Pairing burgers with wine surpasses high-low gimmickry. The humble patty is currently in its prime (pun absolutely intended), as chefs elevate black-bean burgers, bacon-topped behemoths, and everything in between with carefully chosen ingredients and housemade condiments.
Sean Brock, the James Beard Award-winning chef in Charleston, S.C., is at the forefront of the gourmet burger movement. His American-cheese-topped, limited-engagement Husk burger inspires odes. Meanwhile, Daniel Humm’s veggie burger at NYC’s The NoMad reinvigorates a category previously associated with flash-frozen pucks.
The American wine industry is similarly booming. Domestic wine sales rose 14 percent from August 2016 to August 2017, reaching $3.1 billion. States across the country are producing their own unexpectedly great wines. Wine imports to the United States are a $5.8 billion business, up nearly 10 percent from 2012 to 2016.
In other words, wine is increasingly accessible, and burgers have never been better. It’s a great time to be alive.
With this in mind, we created the ultimate guide to pairing burgers with wine. Whether you are an all-beef classicist, turkey fan, or lifelong vegetarian, we’ve got you covered. Here are eight perfect burger and wine pairings.
