All About Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington is made of Beef tenderloin wrapped in layers of pâté, mushroom duxelles, shallots, Parma ham, herbs, and onions that are sautéed in butter and then browned. Finally, they are wrapped in puff pastry and baked till golden brown. This is a dish that’s been a holiday classic for decades.
Beef Wellington is best served with mashed potatoes with chives and garlic, roasted baby carrots, and French green beans with butter. It’s a complex dish that is tender yet crispy and offers a medley of textures and flavors. This also makes it a great candidate for a medium to full-bodied, dry red wine that can complement the rich Beef flavor of the meal while also elevating the flavors of all the other ingredients. If you’re looking for a traditional-meets-modern cuisine, then Beef Wellington is the perfect dish.
What Wines Pair Well With Beef Wellington?
Beef Wellington is an exquisite dish that needs an equally exquisite wine. Find the best Beef Wellington wine match and you take this flavorful dish to a whole new level. It needs a wine that can complement the overall taste of this English delicacy. The wine should always work with the dish without being overpowering, so that the different flavors of the dish are accentuated. You want a wine that’s flavorful on its own but that can also enhance the Beef Wellington.
A bottle of red wine with high tannins and acidity is the best choice to pair with this meal. Match the flavor intensity of what you’re eating with what you’re drinking and you’ve found yourself wine pairing heaven! However, there is no best white wine with Beef Wellington that can be recommended since white wines are not considered a good match with red meat dishes.
As for Beef Wellington, wines made from Shiraz, Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Montepulciano grapes are perfect to have with this dish. While these red wines can be a little dry because of the tannins, they complement the fattiness of the Beef Wellington.
Best Red Wines With Beef Wellington
Casas del Bosque Syrah Gran Reserva
- Winery — Casa del Bosque
- Country/Region — Chile, Aconcagua, Casablanca Valley
- Type — Chilean Syrah
- Aroma — Honeysuckle, Blackberry, Cherry, Bacon, Cinnamon Spice, Smoke
- Grapes — Syrah
- Taste — Plum, Raspberry, Coffee, Chocolate, Graphite, Mint, Eucalyptus
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Wellington, Cassoulet, Lamb Rack, Pork Chops, Punjabi Goat Curry, Pepperoni Pizza
Tasting Notes
With a deep ruby red hue, the Syrah Gran Reserva looks almost purple in color primarily because it is made with red-skinned Shiraz/Syrah grapes. When the wine is still young, the color tends to be somewhat opaque and almost inky, but as the wine ages, the color changes to deeper garnet tones. To make this wine, the Shiraz is pressed, and the sugar that is gathered from the grapes is then converted into alcohol by aging it in small stainless steel tanks.
This is followed by aging it again in new as well as used French oak barrels for 14 months. It is a well-structured wine with a clean, long finish and a rich, fresh palate. The nose is fresh with hints of blackberries, blueberries, lavender, leather, and gunpowder. The wine leans towards fruitiness that tapers off towards savory notes of tobacco, licorice, and black pepper. Possibly the best red wine with Beef Wellington.
Neirano Barolo
- Winery — Neirano
- Country/Region — Italy, Piemonte, Barolo
- Type — Italian Barolo
- Aroma — Strawberries, Raspberries, Vanilla, Leather, And Plums
- Grapes — Nebbiolo
- Taste — Red Fruits, Oak, Spices, Cherries, Mocha
- Alcohol Content — 14%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Wellington, Tomahawk Steak, Meat Ragu, Prosciutto, Asian Cuisine, Feta Cheese
Tasting Notes
Established in 1911, the Neirano estate is now being run by the 4th generation of the family. The Barolo wine is a lovely red from Northern Italy’s Piedmont region and is made exclusively from Nebbiolo grapes known for their rich fruitiness. The grapes are sourced from the 25 hectares of estate vineyards and are aged in oak casks for three years after which they are bottled for six more months.
Don’t let its translucent appearance fool you. The Barolo packs a lot of flavor. The palate is fresh and fruity with predominant flavors of raspberries and cherries. It has a palpable, long and earthy finish with the right balance of acidity and tannins. This red wine is truly aromatic, yet delicate on the nose, and characteristic notes of old oak, red flowers, roses, and anise are quite evident. Pairing the Barolo with robust red meat dishes like Beef Wellington gives you an ideal meal.
