Wine with barbecue doesn’t always have to mean red wine.
And spicy barbecue may be one of the best examples.
When the wings are hot, the ribs have some kick, or your BBQ sauce brings serious heat, a huge tannic red isn’t always your friend.
Reach for Riesling instead.
More precisely, try an off-dry Riesling.
That touch of sweetness, combined with Riesling’s bright acidity, makes it one of my favorite wines for spicy BBQ.
Wait. Isn’t Riesling Sweet?
Sometimes.
Riesling can range from bone dry to very sweet.
For spicy barbecue, I like the middle ground.
An off-dry Riesling provides enough sweetness to balance heat without tasting like dessert.
The acidity keeps everything fresh.
That’s exactly what you want with rich, smoky barbecue.
What Does Riesling Taste Like?
Depending on where it’s grown and how it’s made, you may find flavors of:
- Green apple
- Lime
- Peach
- Apricot
- Pear
- Lemon
- Honey
Those fruit flavors can work surprisingly well with BBQ sauces and spice rubs.
Why Riesling Works With Spicy BBQ
There’s a simple rule worth remembering:
Heat loves a little sweet.
Spicy foods can make high-alcohol wines seem even hotter.
Tannins can also clash with intense chile heat.
An off-dry Riesling takes a different approach.
Its sweetness helps soften the spice.
Its acidity cuts through rich meat and sauce.
Its fruit complements many sweet and spicy BBQ flavors.
Best BBQ Pairings for Riesling
🌶️ Spicy Chicken Wings
This might be the pairing I’d try first.
A cold off-dry Riesling provides a refreshing contrast to hot, spicy wings.
The slight sweetness helps calm the heat between bites.
🍖 Sweet and Spicy Ribs
Ribs often combine smoke, fat, sweetness, and spice.
That’s a lot for one wine to handle.
Riesling’s acidity balances the fat, while its fruit and sweetness complement the sauce.
🐖 Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is another natural fit.
Try Riesling with pork topped by a tangy or spicy sauce.
It can also work well with vinegar-based Carolina-style pulled pork.
🍗 BBQ Chicken
Sweet BBQ sauce and chicken are a great match for off-dry Riesling.
The wine complements the sauce without overwhelming the meat.
🌭 Smoked Sausage
Riesling and sausage are already old friends.
Add some smoke from the grill and the combination gets even better.
Spicy sausage makes off-dry Riesling especially useful.
What Kind of Riesling Should You Buy?
Look for off-dry Riesling when serving spicy barbecue.
If your BBQ isn’t spicy, a dry Riesling can work beautifully with grilled chicken, smoked sausage, pork, and seafood.
The goal isn’t to find the sweetest bottle.
You want enough sweetness to balance the heat while maintaining plenty of acidity.
Serve It Cold
Riesling should be well chilled for a summer cookout.
That cool temperature makes the wine even more refreshing next to hot, smoky food.
Keep the bottle in an ice bucket while the smoker does its thing.
Final BBQ Sip
Cabernet has brisket.
Zinfandel has ribs.
And spicy BBQ?
Give Riesling a shot.
A cold glass of off-dry Riesling alongside spicy wings or sweet-and-spicy ribs shows exactly why wine and barbecue can be so much fun.
Sometimes the pairing you’d least expect is the one you’ll remember.
Want more ideas for pairing wine with the smoker?
Download my free guide: Want more BBQ wine pairings?
Download my free guide: Smoke & Sip: A Guide to Barbecue and Wine Pairing
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