7 Best Red Wines to Gift Your Manly Steak Lover
You can never go wrong with the gift of wine. For those of us who have manly steak lover’s in our life, a bold red wine can be the perfect gift. Whether you get them a bottle “just because” or for a special occasion, you know it will be put to good use.
Bold red wines are tannic, acidic, and have higher amounts of alcohol than most other wines. They pair perfectly with steak because the acidity of the wine helps to cut through the fat of the steak. The flavors of tobacco, black pepper, oak, and dark fruit flavors that are common in full-bodied red wines will compliment the flavors of a steak dinner.
Here are some of our favorite bold red wines to gift your man that will accompany his favorite steak dinners.
A Wonderful Spanish Red Wine - Tempranillo
While the focus is often on Bordeaux’s, Tempranillo is one of the best wines to pair with steak. This full-bodied and tannic red wine originated in La Rioja, Spain. Most Tempranillo is still grown there.
This wine has mild fruit flavors, a full body, very bold tannins, and high acidity and alcohol levels. Tempranillo’s have flavors of tobacco, cedar, dried fig, and cherries. This is also a great red wine to gift those guys who typically drink whiskey.
Go for a traditional Tempranillo from La Rioja, Spain. If you are buying the wine to be drank soon, get a Tempranillo Reserva. These wines have been aged in oak for 12 months and then bottle aged for two years before release, so they are ready to drink.
Some Bold Italian Vino - Nebbiolo
Jumping over to Italy, Nebbiolo originated in Piedmont, more specifically Barolo and Barbaresco. Don’t be fooled, while this wine looks to be paler in color, it has very bold tannins and will be the perfect match for a steak and pasta dinner.
Nebbiolo has unique aromas and flavors of roses, clay, leather, cherries, and anise. This wine has more distinct oak flavors than other red wines. Nebbiolo ages very well, so it is a great gift to give those who have a wine collection going.
Nebbiolo’s are a go-to wine to gift on special occasions. Good bottles are at least $30 and are meant to be aged up to 15 or more years. Bottles labeled “Langhe Nebbiolo” are especially good.
The French Stable - Syrah
Syrah originated in the Rhone Valley of France, however it is now widely grown throughout the world. You will find Syrah grown in Australia, the United States, Spain, Argentina, and South Africa just to name a few.
These Syrah wines have a lot more fruit flavors than most bold red wines. They pair great with steak and mashed potatoes because the fruit flavors will compliment both. Syrah’s are fruit forward, full-bodied, have medium to high tannins, and medium to high acidity and alcohol. Flavors and aromas of cherries, blueberries, plums, cocoa, tobacco, and pepper are common.
For a unique Syrah that can be drank anytime, buy one from Australia. In Australia, Shiraz is the equivalent to Syrah. These wines are around $15 and can be aged up to ten years. Shiraz grown in Southern Australian regions have a lot of plum flavors. This would be a great “just because” gift for your steak loving man and a great way to celebrate the beginning of BBQ season.
A Classic French Wine - Bordeaux Blend
This classic French blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is one of the most popular wines in the world, and for good reason. Different takes of this blend are made all over the world. While Merlot is a medium-bodied and typically more tame red wine, it helps to soften the tannins of the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Common flavors include cedar, black currants, plum, and graphite. Those that are Cabernet Sauvignon dominant tend to need a bit more aging and have more flavors of pepper, while those that are Merlot dominant have fruitier flavors.
These wines are affordable at $15-20 a bottle. These wines can be aged up to ten years. This is a great gift for those guys who like a weekly steak or regularly sip red wine.
A Wine Done Superbly in Argentina - Malbec
This juicy red wine originated in South West France, however most of it is grown in Argentina. Malbec’s from France have an earthier profile than those from Argentina.
Malbec’s are very fruit forward, jammy, and have moderate tannins and acidity. Common flavors include cocoa, tobacco, plum, vanilla, and dark berries. Malbec is often described jammy because of its distinct preserved fruit flavors. Don’t be alarmed to find sediment in the bottom of your glass, Malbec is often not filtered as much as other red wines, but it is perfectly fine.
This wine is very affordable and most of them cost around $15. Most of them should not be aged longer than two years, so pay attention to the vintage dates before buying. This is a great gift to get your guy when you know it will be drunk soon.
An Italian Red Wine you probably haven’t heard of - Aglianico
Nearly all Aglianico in the world is grown in Southern Italy, where it is also known as Taurasi. This wine is a staple in Italian households and has recently been gaining some traction on the international markets.
This wine is dark in color and has high tannins, moderate to low fruit flavors, and high acidity and alcohol. Common aromas and flavors include black cherry, smoke, cured meats, plum, and black pepper. The meaty and smoky flavors of this wine are the perfect match for any steak.
A good bottle of Aglianico will cost around $20-30 and can be aged up to 15 years. If possible, get your hands on an Aglianico del Vulture which have all the classic flavors and is an Italian favorite.
This wine needs to be decanted for around 30 minutes in order to open up the aromas and flavors. You can learn more and find a good decanter here.
Finally the good ol’ Cabernet Sauvignon
This list wouldn’t be complete without Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a classic and timeless wine to pair with any steak dish and they make great gifts. Originating in Bordeaux, France, it’s popularity has made it the most planted red grape across the globe. Fun fact: Cabernet Sauvignon is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
This wine has familiar flavors of black pepper, baking spices, oak, black cherry, and other dark fruits. This wine is full-bodied, tannic, with moderate acidity. Those grown in warmer climates have more dark fruit and cocoa flavors while those grown in cooler climates have more red fruit flavors and are lighter in body.
A Cabernet Sauvignon from California will make a perfect gift for any steak lover. These wines go for around $30 and age up to ten years. Those with a vintage of 3 or more years should be decanted before enjoying.
Create the perfect steak lover’s gift basket! Add in a bottle of bold red wine, steak spices, sauces, and a backyard BBQ recipe book.
Of course if you are looking for a gift baskets like that for the wine lovers in your life, please check out our wine gift baskets, guaranteed to go with his next steak
