What to Drink at Pampero: Our Guide to the Perfect Pairings

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There’s something about the right drink that can completely change a dish.

A bold red alongside a beautifully grilled steak. A crisp Sauvignon Blanc cutting through citrus and salmon. A glass of port after dinner with dulce de leche. And, of course, the unmistakably Argentine combination of Fernet and Coca-Cola.

At Pampero, our drinks list is designed to sit naturally alongside the food - from the first empanada to the last spoonful of chocotorta.

So, if you're looking at the menu wondering what to pour, start here.

Angus Reserve Ribeye + Catena Zapata Malbec

Grain-fed Angus Reserve Ribeye, Burnett QLD | Paired with Catena Zapata Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina

If there is one pairing that feels completely at home at an Argentine steakhouse, this might be it.

Ribeye is one of our richest cuts, with the marbling bringing plenty of flavour and richness once it hits the grill. Alongside it, Catena Zapata Malbec brings the dark fruit and structure you want from a red without getting lost beside the beef.

Think violets, black plum and grilled steak.

It's bold, classic and an excellent place to begin if you're coming to Pampero for steak.

Wagyu Skirt Steak + Finca El Origen Malbec

Grain-fed Wagyu Skirt Steak, Burnett QLD | Paired with Finca El Origen Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina

Skirt steak is all about flavour.

It's juicy, beautifully marbled and has the kind of rich, beefy character that loves a good red beside it.

For this one, we go back to Mendoza with Finca El Origen Malbec. Red plum, cherry and violet notes complement the richness of the Wagyu while still allowing the flavour of the steak to take centre stage.

Argentine wine. Steak from the grill. It's a combination that doesn't need much explaining.

Tasmanian Grilled Salmon + Ribbonwood Sauvignon Blanc

Tasmanian Grilled Salmon with coconut rice and ponzu-lime | Paired with Ribbonwood Sauvignon Blanc - Marlborough, New Zealand

Not everything coming off our grill needs a Malbec beside it.

Our Tasmanian grilled salmon is served with coconut rice and ponzu-lime, so we're looking for something brighter and fresher in the glass.

Ribbonwood Sauvignon Blanc brings citrus and mineral notes that work beautifully with the ponzu-lime while cutting through the richness of the salmon.

Fresh, clean and a completely different side of the Pampero menu.

Milanesa Napolitana + Ziegler ‘The Brickyard’ Shiraz

Milanesa Napolitana | Paired with Ziegler ‘The Brickyard’ Shiraz - Barossa Valley, South Australia

Crispy crumbed meat. Tomato. Melted mozzarella.

The Milanesa Napolitana isn't exactly shy, so neither is its pairing.

A Barossa Shiraz has enough body to stand alongside all that richness, while its dark cherry and plum character works beautifully with the tomato and melted cheese.

And there's a little bit of Argentine history behind the dish too. Milanesa is a staple of Argentine comfort food - and the Napolitana version takes things even further with its topping of tomato and cheese.

Comfort food deserves a proper glass of red.

Empanadas & Choripán + Fernet with Coca-Cola

The Argentine way to start | Paired with Fernet and Coca-Cola

Now we're getting very Argentine.

You can absolutely order a wine with your empanadas and choripán.

But if you want to lean into the experience?

Fernet con Coca.

Fernet mixed with Coca-Cola has become an enormously popular drink in Argentina, particularly as a social drink shared among friends.

Alongside knife-cut beef empanadas and Pampero's pork choripán, it makes for a distinctly Argentine beginning to the night.

Salud.

Chocotorta & Flan + Tawny Port

Dulce de leche, done right | Paired with Tawny Port ‘Quiet Achiever’ - McLaren Vale, South Australia

And then we get to dessert.

Chocotorta and flan both bring one particularly important ingredient to the equation: dulce de leche.

That deep caramel sweetness calls for something equally rich in the glass.

Our Tawny Port brings caramel and dried-fruit notes that sit beautifully alongside both desserts, particularly the creamy dulce de leche flavours.

It's rich. It's indulgent. And after a table full of Argentine food, it's a very good reason not to skip dessert.

So, what should you order?

There isn't really one correct answer.

If you're here for steak, Malbec is difficult to go past. If you're ordering something lighter from the grill, look towards a fresher white. If you're going full Argentine with empanadas and choripán, try the Fernet. And when the chocotorta arrives, you already know what we're pouring.

Better still, order a few things for the table and make an evening of it.

Because at Pampero, the food and the drinks aren't really meant to be treated separately.

They're part of the same experience.

Good food. Good wine. A little piece of Argentina, right here in Brisbane.