WHAT WINE TONIGHT

What wine goes with brisket?

Texas-style brisket is smoke, pepper bark, and rendered beef fat — among the most wine-friendly things ever to leave a smoker. Dark, savory reds with their own smoky inflection are the play.

Best overallRed

Syrah / Shiraz

Smoked meat, black pepper, dark fruit

The wine literally tastes like the dish’s seasonings — pepper for pepper, smoke for smoke.

Shop from ~$15 · Vivino

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Best valueRed

Zinfandel

Bold, ripe, all-American

Generous fruit for the bark’s caramelized edges.

Shop from ~$14 · Vivino

Affiliate link · prices vary by retailer

Boldest matchRed

Petite sirah

Inky, dense, muscular

For burnt ends and the fattiest point cuts — maximum wine for maximum beef.

Shop from ~$16 · Vivino

Affiliate link · prices vary by retailer

Sommelier's tip

No sauce needed on great brisket — and none needed on these wines either.

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