Food
Mexican Food and Wine Pairing Guide
Mexican food has exploded in Australia in recent years and for good reason! From chilli to beans, cheese, and all kinds of meat, vegetables and herbs, there are so many colourful flavours in this cuisine, which makes learning what wine goes best with Mexican food such a fun and delicious experience.
What kind of wine goes well with Mexican food?
Pairing wine with Mexican food doesn’t have to be difficult. As with any food and wine matches there are no absolute hard-and-fast rules, but we suggest the following: Fish taco with Sauvignon Blanc, burrito with Shiraz, nachos with Riesling, quesadilla with Chardonnay and empanadas with Rosé.
Whether you’re dining out, grabbing take away or preparing a feast at home for family and friends, our quick and easy-to-follow guide answers some of your most-asked questions about Mexican food and wine pairing.
Fish Taco with Sauvignon Blanc
Quesadilla with Chardonnay
Does Red or White Wine go better with Mexican?
That depends on several factors including the protein in the dish, what spices and herbs are used, the acidity of the dish, and the flavour, texture and weight of any sauce.
As a rule of thumb go for:
- light, aromatic whites for fish and fresh seafood
- medium-bodied whites with chicken
- rich textural whites or light-bodied reds for cheesy dishes
- Rosé is a great pairing with vegetarian; and we suggest
- moderately rich red (but nothing too heavy or tannic) for beef dishes.
Does Prosecco go with Mexican Food?
With its delicious bubble and fizz, hugely popular Prosecco is a fun way to start off any Mexican feast. Prosecco’s refreshing, zingy, and fruit-focussed characters can help balance both the saltiness and heat of Mexican food.
Is Sauvignon Blanc good with Mexican Food?
The aromatic and easy-drinking nature of Sauvignon Blanc has seen it become one of our most popular white wines. Most famous as a refreshing fruit-driven style full of tropical characters, it’s a great match to many Mexican dishes as it pairs well with cheese, rice-based dishes, green vegetables, and seafood.
Does Pinot Noir go with Mexican food?
As a lighter-bodied red with a supple tannin profile, Pinot Noir can be a perfect pairing to some Mexican dishes including those that are gamey, earthy or where mushrooms are the star. Its bright acidity, fruit flavours and textural tannins make it a good match for everything from salmon to charcuterie, with fuller-bodied examples pairing quite well with chargrilled steak and lamb. Its elegance and nuance mean it can be overwhelmed by bigger flavours like spices or rich red meats, so be mindful of that when thinking of matching it with heavier dishes.
Mexican Recipes and Wine Pairings
Light and fresh, fish tacos are best enjoyed with zesty, unoaked white varieties with fresh acidity to bring out their best without overpowering the delicate flavours.
What wine do you serve with tacos? Sparkling wines, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and blends, Semillon, and Pinot Grigio.
Jack fruit is a very popular meat substitute and makes this vegetarian taco recipe an absolute crowd-pleaser, especially when enjoyed with deliciously diverse dry-style Aussie Rosé.
What wine pairs with vegetarian tacos? Rosé
These fabulously refreshing quesadillas feature salmon, so most medium-bodied whites will be delicious with them.
What wine pairs with quesadillas? Chardonnay, Marsanne, Viognier, Verdelho, Rousanne.
With the inclusion of seafood and lime in this delicious collection of Mexican dishes, we suggest an aromatic white wine that has some natural acidity.
What wine pairs with guacamole? Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blends, Riesling, Vermentino, Pinot Gris, and Chenin Blanc.
Beef empanadas feature a seriously delicious mix of spices and rich meat, so we suggest a moderately rich red, but nothing too heavy or tannic, as it will clash with any spice. Your best choices are savoury, medium weight reds.
What wine pairs with beef empanadas? Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Barbera, or a cool climate Shiraz
Chicken empanadas
Fresh and filling with various textures, chicken empanadas can be enjoyed with mid-weight, textural dry whites, Rosé and even lighter reds.
What wine pairs with chicken empanadas? Fiano, Verdelho, Rosé or Pinot Noir
Beef Burritos
With their lively spice and meaty richness, beef burritos pair deliciously with moderately rich reds, but nothing too heavy or tannic, as it will clash with any spice. Savoury, medium weight reds are your go to.
What wine pairs with beef burritos? Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Barbera, or a cool climate Shiraz.
Nachos
An all-time favourite, nachos are taken to the next level when matched with a fresh and zippy Rosé or a crisp, dry white with attractive acid ‘crunch’.
Cheese quesadilla
Enjoy the stringy, cheesy goodness of a quesadilla with a rich or textural white or velvety red for a moreish pairing.
What wine pairs with cheese quesadilla? Chardonnay, Fiano, Grenache or Pinot Noir
Learn more
So, there you have it. Some of the most popular Mexican dishes paired with some of Australia’s most popular wine varieties. For more great food and wine combinations, be sure to check out our dedicated food and wine pairing guide.