Casual
Wine with Burgers
The grown-up upgrade for a backyard classic.
Short answer
A cheeseburger pairs beautifully with Zinfandel, Malbec, or Côtes du Rhône — fruit-forward reds with enough body to handle the richness. For a fancy burger (truffle, blue cheese), step up to Bordeaux or Napa Cabernet. For veggie burgers, Pinot Noir works better. Beer is fine, but a $20 Côtes du Rhône turns a backyard burger into a meal.
Top wine picks
1
Zinfandel
American red for an American sandwich — brambly fruit, soft tannin, low fuss.
2
Argentine Malbec
Plum, pepper, and structure — Malbec handles a juicy cheeseburger beautifully.
3
Côtes du Rhône
Best $20 burger pairing in wine — Grenache-led, soft, cooks better than it looks.
4
Napa Cabernet (truffle / blue cheese burger)
If the burger has serious toppings, the wine should match.
5
Pinot Noir (veggie / portobello burger)
The lighter pairing for the lighter burger.
What to avoid
- Tannic young Bordeaux on a plain burger