Whether you're a wine enthusiast or a fan of tacos, you might not realize how well they can complement each other. Tacos are wholesome meals that can encapsulate a wide variety of flavors in a single portable package - from salty, spicy, sweet, and sour – and it's these varying flavors that can be matched ingeniously with different wines.

So the question arises: what type of wine pairs best with tacos? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this. Taco fillings can vary greatly, from simple grilled fish to marinated pork shoulder, and the types of tortillas and toppings used are equally diverse. To solve this delicious dilemma, a professional consultation was needed. Enter Damon Cohen, a sommelier from famed Mexican restaurant Cosme in New York City, who offered his expertise in this unique area.

Together with Cohen, we examined the pairing of over a dozen types of wine with a variety of tacos, and some remarkable matches were discovered. Below, we present the top 16 wine pairings that will help you enhance your next taco night.

For example, the hearty flavors of a carne asada taco found a surprising partner in a medium-bodied red wine. It brought the right balance of tannins, acidity, and fruitiness that echo the savory steak, nutty corn tortilla, razor-sharp onion, and herbal cilantro beautifully.

With a succulent al pastor taco, traditionally crowned with pineapple, it was a bottle of Chardonnay that flawlessly matched the vibrant blend of sweet, savory, and tart lime flavors. Cohen was quoted as saying, “It’s hard to say that there could be a better pairing for this.”

Another winning pairing was discovered when a fish taco met a bright white wine. The tart, citrusy notes of the wine flawlessly balanced the richness of a flaky flour tortilla and added a crispness to the flaky fish.

The journey of pairing didn't stop with conventional wines. We moved on to orange wines, also known known as skin-contact white wines. After some trial and error, we uncovered an intriguing pairing with chargrilled chicken thigh tacos. The light tannins of the orange wine created the perfect level of structure to stand up to the rich meat, while its bright acidity added an exciting zesty edge.

So next time you're hosting a taco night, you don't necessarily have to reach for your usual beer. Instead, consider popping open a bottle of wine. Whether it's a full-bodied red, a bright white, or an innovative orange, there's a perfect match waiting for your favorite taco.