Tacos and Wine

16 great bottles for your next taco night

- Lucy Simon

TACOS ARE THE PERFECT FOOD. They're a complete meal in a handheld package, and they pack in every flavor from salty to spicy to sour to sweet to umami. But the next time you have a taco, instead of grabbing a beer, that default beverage pairing, try reaching for a glass of wine.

But what kind of wine? Taco fillings can range from simple grilled fish to marinated, spit-roasted pork shoulder; a flaky flour tortilla is not the same as a nutty, slightly sweet corn tortilla; and toppings range from punchy pico de gallo to smoky, savory salsas or even fresh fruit. This is not the time for a one-size-fits-all approach to pairing.

To find the perfect taco-pairing wines, I teamed up with a sommelier who ponders this question on a daily basis: Damon Cohen of Cosme, chef Enrique Olvera's upscale Mexican restaurant in New York City. We tasted over a dozen types of wine with different kinds of tacos to find what worked best. Read on for 16 excellent wine pairings to upgrade your next taco night.

CARNE ASADA TACOS + EARTHY, MEDIUM-BODIED REDS

Although steak is a famously red wine-friendly ingredient, it was surprisingly difficult to find a pairing for carne asada tacos. As it turned out, a medium-bodied red with the right balance of tannins, acidity, and not-too-fruity flavors matched every element in the taco: nutty corn tortilla, savory steak, sharp chopped onion, and herbal cilantro.

2022 CASTELLO DI GABBIANO CHIANTI CLASSICO ($16)

Strawberry and raspberry flavors meld with a touch of earth in this energetic Sangiovese. Classically Chianti in style, it has firm tannins that stand up to the richness of a steak taco and enough acidity to match any tangy topping.

2023 CLINE ANCIENT VINES MOURVÈDRE ($28)