5 Best Wines to Pair with Pork Chops: Why it Works & Our 5 Favorites!

  • Last Updated - 2/28/23
best wine with pork chop

Quick Answer: Pork chops are a leaner cut of meat, therefore a good match would be a lighter wine. Pinot Noir is a light bodied wine that pairs very well with pork chops and even the sauces that may accompany the dish. Pinot Noir and Pork always go well together.

There is nothing quite as delicious as a perfectly cooked grilled pork chop. Though difficult to cook without drying the meat or not cooking it enough, pork chops are nonetheless lean, tender, and juicy if cooked the right way.

But what wine should you serve with it?

In this article, we will discuss pairing wine with pork chops and why they work well together. We will also give you our top 5 picks and our #1 for the best wine with pork chop! 

Table of Contents

What is a Pork Chop?

grilled rib pork chops pork belly loin sirloin chops

Pork chops are the most popular cut of pork. It is a cut of meat taken from the pork loin (not pork tenderloin), which is located in the upper back region of the pig. Pork chops can be bone-in or boneless and are usually cut to a thickness of about one to two inches.

When choosing pork chops, look for those that are pinkish-red in color with some marbling of fat throughout. And pork chops can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as roasted, pan-fried, baked, or grilled pork chops.

There are several sauces that go along with and complement a pork chop dish. Here are a few examples:

  • Apple sauce
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Honey mustard sauce
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Mushroom
  • Sage and onion
food pairing pork chops loin blade chops

What are the Best Pork Chop Wine Pairings?

1) Pinot Noir (Best Overall)

Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir and Pork are always a great pairing! In fact there is even an annual Sonoma festival dedicated for this pairing! (Pigs & Pinot)

Pinot Noir is typically a light-bodied wine that has low to medium tannins and has bright fruit flavors. This wine is a perfect match for grilled pork chops because it’s a lighter wine and will not overpower the delicate leaner flavors of the meat. In fact, the earthiness of the wine along with the velvety texture should enhance the juiciness of the pork.

Not to mention that it’s a versatile wine that goes well with the many different sauces that may be served with the dish.

The best Pinot Noirs come from France, Oregon, and California. When purchasing Pinot Noir, look for a bottle that has flavors of strawberries, raspberries, and cherries.

2) Zinfandel (Best for Pork Chops with Any Sauces)

saldo zinfandel wine for beginners

Zinfandel is a red wine that is fruit-forward with medium to high tannins. This wine pairs well with pork chops because the fat content in the meat can help tame some of the tannins in the wine.

The wine’s bright acidity stands up to the meat, while the spice and peppery flavors of the wine can bring out the grilled pork chops flavors. Furthermore, the wine’s fruit-forwardness should complement the dish’s sauces.

Zinfandel wines are produced in a variety of regions including California, Washington, and Italy. The best Zinfandels come from these California wine regions of Sonoma, Paso Robles, Lodi, and Napa.

When purchasing Zinfandel, look for a bottle with a medium body and good acidity that has flavors of blackberry, strawberry jam, plum, and pepper. A good choice would be the wine pictured above, Saldo. 

3) Riesling (Best with Spicy and Sweet Sauces)

Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling

Riesling is a white wine that has a wide range of sweetness levels, from dry to sweet. It is also a versatile wine that pairs well with both roasted and grilled pork chops.

The sweetness of the Riesling can help balance out the saltiness and spices of the meat, while the acidity of the wine can cut through the fat in the pork. Riesling’s also have many aromatic fruit aromas that can complement the side dishes.

Riesling wines are produced in several regions including Germany, France, US, and Austria.

We would recommend that a dry Riesling from Germany or Alsace, if you like a lean, dry wine with crisp acidity. The dry wine will go well with many of the sweet sauces used to glaze pork chops.

If your pork is heavily spiced or served with a mustardy/spicy BBQ sauce, pair it with an off-dry (sweeter) Riesling from Washington. A sweeter wine pairing typically goes well with spicy pork dishes.

4) Chardonnay (Best with Creamy Sauce)

Rombauer Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a white wine that has a wide range of styles from lean and crisp to rich and buttery.

The best Chardonnays to pair with pork chops are those that have good acidity and are not too oaky. The wine’s acidity can help to cut through the fat in the pork, while the fruit flavors can complement the dish. And this would be a good wine pairing with creamier sauces that go with the pork dishes.

Chardonnay wines are produced in several regions including France, California, Australia, and Chile. When purchasing Chardonnay, look for a bottle with good acidity and moderate oakiness that has flavors of apple, pear, lemon, and cream.

5) Beaujolais (Best Earthy )

Beaujolais is a red wine that is best consumed young, within a few months of its release. This fruity wine is typically very affordable and has light tannins with bright fruit flavors with an rustic quality to it.

The best Beaujolais to pair with pork chops are those that have good acidity and are not too tannic. The wine’s acidity can help to cut through the fat in the pork, while the fruit and earthy flavors of the wine will bring out the flavors of the dish. And this would be a good  wine pairing with earthier sauces like mushrooms or herbs that go with the pork dishes (like pork chops, roast pork, or pork tenderloin).

Beaujolais are produced in the Beaujolais region of France and are made from the Gamay grape. When purchasing Beaujolais Nouveau, look for a bottle that has good acidity and low tannins with flavors of cherry, pomegranate, and earth.

Best Tips for Pork Chop Wine Pairings

pinot grigio and pork chops
  • If your pork chop dish has a sauce, pair it with a wine that can complement the flavors in the sauce.
  • Look for pairing wines with good acidity to cut through the fat in the pork.
  • Also, look for lighter wines for this leaner cut of meat.
  • And choose a Pinot Noir when you’re unsure of what else to select.

FAQs

What kind of wine goes with pork chops?

The best wines to pair with pork chops are Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Beaujolais. And if you like white wine, then Riesling and Chardonnay might be your best best! But I’m also a firm believer in whatever wine you like, just pair it and try! So if you like Rosé wine, then it just might be the best pork chop wine pairing for you!

Do you drink red or white wine with pork chops?

Both red and white wines can pair well with pork chops. It really depends on the flavors in the dish and what you personally prefer. But typically when pairing wine with pork chops light to medium bodied red wines work best!

What red wine goes well with pork chops?

When pairing wine, the best red wines to pair with pork chops are Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Beaujolais. However if you enjoy a bottle of full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, give it a shot! Remember pairing wine with food is subjective, so whatever you enjoy pairing is ultimately the correct answer!

What kind of wine goes well with pork?

Pigs and Pinot! I’ve found that the best wine pairing is Pinot Noir. And it’s a red wine that goes very well with Pork tenderloin, roast pork, and grilled pork chops. But again, try any wine you like whether it’s red, rose, sparkling or white wine.

Summary

We hope you enjoyed this blog post on the best wine pairing for pork chops.

If you liked this article, be sure to check our other food and wine pairings like:

Cheers!

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