6 Iconic Chicago Foods and the Wines That Pair With Them

Ask a Chicagoan what goes with an Italian beef and you will hear "hot peppers, dipped," not "a glass of Rioja." Yet the city's most famous foods are built on exactly the things wine loves: salt, fat, slow-roasted meat, tomato and acid. And Chicago takes its wine seriously. In September, Food & Wine named John's Food & Wine in Lincoln Park its 2026 Restaurant of the Year, a neighborhood bistro beating out every dining room in the country.

So we went through the Windy City's greatest hits, from the deep-dish pie to the Maxwell Street Polish, and matched each one with a bottle from our portfolio. This is the latest stop in our state-by-state series, after California's iconic foods and New York's.

Key Takeaways

• Deep-dish needs acidity first, tannin second: Nebbiolo d'Alba or a young Rioja beats a heavy Cabernet.
• Italian beef, dipped and loaded with giardiniera, wants juicy, medium-bodied red with spice, like Carmenere or Rioja Crianza.
• The Chicago-style hot dog is a pickle-and-mustard bomb: chilled rosé or crisp Sauvignon Blanc handles it best.
• For the steakhouse classics, Manzanos Reserva (93 pts Wine Enthusiast) and Gran Reserva (95 pts) are built for the job.
• Every wine below is in stock in the U.S. and ready to ship to all 50 states.

What Food and Drink Is Chicago Famous For?

The short list every visitor eats in their first 48 hours: deep-dish pizza, the Italian beef sandwich, the Chicago-style hot dog, the Maxwell Street Polish, a proper steakhouse dinner and, for the old-school crowd, shrimp DeJonghe, a garlic-and-sherry breadcrumb bake that has been a Chicago original since the early 1900s. Most of these were born as working people's food in immigrant neighborhoods, which is exactly why they pair so naturally with Old World wine: they come from the same Italian, Polish and European kitchens.

1. Deep-Dish Pizza: Nebbiolo d'Alba or Siglo Rioja

Pizzeria Uno has been serving its buttery, high-walled pie since 1943, and the formula has not changed much: crust, a thick layer of mozzarella, toppings, then a chunky tomato sauce on top. That is a lot of cheese and a lot of acid in one bite.

The rule for deep-dish: match the tomato's acidity first. A soft, jammy red tastes flat against that sauce. Our picks:

• Duchessa Lia Nebbiolo d'Alba: Piedmont acidity and red-cherry fruit cut straight through the cheese, and its fine tannins grip the sausage layer.
• Siglo Rioja: Tempranillo's savory red fruit and gentle oak are a natural fit for a sausage-and-pepper pie, and it pours beautifully by the glass.
• Spinach or veggie pie? Try Bruce Jack Reserve Sauvignon Blanc for its herbal snap.

For more on pizza nights, see our Italian wine and pizza pairing guide.

2. What Wine Goes With an Italian Beef Sandwich?

Thin-sliced roast beef, simmered in seasoned jus, piled on a long roll and finished with hot giardiniera or sweet peppers. Order it "dipped" and the whole sandwich gets a dunk. The challenge for wine is the combination of savory jus, garlic, oregano and the vinegar heat of the giardiniera.

Big, tannic reds clash with the chile heat. What works is a juicy, medium-bodied red with its own spice:

• Cremaschi Furlotti Carmenere from Chile's Maule Valley: dark fruit, a hint of green peppercorn and soft tannins that mirror the peppers instead of fighting them.
• Berceo Rioja: bright Tempranillo with enough acidity to stand up to the jus.

Serve both slightly cool, around 60 to 62°F, so the fruit stays fresh against the heat.

3. The Chicago-Style Hot Dog: Rosé or Sauvignon Blanc

An all-beef frank on a poppy seed bun, "dragged through the garden": yellow mustard, chopped onion, neon-green relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices, sport peppers and celery salt. Never ketchup. It is salty, sour, sweet and crunchy all at once, which makes it the hardest pairing on this list.

Go cold, crisp and pink. A dry Navarra rosé from Las Campanas has the strawberry fruit to handle the relish and the acidity to meet the mustard and pickle head on. If you prefer white, Cremaschi Furlotti Sauvignon Blanc brings citrus and herbs that echo the celery salt. Both are ideal for a Wrigleyville patio or a game-day spread.

