- Aroma — Blackcurrant, Blackberry, Cherry, Raspberry, Ginger, Tobacco, Vanilla Spice
- Grapes — Malbec
- Taste — Prune, Bramble, Cassis, Tomato Leaf, Chocolate, Pepper
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Stew, Rib-eye Steak, Pork Chops, Leg Of Lamb, Salmon, Asiago, Colby
Tasting Notes
Intense in color, this Malbec has pronounced aromas of dark and red fruits, plus exotic notes of sweet spices and florals. In the mouth, it shows ripe black fruits and hints of pepper. With firm tannins and moderate acidity, you can be sure that this wine has enough backbone.
Potent aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, cherries, and raspberries define the bouquet, alongside touches of ginger, tobacco, and vanilla spice. On the palate, the wine has a rounded texture. It shows flavors of prunes, brambles, cassis, tomato leaf, and chocolate. A hint of pepper can be detected too, which joins the firm tannins. The acidity is moderate and fresh, while the finish is long and gratifying.
Bodega Colomé
Bodega Colomé was founded in 1831 and is one of the oldest wineries in Argentina. In 2001, Hess Family Estates became the owners, continuing the tradition of producing high-quality wines from fruit harvested in the highest vineyards in the world at 10,207 feet above sea level. Finally, Colomé supports a biodynamic philosophy, as outlined by renowned researcher Rudolf Steiner.
Whitehall Lane Tre Leoni Red Blend
- Winery — Whitehall Lane
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa County, Napa Valley
- Type — Californian Red Blend
- Aroma — Cherry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Cedar, Chocolate, Cinnamon Spice
- Grapes — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel
- Taste — Plum Compote, Blackberry, Cocoa, Coffee, Walnut, Cassis
- Alcohol Content — 14%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Stew, Spare Ribs, Braised Chicken, Venison, Hamburgers, Roquefort, Gorgonzola
Tasting Notes
This wine has a delightful blend of cherry cordial and other red fruit scents, mingled with cedar and chocolate notes. Inside the mouth, the wine brims with fruit compote, cocoa, and nuts. A great, smooth texture drives into a balanced finish. Silky tannins.
An attractive and elegant red from Napa Valley, Whitehall Lane Tre Leoni Red Blend starts with brimming aromas of cherry cordial, raspberries, strawberries, cedar, chocolate, and cinnamon spice. On the palate, the tannins are hearty but smooth. They complement flavors of plum compote, brambles, cocoa, coffee, and walnut. The finish is oaky and savory, while the acidity is fresh and offsets the pronounced fruitiness.
A Joint Venture
Founded in 1979, Whitehall Lane Winery was a creation of two brothers who attempted to produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot successfully in Napa Valley. The brothers named the winery after the road that runs next to the southern border of the estate, Whitehall Lane.
In 1993, the Leonardini Family purchased the winery and updated the winemaking and barrel-aging program. In addition, the winery owns seven great appellations, including the famed St. Helena vineyard. Whitehall Lane has evolved into a high-class winery, recognized for its elegant wines.
Lagarde Guarda Cabernet Franc
- Winery — Lagarde
- Country/Region — Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
- Type — Argentinian Cabernet Franc
- Aroma — Fruit Jam, Redcurrant, Cedar, Cinnamon Spice, Cocoa, Eucalyptus
- Grapes — Cabernet Franc
- Taste — Cherry, Bramble, Fig, Blackberry, Mushroom, Tomato Leaf, Mint, Raisin
- Alcohol Content — 14.4%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Stew, Roast Pork, Beef Burgers, Meatballs, Oven-baked Duck, Goat Cheese, Brie
Tasting Notes
Intense scents of fruit jam and red fruits join undertones of cedar, cinnamon spice, and cocoa. The mouth is plush and slightly sweet, while the tannins are ripe and the acidity moderate. This wine has a long and pleasant finish. Fragrances of fruit jam and redcurrants dominate the bouquet at first glance.
However, after a few swirls, subsequent scents of cedar, cinnamon spice, cocoa, and eucalyptus emerge, adding a certain level of complexity to the nose. The palate is rich and sweet, packed with plush flavors of cherries, brambles, figs, and blackberries. Mushroom, tomato leaf, mint, and raisin complete the mouth. Smooth tannins and lingering aftertaste are completed by refreshing acidity.
