Quick Answer: Best Wines to Go with Tri-Tip
Tri-tip is a type of beef cut that goes equally well with red and white wines. It tastes its best when paired with wines like Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Chardonnay, Champagne, and Sangiovese. Pair any of these wines with tri-tip for a scrumptious dining experience.
This is an ultimate guide, to help you find the best wine to compliment your tri-tips and satisfy your taste buds.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.
But first, let’s get to know a bit more about tri-tips before we get to know the details about the best wines to pair it with.
About Tri-Tip
Tri-tip is a type of beef cut obtained from the lower sirloin subprimal part of the animal.
It is triangular and contains tensor fasciae and latae muscles.
These are the muscles present in the thigh region of the animal. Untrimmed tri-tip weighs around 5 pounds. Usually, tri-tips are sliced into steaks and grilled. It’s best to sear the meat before grilling it.
So, are you drooling over some tri-tip already? But before that let’s find the perfect wine match for it.
Best Tri-Tip and Wine Pairing
Here are my top picks of wines that go amazingly well with tri-tip –
1. Syrah
| Name | Syrah |
|---|---|
| Origin | Rhone Valley, France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Blueberry, black plum, milk chocolate |
| Acidity | Medium |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 15-20 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Universal |
| Storage (years) | 10+ years |
| Wine Body | Full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5-15% |
Syrah is a dark-skinned grape primarily used to produce red wine. It is also known as Shiraz.
It consists of meaty, spicy, and fruity flavors that suit any kind of meaty dish. It’s an opaque wine with moderate tannin levels.
Syrah is a chewy wine with notes of tobacco and smoke making it a perfect pair for tri-tips. Also, its acidity levels are perfect to cut through the fats present in the meat.
To better understand Syrah’s traits, check out this quick video:
2. Merlot
| Name | Merlot |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dark and fruity |
| Primary Flavors | Black cherry, blackberry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and mocha |
| Acidity | Moderate acidity |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 60-65 degrees |
| Glass Type | Bordeaux |
| Storage (years) | 3-5 years |
| Wine Body | Medium to full |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13-14% |
Merlot has a soft sensual texture that makes it a versatile beverage to go for.
It comes with low tannins, while its flavors range from plums to black cherries with notes of vanilla, clove, and cedar.
You can either go for a full-bodied or light-bodied Merlot to relish along with your favorite tri-tip dish as either of the two options work well with it.
To better understand the nuances of Merlot, check out this quick video:
3. Malbec
| Name | Malbec |
|---|---|
| Origin | Argentina |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Red plum, blackberry, vanilla |
| Acidity | Medium- low acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 15- 20 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Universal |
| Storage (years) | 5-10 years |
| Wine Body | Full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5- 15 % |
Malbec is a red wine that comes with a great structure and a chocolatey feel on the tongue. It comes with a soft and smooth texture, leaving you craving for more.
It’s lower in acidity than most wines, has moderate tannin levels, and has a full wine body. It’s a great option for people who’d like to avoid bitterness.
Malbec pairs exceptionally well with beef dishes, like tri-tips due to its moderate tannins and medium acidity levels.
To better understand the nuances of Malbec, check out this quick video:
4. Pinot Noir
| Name | Pinot noir |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry and sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Cherry and raspberry |
| Acidity | Bright acidity |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 55-60 degrees |
| Glass Type | Burgundy |
| Storage (years) | 5 years |
| Wine Body | Light - Medium |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12-15% |
Pinot Noir comes with a rich fruity flavor along with a velvety and vibrant ruby shade.
It comes with a bundle of distinct flavors each maintaining its individuality.
With a dry taste and full-bodied texture, Pinot Noir comes in distinct flavors like smoky, fruity, and earthy notes.
Pinot Noir comes with few tannins and less acidity making it a perfect pair for tri-tips as it doesn’t overpower its meaty and smoked taste.
Check out this video to better understand Pinot Noir:
5. Primitivo (Zinfandel)
| Name | Primitivo (Zinfandel) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Croatia |
| Taste | Dry and Sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Raspberry, Cherry, Plum, and Blackberry |
| Acidity | Moderately Acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 17 - 20 degrees |
| Glass Type | Zinfandel Wine Glass |
| Storage (years) | 5 - 8 years |
| Wine Body | Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13 - 15% |
Primitivo is a red wine that comes along with black and red fruit flavors coupled with spicy pepper notes for that much-needed zing.
It comes with low tannin levels making it an easy-to-go option for meaty dishes.
Its moderate acidity and medium-bodied texture make it an excellent pair with your favorite tri-tips as its taste gets perfectly balanced.
Get insights regarding Primitivo through this video:
6. Cabernet Sauvignon
| Name | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry and fruity |
| Primary Flavors | Blackcurrant, cedar, oaks, herbs |
| Acidity | Highly acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 59-68 degrees |
| Glass Type | Bordeaux / Standard red |
| Storage (years) | 7-10 years |
| Wine Body | Medium to full |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | Over 13.5% |
Cabernet Sauvignon comes with a dark fruity taste of black cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant with hints of vanilla, wood, and spice.
It comes with a medium to full-bodied texture, medium levels of acidity, and moderate to high tannins.
The acidity, alcohol percentage, and tannin levels of this wine complement tri-tips exceptionally well. It excellently strikes a balance with the meaty flavors of the dish.