4. Maxwell Street Polish: Pinotage

A grilled Polish sausage piled with caramelized onions, yellow mustard and sport peppers, the late-night classic of the old Maxwell Street market. Smoke, char and sweet onion call for a red with a smoky side of its own.

Bruce Jack Reserve Pinotage from South Africa is the answer: dark berry fruit with a signature smoky, earthy note that reads like it was made for the grill. It is also a great conversation starter for any bar program looking for something its guests have not tried.

5. The Chicago Steakhouse: Manzanos Reserva and Gran Reserva

Chicago is a steakhouse city, from classic dry-aged rib-eyes downtown to the new wave of chophouses in the West Loop. This is where Rioja shows exactly why it belongs on every serious wine list.

• Manzanos Reserva Rioja 2018, 93 points Wine Enthusiast: ripe plum, vanilla and fine-grained tannins for a New York strip or filet.
• Manzanos Gran Reserva Rioja 2015, 95 points Wine Enthusiast: years of barrel and bottle aging give it the depth and silky texture for a bone-in rib-eye or prime rib.
• For an Italian-leaning steak menu, Duchessa Lia Barolo is the classic bistecca partner.

Our Rioja comes from the Fernández de Manzanos family, five generations of winemaking since 1890 in Rioja and Navarra, with more than 600 wines across the portfolio scoring 90 points or higher.

6. Shrimp DeJonghe: Las Campanas Chardonnay

Shrimp baked under a blanket of garlic butter, herbs and sherry-soaked breadcrumbs. It is rich, buttery and savory, so it wants a white with some body. A Navarra Chardonnay from Las Campanas has the round texture to match the butter and enough freshness to keep the garlic in check. Serve it around 50 to 52°F.

Is Chicago a Good Market for Imported Wine?

Yes, and for the trade it is one of the most interesting in the country. Chicago diners are adventurous, the city's restaurant scene keeps collecting national awards, and Illinois retail is anchored by strong independent and regional chains. That means room for wines with a story: a Rioja Gran Reserva with 95 points, a single-varietal Carmenere, a South African Pinotage. We covered the on-premise side in detail in our Illinois restaurant wine guide and our look at Spanish wines for Chicago tapas bars.

For buyers who want to build a by-the-glass program around these pairings, working directly with a Spanish wine importer that keeps stock in U.S. warehouses means shorter lead times and steady reorders through the holidays. Illinois restaurants and retailers can source our full portfolio through our distributor network; get in touch here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What wine goes best with Chicago deep-dish pizza?

A red with high acidity to match the tomato sauce, such as Duchessa Lia Nebbiolo d'Alba or a Siglo Rioja. Avoid very soft, jammy reds, which taste flat against the sauce. For a vegetable pie, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc works well.

What do you drink with an Italian beef sandwich?

Locals reach for a soda or a beer, but wine works when it is juicy and medium-bodied. Cremaschi Furlotti Carmenere or a Rioja Crianza handles the savory jus and the giardiniera heat, especially served slightly cool.

Can you pair wine with a Chicago-style hot dog?

Yes. The mustard, pickle and relish need a cold, high-acid wine. A dry Navarra rosé from Las Campanas or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc is the best match.

What wine goes with a Chicago steakhouse dinner?

Aged Rioja is a standout. Manzanos Reserva (93 pts Wine Enthusiast) suits leaner cuts, and Manzanos Gran Reserva (95 pts) has the depth for a bone-in rib-eye. Barolo is the Italian alternative.

Find These Wines in Illinois

Our wines are available across the U.S. at retailers including Binny's, Hy-Vee, Costco and Total Wine & More, depending on the store and state. Check current availability near you with Find Our Wines, or browse our full portfolio. In stock in the U.S. and ready to ship to all 50 states.

Manzanos Wines USA is the premier importer of premium wines from Spain, Italy, Chile, South Africa, and France, serving all 50 US states through our nationwide distributor network. Learn more at manzanoswinesusa.com.

Please drink responsibly. 21+.