A Winery as Old as Argentinian Viticulture
Lagarde planted their first vine in 1897, making it one of the oldest wineries in Mendoza in Argentina. In the following years, the new owners attempted to focus on defining their style of wines. As striking as it might seem, the Pescarmona was the first family to plant non-traditional grape varieties, like Viognier and Moscato Bianco. Every one of their wines is highly expressive of the terroir and the Argentine temperament.
Vicchiomaggio Agostino Petri Chianti Classico Riserva
- Winery — Vicchiomaggio
- Country/Region — Italy, Toscana, Chianti, Chanti Classico
- Type — Italian Chianti
- Aroma — Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Dried Lavender, Leather, Raisin, Tobacco
- Grapes — Sangiovese
- Taste — Bramble, Prune, Fig, Oak Spice, Earth, Mushroom, Crushed Stones, Grapefruit
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Stew, Rare Steak, Wild Boar, Mushroom Dishes, Spaghetti With Meatballs, Aged Pecorino, Asiago
Tasting Notes
Ripe fruits on the nose, such as berries and cherries, and firm tannins in the mouth, create an irresistible red. It comes directly from the picturesque winemaking region, Tuscany, Italy. This Chianti initially shows layers of cherry, raspberry, plum, and dried lavender aromas.
Subsequent notes of leather, raisin, and tobacco follow. In the mouth, warmer sensations of oak spice, earth, and bramble fruit elevate the flavors. Additionally, flavors of mushroom, crushed stone, and coffee complete the juicy palate. Firm tannins and vibrant acidity conclude in a lengthy, oak-driven finish.
Castello Vicchiomaggio
Castello Vicchiomaggio is a renowned producer of Italian wine, sourcing fruit from an estate of over 140 hectares. Among their most cultivated varieties is Sangiovese, the main grape of their flagship Chianti Classico wines. Castello Vicchiomaggio vines grow in soil rich in clay and large stones (called Galestro) and enjoy the sweet warmth of the Mediterranean climate. Occasionally, they mature their wines in French oak barriques and large casks for between 8 and 24 months, depending on the wine type.
Klinker Brick Farráh Syrah
- Name — Klinker Brick Farráh Syrah
- Winery — Klinker Brick
- Country/Region — United States, California, Central Valley, Lodi
- Type — Californian Syrah
- Aroma — Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Cinnamon, Vanilla Bean
- Grapes — Syrah
- Taste — Blackberry, Prune, Mint, Fig, Violet, Almond, Sweet Tobacco, Maple Syrup, Smoke
- Alcohol Content — 14.8%
- Sugar — Semi-Sweet
- Pairing — Roast New Zealand Lamb, Meatloaf, Baked Ham, Pork Tenderloin, Gorgonzola, Asiago
Tasting Notes
Fruity and bright on the nose, with pronounced flavors of dark fruits and exotics on the palate, Klinker Brick Syrah is a beauty to drink with its medium-bodied and supple tannins. It has a lingering finish. Vanilla bean, cinnamon spice, and pepper follow fruit-forward aromas of cherries, raspberries, and plums.
Greatly balanced on the palate, this wine shows flavors of prunes, dried figs, and blackberries. The tannins are supple and soft, offering depth. The delicate notes of violets and peaches combine for a mouthwatering outcome. Touches of sweet tobacco, smoke, and syrup, join a hint of pepper to define the lingering finish.
An Awesome Lodi Winery
Klinker Brick’s vineyards are located within Lodi, in the Mokelumne and Clements Hills region. Here they source the best quality fruit in all of California. At times, the winery also crafts vineyard-designated wines, highly expressive of the local terroir. Klinker Brick takes advantage of the Pacific Ocean breezes to cool down the grapes cultivated at Mokelumne. The Mediterranean-type climate is perfect for growing varieties, like Albariño, Zinfandel, and juicy Syrah.
Conclusion
Beef stew is one of the most comforting foods in existence! But, with every great food, you need an equally delicious wine. Our suggested wines are bold enough to stand alongside this hearty dish. We hope the above list meets your needs and helps you find the best white wine with beef stew. Cheers!
