Best Wines to Enjoy with Mexican Food

Beer and tequila may be the default drinks to serve with Mexican food, but if you’re wondering what wine goes with Mexican food, we have the answer. We’ve rounded up the perfect wine pairings for a delicious Mexican banquet.

No need to limit your next Mexican meal to beer or tequila—wine makes an ideal partner and the perfect excuse to mix things up a little.

So many fantastic wine varieties, including Syrah, Viognier and Chardonnay, are produced in Mexico and across South America, so why not find your best wine to pair with Mexican food?

What Wine Goes with Mexican Food?

When it comes to choosing the best wine to pair with Mexican food, there are three key rules to remember:

1. Spicy Food Needs Cooler Wine

While how spicy a dish isn’t to do with how physically hot the dish is, your brain thinks otherwise.

Capsicum (the chemical found in spices that give them heat) tricks your brain into thinking your mouth is hot, meaning you’ll need something cool and refreshing to soothe the burn. For Mexican dishes with plenty of spice, opt to serve a wine that suits being served chilled but has lower tannins and a low alcohol level.

Why not try the cool and refreshing La Guera Albariño white wine for your next Mexican night? It’s made by Edgar Torres, who was the first Mexican-American winemaker in California’s renowned Paso Robles region.

2. Pay Attention to Herb Color

Both fresh and dried herbs are key ingredients in Mexican cooking. For dishes with plenty of fresh, green herbs like cilantro, a wine with high acidity and greener flavors is key. As these herbs are typically used alongside warming spices, you’ll also need a fruit-forward wine to find the perfect balance. A prime example is a Sauvignon Blanc.

3. White Meat Pairs Best with White Wine

You can find this rule in many other cultures around the world.

White meats such as pork, chicken and white fish have delicious and delicate flavors—and are commonly found in many Mexican dishes. White wines typically have lighter flavors and can exhibit a wide range of fruit flavors like melon, pear, lemon, lime, gooseberry and white peach, which complement the white meat’s natural flavors without overpowering them. The reverse is also true that Mexican dishes with red meats, such as shredded beef pair well with red wines such as Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

Shop our full range of white wines now.

Tamales

Tamales are corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese and vegetables, wrapped in corn husks and boiled. After cooking, the corn husks are removed, and tamales are served with fresh pico de gallo and a heap of guacamole.

The most common fillings are pork, chicken and vegetables, meaning you don’t want a rich wine to serve with this dish. Instead, opt for a vibrant, fruity Cabernet Franc or Grenache-based rosé to avoid overpowering the filling.

Al Pastor

Slow-roasted pork on a spit, seasoned with chilies, cooked with pineapple and onion and then wrapped in soft tacos and topped with salsa verde—Al Pastor sounds tasty, right?

Cut through the richness of the pork and complement the citrus and herb flavors in the salsa verde with a dry sparkling rosé wine.

Browse our bottles of dry sparkling rosé wines to find one you’ll love.

Burritos

A Tex-Mex favorite, burritos are flour tortillas wrapped around a typical filling of seasoned rice, beans, salsa, guacamole and cooked meat. Big on flavor and satisfaction, burritos are great for when you’re on the go and can be customized to suit your taste.

Pair your burrito with dark fruit and spicy, full-bodied red wine, like the El CabRhone red blend from Edgar Torres, the first Mexican-American winemaker in California’s renowned Paso Robles region.

Fish Tacos

A summertime staple, fish tacos are hearty and tasty, considering how simple they are to throw together. They’re typically made from corn tortillas filled with flaky white fish or shrimp, spices, red cabbage, citrus and a simple taco sauce.

Enjoy your fish tacos with a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc—its low tannins and high acidity highlight the fish’s natural flavors without overpowering them.

Mole

Commonly served with chicken thighs, pork, rice or tortillas for a delicious midweek meal, mole is a traditional Mexican sauce made from hot chilies, pumpkin seeds, garlic, spices, dried herbs, dark chocolate and onion. Its flavor will vary depending on the region it’s from, but it’s typically smokey and spicy with an earthy sweetness.

Pair your mole dish with an Aussie Shiraz. The wine’s fruit-forward flavors will help offset the heat, while its decadent, full-bodied palate will match the richness of the mole.

Browse our Australian red wines and find the perfect bottle for you.

Ceviche

Ceviche is a Latin American dish of diced fish cured in fresh citrus juices, which is then mixed with spices, green herbs, salt and chopped onion. Tangy and delicate, ceviche makes a great starter or an easy afternoon snack.

Pinot Grigio is the wine to pair with this mouthwatering dish—light, refreshing and equally zesty.

Nachos

Easy to put together and even easier to eat, nachos are perhaps one of the most recognizable Mexican dishes—fried tortilla chips layered with cheese, meat, guacamole, salsa, vegetables and sour cream.

Nachos can be a pretty hearty dish, depending on your toppings. You’ll want a lighter, crisp wine to cut through all the meat and cheese—enter Sauvignon Blanc, with its refreshing minerality and zingy acidity.

Enchiladas

A popular family dinner dish, enchiladas are corn tortillas wrapped around cheese, meat or vegetable fillings and covered in sauce. They’re sprinkled with cheese and baked in the oven until all those delicious flavors melt together.

A rosé is a perfect wine for your enchiladas—light and easy to drink. But if you’ve gone light on the spice, opt for a slightly chilled Rioja with plenty of smooth tannins and bold fruit flavors.

Whether you’re looking for red, white, rosé or sparkling, browse our extensive range of wines.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rodrigo, Personal Wine Advisor

First-generation New Yorker, Mexican at heart, Catalan by association. Wine aficionado, foodie and travel junkie.

WSET – Level 2 Wines Certified

Natural Wine • Mexican Wine • Catalonian Wine • Off-the-Beaten-Path Regions & Grapes

rodrigo@laithwaites.com | (203) 523-2163