Best Wines for Father’s Day: Bold Reds, Rare Bottles & Meat Pairings He’ll Never Forget

Jun 5, 2025by David Bachus

What’s the Best Wine for Father’s Day?

Let’s be honest - Father’s Day isn’t about socks or shaving kits. It’s about honoring the man who taught you how to grill a steak, drive stick, or properly enjoy silence. So skip the gimmicks and go with something legendary: aged red wines built for meat, moments, and memories.

If you're searching:

  • What wine pairs best with a Father’s Day steak?

  • What’s a ready-to-drink wine for dad?

  • What’s a classy wine gift for someone who has everything?

You’re in the right place.

Wine #1: 1995 L’Eglise-Clinet (Pomerol)

Perfect with: Dry-aged ribeye or grilled lamb
Why dad will love it:
This isn’t some baby Bordeaux that needs to sit in a decanter for three hours. The 1995 L’Eglise-Clinet is ready to go - dark plum, truffle, cedar, and that plush Merlot texture. It’s got depth, polish, and power.

Big Dad Energy: The kind of bottle Ron Swanson might open after chopping wood and slow-cooking a steak over an open flame while contemplating capitalism..

🍷 Wine #2: 1997 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto di Serralunga

Perfect with: Braised short ribs or osso buco
Why dad will love it:
From a legendary vintage and an even more legendary producer, this aged Barolo is bursting with dried rose, wild cherry, and spice. No need to wait - it’s drinking beautifully right now.

Tucci Sophistication: The kind of wine Stanley Tucci might open while making pasta from scratch and dropping facts about Piedmontese soil. Elegant. Cultured. Still packs a punch.

Wine #3: 2009 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins

Perfect with: Smoked brisket, duck confit, or venison
Why dad will love it:
Bonneau’s wines are mythical. This 2009 Célestins is bold and layered - ripe black fruit, garrigue, leather, and Rhône soul. No decant needed - this bottle walks in fully formed, like it owns the room.

Half Dad Half Liver King: If dad enjoys a cigar and obscure animal parts, this is the wine to pour alongside it. The earthy spice and old-vine Grenache depth hold their own with a good post-dinner smoke.

Bonus White: 2018 Roulot Meursault Les Meix-Chavaux

Perfect with: Lobster, halibut, or grilled swordfish
Why dad will love it:
For the dad who appreciates white Burgundy - or just wants to start the meal with something crisp and elite - Roulot’s Meursault hits all the notes: citrus, chalk, and precise elegance.

Dad of the Sea: Grill a butter-basted halibut or lobster tail and watch this Chardonnay do its thing.

💡 Why Aged Reds Are a Father’s Day Win

We picked aged wines for one reason:
✅ They’re ready to drink - No two-hour decanting ritual
✅ They shine with meat-centric meals
✅ They show thought, taste, and respect for the man, the myth, the legend, the DAD

This isn’t about cellaring. It’s about celebrating.
Back to Decanter Diary