Click on the below-given link to know more about Cabernet Sauvignon:
7. Grenache
| Name | Grenache |
|---|---|
| Origin | Spain, France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Grilled plum, leather, dried herbs |
| Acidity | Medium |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 15-20 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Universal |
| Storage (years) | 10+ years |
| Wine Body | Medium to full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | More than 15% |
Grenache is a red wine with juicy red fruit flavors with a dash of cinnamon-like spice. It’s thin-skinned and has a similar profile to that of Pinot Noir.
It comes with high alcohol content and moderate tannin levels. Grenache is available in a variety of styles, namely, dry, semi-dry, and sweet.
A medium-bodied white wine with moderate tannins and acidity is simply the best option to turn to for pairing with tri-tips.
Get insights regarding Grenache through this video:
8. Chardonnay
| Name | Chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Sweet and dry |
| Primary Flavors | Apple and lemon |
| Acidity | Moderately acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 50 degrees |
| Glass Type | Traditional white wine glass |
| Storage (years) | 3-7 years |
| Wine Body | Full |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5 to 14.5% |
Chardonnay comes with a neutral flavor. It comes with subtle notes of citrus, blossom, apple, and almonds. It’s medium-bodied along with medium acidity and moderate to high alcohol levels.
Its dry taste and light golden shade make it visually appealing. With each sip, you experience a different flavor every time.
Chardonnay is a good pairing option for tri-tips as its mild fruity flavors won’t overpower the natural taste of the beef.
Here’s a video to get a complete gest about Chardonnay:
9. Champagne
| Name | Champagne |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Citrus, yellow apple, cream |
| Acidity | High |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3.3- 7.3 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Flute |
| Storage (years) | 5-20 years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12.20% |
Champagne is the perfect blend of grapes like Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay and is exclusively prepared in the Champagne region of France.
That’s how it gets its name. It is a sparkling white wine that generates a velvety feel in every sip.
Sparkling wines like Champagne go incredibly well with tri-tips. This wine comes with notes of egg and bread that’ll complement the flavors of the dish.
10. Sangiovese
| Name | Sangiovese |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tuscany |
| Taste | Bone-dry |
| Primary Flavors | Cherry, roasted tomato, oregano |
| Acidity | Medium-high |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 15-20 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Universal |
| Storage (years) | 10+ years |
| Wine Body | Medium to Full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5-15 % |
Sangiovese is a red wine whose flavors depend upon the region from where the grapes have been obtained. You can get a dry, semi-sweet, and sweet Sangiovese wine bottle based on the sugars added to it.
Along with the fruity flavors mentioned above, Sangiovese comes with savory notes of tomatoes, smoke, herbs, and tobacco.
With medium to high tannin levels and medium to full-bodied texture, Sangiovese makes an incredible pair with tri-tips.
Click on the below-given link to know more about Sangiovese:
A Quick Wine Pairing Guide for Tri-Tip
Tri-tips are quite versatile when it comes to wine pairing.
Pinot Noir is a full-bodied red wine that is an excellent wine pairing option with beef dishes. Pair it with tri-tips when you wish to try something bold.
Primitivo is a spicy red wine with flavors of dark fruits like black raspberry, black cherry, and black plum. Its fruity flavors can complement the spicy taste of your tri-tips. Merlot is another red wine that comes with fruity flavors and spicy notes, making it a killer option for wine pairing with tri-tips.
Champagne is a sparkling white wine. It comes with high acidity which will help you cut through the fats of tri-tips and cleanse your palate after every sip.
Sangiovese is a medium-bodied red wine with low tannins and medium acidity. It comes with herbal, earthy, and spicy notes and will complement your tri-tips.
Malbec is yet another light to medium-bodied red wine that can be paired with tri-tips. It comes with an ideal tannin level and acidity.
Grenache and Chardonnay are also incredible options to resort to for trying new wine pairing alternatives with tri-tips.
Great Ti-Trip Recipes
Tri-tips can be used to prepare a variety of dishes like grilled tri-tip roast, Santa Maria tri-tips, simply grilled tri-tip steaks, sesame ginger tri-tip steaks, smoked tri-tip roast, spice-rubbed tri-tip roast, Southwestern tri-tip steaks, Asian marinated tri-tip roast, grilled espresso tri-tips, tri-tip chili, tri-tip pie, tri-tip sandwich, steak quesadillas, and grilled cognac beef kebabs.
FAQs
The nutritional value of tri-tips for 100 g is 330 calories, 11 g of total fats, 4.8 g of saturated fats, 33 g of proteins, 29 g of total carbs. It is loaded with the goodness of nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamin, sodium, and potassium.
Eating tri-tips has several benefits as it comes loaded with nutrients like choline, phosphorus, and selenium. It is an excellent source of vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 along with iron, protein, and zinc. Tri-tips boost your metabolism, RBC production, and immunity.
Tri-tips gets along well with a few side dishes like twice baked potatoes, garlic butter mushrooms, mashed potatoes, roasted broccolini, holiday roasted veggies, potato lyonnaise, wedge salad, roasted red potatoes, cheesy baked asparagus, cheesy scalloped potatoes, rosemary roasted potatoes, cheesy tomato skillet, and roasted Brussel sprouts.
Bottom Line
Now that you’ve made it to the end, I hope this article was useful enough for you to locate your ideal wine pair for your tri-tips.
Don’t forget to share with us your ideal wine pair for tri-tips, in case we missed out on it.
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