The Hess Collection Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winery — Allomi Vineyards
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa County, Napa Valley
- Type — Californian Cabernet Sauvignon
- Aroma — Blackberry, Black Cherry, Black Plum, Vanilla, Oak
- Grapes — Cabernet Sauvignon
- Taste — Plum, Blackberry, Raspberry, Chocolate, Tobacco
- Alcohol Content — 13.7%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Wellington, Hearty Stews, Mature Cheese, Grilled Lamb, Filet Mignon
Tasting Notes
An exquisite blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, the Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon is a fine vintage produced in the Allomi Vineyard by the Hess Collection. The Hess Collection is known for promoting environmentally-friendly practices when it comes to winemaking, and is strongly driven by the ideal of “Nurture the land, and return what you take.” The Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect representation of this philosophy.
The nose delivers delicious aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, vanilla, and subtle hints of lavender. The palate is bold and intense with juicy flavors of blackcurrant, black cherry, vanilla, and notes of mint. You can also detect earthy flavors of oak and cedar with vegetal herbs and spices. It has high acidity, medium to full body, and high tannins, making it a match made in heaven when enjoyed with red meat dishes like the Beef Wellington.
Antinori Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva
- Winery — Antinori
- Country/Region — Italy, Toscana, Chianti
- Type — Italian Chianti
- Aroma — Tobacco, Cedar, Black Cherry, Dark Fruit, Pepper
- Grapes — Sangiovese
- Taste — Slight Mint, Black Licorice, Blueberry, Blackberry, Cherry
- Alcohol Content — 14%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Wellington, Red Pasta, Salami Sandwich, Lasagna, Bolognese
Villa Antinori
With nearly a 100-year-long history attached to its name, Villa Antinori has been the cornerstone of winemaking. By pursuing constant innovation and experimentation, while also upholding tradition, these winemakers have developed an enviable reputation. This passion for their work is clearly evident in their Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva.
Chianti is typically fermented from Sangiovese grapes, and the Antinori has a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon in it. The Chianti Classico Rivera is a vibrant ruby red color with hints of burnt orange in the glass, hues that are typical for aged wines.
Tasting Notes
It is very fruity on the nose with aromas of wild berries, red currants, and cherries. The palate is a lively burst of flavors of red plum, strawberries, fresh cherries, dried herbs, smoke, balsamic vinegar, and sweet tobacco. This beautiful blend of flavors is perfectly balanced by dryness, tartness, and acidity.
Unfortunately, one distinct characteristic of the Chianti is that it doesn’t age very well and tends to lose steam faster than other wines. For the best tasting experience, get the youngest Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva bottle you can find for a more vibrant taste.
Marina Cvetić Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva
- Winery — Masciarelli
- Country/Region — Italy, Abruzzo, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
- Type — Italian Red
- Aroma — Boysenberry, Red Berries, Oak, Tobacco, Leather, Vanilla, Currant
- Grapes — Montepulciano
- Taste — Blackberry, Caraway Seeds, Cherry, Plum, Dark Chocolate, Cocoa
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef Wellington, Cioppino, Steak Tacos, Meaty Pizza, Meaty Pasta
Tasting Notes
The Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva is truly a wine unlike any other. Made primarily from Montepulciano grapes, this is a lush, elegant wine that has been awarded the coveted Tre Bicchieri award 14 times so far. The process of undergoing fermentation in stainless steel tanks and then aging in French barriques for 12 to 18 months is what gives the Marina Cvetic round tannins a silky texture.
It has fruity aromas of red berries, blackberries, cherries, plum, and boysenberries along with spicy hints of oregano, tobacco, and pepper. The palate is complex and full, with notes of dark plum and red cherries, followed by a long finish. It’s a deep red wine with high acidity, making it one of the top choices to pair with hearty, savory meals such as Beef Wellington.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to make a successful Beef Wellington wine pairing, a bold red with balanced acidity and tannins is what you need. Hearty, rich meals featuring red meat need an equally bold, complementary wine. We hope this brief guide helps you find your perfect red wine to enjoy with your next meal of Beef Wellington!