Whenever we come back to Italy, I inevitably end up craving things I can only eat in America. Well, dishes that you can only get in America at a better, more authentic quality. Specialties like Mexican food, Thai food, and a good old fashioned cheeseburger. Though I must admit, we recently went to this burger restaurant called Lost Cow in Sassari that was admittedly fantastic. I savored a big, juicy cheeseburger, smothered in gooey cheese that was cooked to perfection. The only thing missing from that meal that satisfied one of my American cravings was the wine pairing to match. So, here are a few of the best wine pairings for cheeseburgers next time you’re looking to elevate this classic dish.
What Makes the Best Wine Pairings for Cheeseburgers?
When selecting a wine to pair with your cheeseburger, first consider the flavor characteristics of what you’re eating. You have the fatty richness of the meat patty with depth of flavor from being cooked on the grill. Then there is the creamy cheese and whatever toppings you decide to throw on top. My go-to cheeseburger preparation includes lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard. I’m all about the sauces. However, I do occasionally like to elevate my tastes to a gourmet cheeseburger smothered in Gorgonzola, caramelized onions, arugula, and perhaps some sautéed mushrooms.
For a classic cheeseburger, you’re going to want a wine that has moderate, but not overpowering, tannins and bright (medium to high) acidity. Moderate tannins and vibrant acidity will help to balance out the richness of the meat. While the acidity acts as a palate refresher between each bite of your delicious cheeseburger. Also, look to red wines with concentrated, fresh, fruit forward flavors. These flavors will really pop alongside the savory characteristics of your cheeseburger. On the other hand, for gourmet burgers with savory flavors, reach for a red wine with more complex undertones and flavors to match.
In short, the key to finding the best wine pairing for cheeseburgers is to look for fruit forward notes, medium or medium plus tannins, and balanced acidity.
The Best Wine Pairings for Cheeseburgers
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is a French wine region nestled in the southernmost part of Burgundy. This region is known for its fruit forward red wines made from the Gamay grape. Winemakers here often implement a winemaking technique called carbonic maceration, which involves allowing the wine to ferment with the whole berries intact. Fermentation happens within the grape skins of each berry, resulting in a super vibrant, juicy, fruity, red wine. These French red wines are often light bodied with mellow tannins and bright acidity. Expect loads of red fruit flavors like tart, cherry, fresh, strawberries, and raspberries. Some expressions of Beaujolais have earthy undertones too. For the highest quality, look for one of these 10 Beaujolais crus:
- St. Amour
- Juliénas
- Chénas
- Moulin-à-Vent
- Fleurie
- Chiroubles
- Morgon
- Régnié
- Brouilly
- Côte de Brouilly
My favorites are Fleurie and Moulin-a-Vent.
GSM
For me, there is no greater red wine blend than that of a GSM, or Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre. The concentrated red fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and macchia undertones of Grenache are supported by the dark fruited, inky depth of Mourvèdre. Then, Syrah provides even more structure, dark fruit flavors, and savory qualities like black olives. The result is a well-balanced and complex red wine that makes one of the best wine pairings for cheeseburgers.
Malbec
Finally, Malbec is another fantastic wine pairing for cheeseburgers. Malbec grows in countries around the world, but is best known for its wines in France and Argentina. French Malbec, also known as Côt, grows in Southwest France and is known for dark fruit flavors of blackberry, currant, and plum with notes of violets and spices like pepper and licorice. Whereas Argentinian Malbec is much more fruit forward with velvety tannins, a smooth texture, and flavors of plum, black cherry, and cocoa. In either expression, Malbec makes a delectable match for an array of cheeseburgers.
