LAMB SHANK WINE PAIRING: WHAT WINE PAIRS WITH LAMB SHANKS?

The shank is another popular cut of lamb, taken from the lower part of the legs. This is a hard-working, muscular cut of meat with plenty of connective tissue and collagen, making it quite tough when cooked too quickly. When it is slow-cooked, either braised or stewed with red wine and root vegetables, lamb shank becomes fall-of-the-bone tender.

Slow-cooking with wine and vegetables intensifies the flavors of a lamb, so to pair with lamb shank we recommend an equally bold and flavorful wine. Some of our favorite lamb shank wine pairings are a Grenache-based Priorat wine, a Tempranillo from Rioja wine or Ribera del Duero, or a younger red Bordeaux wine.

A classic lamb recipe and a popular comfort food, traditional Irish stew is typically prepared from tougher cuts of mutton, stewed in broth with onions, turnips and potatoes. This is a dish with very delicate flavors, and the right wine pairing will be one that does not overshadow the latter.

With an Irish lamb stew, we recommend a fruit-forward red wine, like a Merlot from California wine.

Some of the most flavorful and dynamic lamb recipes are curries, like the very popular Indian lamb curry dish Rogan Josh. Lamb curries are seasoned with a dazzling array of spices and aromatics, like ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, chilis, cumin, coriander, fennel, nutmeg, turmeric and paprika. Typically lamb curry recipes can be divided into three categories, each with its own wine pairings.

Green curries, with a more herbal sauce, will go nicely with sparkling wines, like Cava or a French Cremant. Red curries with more dried red chilis in the recipe, pair nicely with rosé wines, Gamay from Beaujolais or even an off-dry German Riesling, whose hint of sweetness will tame the spice of the dish. And finally, creamy curries with coconut in their sauce will go nicely with an equally creamy oak-aged Chardonnay from Burgundy wine or a Pinot Gris from Alsace. The acidity in these white wines will cut the richness of the sauce.

A classic Moroccan lamb wine pairing recipe is a lamb tagine cooked with dried apricots, almonds and plenty of sweet spices.

A Moroccan lamb stew will go beautifully with a fruity red wine, like a Barbera from Piedmont wine or a Mencia-based Bierzo wine from Spain.

And finally, a great way to add some pizzazz to your backyard barbeque is with a couple of lamb burgers, served hot off the grill. The ground lamb patties can be seasoned with plenty of garlic, some red onion, rosemary and thyme, topped with fresh tzatziki, feta cheese or yoghurt sauce.

A boldly flavored, smoky and spicy lamb burger will go beautifully with an equally bold and spicy red wine, especially a juicy old-vine Zinfandel from California or a cool-climate Syrah from the northern Rhone Valley wine regions.

A wide range of wines pair with lamb, from a rosé Champagne to a bold and tannic red wine. When choosing which wine to pair with lamb, we recommend always considering the recipe in question, the cooking techniques and seasonings chosen.

Both white wines and red wines can pair with lamb, depending on the recipe chosen. White wines, like a fruity Sauvignon Blanc will go nicely with a rack of lamb served pink and seasoned with fresh herbs. Meanwhile, a more robust red wine like a Zinfandel or Bordeaux red wine will pair best with more intensely flavored slow-cooked lamb dishes.

Lamb is a versatile and delicious meat, which finds its place easily in any circumstance: an eye-catching Easter centerpiece guaranteed to impress your friends, a romantic dinner for two, or a special weeknight dinner after a long, productive day at the office. From delicate and tender to robust and gamey, this protein sparkles in a wide range of preparations, pairing seamlessly with a myriad selection of red wines and white wines. When choosing the perfect lamb wine pairing, we recommend paying close attention to the unique flavors and textures of your recipe.