Pairing Wine with Mexican Food: The Ultimate Guide

You can enhance the different flavors you experience when you pair the best wine with Mexican food. It is important to remember certain considerations when selecting which wine works best with other recipes in this cuisine. Mexican dishes use a unique blend of spices, flavors and ingredients you can’t find anywhere else.

Learn about the factors you should consider as you figure out what wine goes with Mexican food. In the discussion below, we’ll also answer several essential questions that people often ask, such as:

• What are the basics of wine pairing with Mexican food?
• What are the key ingredients of Mexican cuisine?
• What wine goes with tacos?
• How to combine red wine with Mexican food?
• How to achieve a balance of flavors?
• What wine goes best with Mexican food?

Key Ingredients in Mexican Cuisine

As you explore the best wine with Mexican food, one of the first things to notice is the main ingredients in this cuisine. As in other cuisines, certain wines pair well with specific ingredients. In addition, it is important to remember that personal preferences also play a part when choosing the wine to pair with any Mexican dish.

• Chilies:

  Consider this ingredient integral in Mexican cuisine. Pairing spicy Mexican dishes with sweet or fruity wines with lower tannins is best. Lower-alcohol wines also reduce the burn levels you get from chilies.

• Beans:

  Black and pinto beans lack tang or spiciness and are earthy and hearty. Choose medium-bodied red wine with Mexican food with plenty of beans. Further, if you want to get some kick out of your meal, pair it with spicy wine or wine with a higher alcohol content. This works well when trying to figure out what wine goes with tacos.

• Tomatoes, Onions and Garlic:

  Common flavor bases in many Mexican dishes. They’re not inherently spicy but carry a bit of a tang and add acidity to any recipe. These ingredients go well with red fruit-flavored wines or anything full-bodied or medium.

• Corn:

  This ingredient is another staple in Mexican cuisine, adding a slightly nutty and sweet flavor to any dish. Depending on the dish, it complements white or red wines perfectly. Choose wines that are light or medium-bodied or red that have bright acidity.

• Avocado:

  This can be the main ingredient or work as a fine garnish. The mild flavor and creamy texture go well with wines with a slightly rich profile.

• Cilantro:

  Many Mexican recipes have cilantro, which adds a citrusy note to any dish, making wine pairing with Mexican food challenging. With some trial and error, you can find some crisp white and light-bodied wines that go well with these dishes.

• Lime:

  Lime adds some tartness to seafood dishes, and it can enhance meat ingredients. For this reason, it is best to pair foods with this ingredient with high-acidity wines to harmonize the flavors.

Consider these ingredients when figuring out what wine goes with Mexican food. You can ask the chef about the ingredients included in the food you ordered. In addition, you should also note different regional variations in the recipes so you can determine the best wine with Mexican food.

Achieving a Balance of Flavors

Since Mexican cuisine is known for robust, bold, savory, tangy and smoky flavors, always consider the above mentioned ingredients and which type of wine goes well with it.

Here are a few tips:

• Consider the spice level of the dish when determining what wine goes best with Mexican food. Use slightly sweet or off-dry wines, like Gewürztraminer or Riesling, to balance spicy food.
• Use wines with higher acidity, like Albariño and Sauvignon Blanc, with tangy ingredients such as tomatoes, vinegar and lime.
• Consider pairing regional dishes with wines that come from the same area.
• Pair sparkling wines with spicy dishes like enchiladas or chiles rellenos to create a palette-cleansing effect.
• The spicier the food, choose a colder or sweeter wine.
• It is best to pair white wine with white meat.
• The more colorful the recipes usually pair well with higher acidity wines like Sauvignon Blanc.

Consider these tips to determine how to combine red wine with Mexican food. Match the flavors while minding the intensity of the spices, regional variants and the type of meat included in the dish. For instance, if the recipe calls for seafood from Baja California, you can go for Baja California red blend wines, Nebbiolo or some other Mexican red wine.

What Wine Goes With Mexican Food?

Keeping all of these tips in mind, here are some popular Mexican dishes and the best wines to pair with them:

Authentic Mexican Flavors Paired with The Best Wine in DFW

If you’re after authentic Mexican recipes paired with the perfect wines in the Dallas-Fort Worth areas, visit Benito’s Authentic Mexican Food Restaurant. We understand various regional flavors and know which wines go best with them. Our team is famous for its legendary margaritas, the best wines and Mexican culinary originals.