Pairing Wine with Venison: A Guide to Enhancing Your Game Dishes

Since deer hunting is regulated and limited to just a few months, venison is typically enjoyed in autumn and winter, particularly during the holiday season. Choosing the right bottle of wine to complement this noble, robust, and refined meat is essential. In our guide, discover the types of wines and preferred appellations that make for the best wine and venison pairings.

Which Red Wine to Pair with Venison?

Whether it's in a stew, slow-cooked, or roasted in the oven, venison can be prepared in various ways. Venison has a pronounced flavor and a rather firm texture, naturally calling for a pairing with a full-bodied and structured red wine that can tame the intense flavors of this meat. This is why, when pairing wine with venison dishes, the great wines of Bordeaux are often favored. If you lean towards the right bank and particularly enjoy Merlot, opt for a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC or a Pomerol AOC. With their rich bouquet of red and black fruits, leather, and subtle oak, these fine Bordeaux wines will undoubtedly elevate a roasted venison leg.

If you prefer the grand wines of the Médoc, consider a Premier Cru Margaux AOC or a Saint-Julien AOC, which combine power and aromatic finesse.

Wines from the northern Rhône Valley also pair wonderfully with the flavors of venison. We recommend a Cornas AOC or a Saint-Joseph AOC, both virile and complex, for a successful pairing with a venison stew.

The Best Wine Pairings with Venison

While red wines from Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley are reliable choices for venison dishes, Burgundy and the Southwest should not be overlooked. Indeed, for a successful festive meal featuring game, nothing beats a grand wine from Burgundy to delight your guests. With a venison haunch served with a grand veneur sauce, enjoy a bottle of Gevrey-Chambertin AOC or a Premier Cru Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC, both imposing and elegant on the palate.

For a more original wine pairing, try a sweet fortified wine from Roussillon. In this case, choose a sweet and savory recipe, such as a venison stew with prunes and hazelnuts. The sweetness, power, and complex aromas of rancio and dark fruits in a Banyuls or Maury will work wonders with the game!

Venison is an exceptional dish that deserves to be paired with a wine that matches its quality. On Avenue des Vins, you’ll find a selection of wines sourced directly from vineyards and estates. Explore our beautiful selection of red wines to accompany your venison or any other dish of your choice. Pauillac, Madiran, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bandol, Côte-Rôtie, Cahors—enjoy our finest cuvées and appellations in white, red, rosé, or champagne to enhance your special moments.