Why You Should Buy Your Beef Like You Buy Your Wine
Updated: 3 hours ago
Buy your beef like you buy your wine: region, breed, and age shape how it tastes. Here is why Pre beef tastes distinctly different from the rest of the meat case.
Julie Divis, our Quality Manager, loves a good pairing. Here in Chicago, pairing menus are in restaurants throughout the city: five different courses, each with a new taste of wine that perfectly enhances and complements the dish.
During these dinners, the waiter or sommelier will go into great detail about where the wine comes from, even pinpointing a specific valley in the countryside perfectly located to provide ample sunlight. But do we ever hear that level of detail about the food we are eating alongside it? Isn't it just as important to know where our food came from and why it tastes so good?
So why does Pre beef taste distinctly different, and more delicious, than other beef in the grocery store? Just like with wine, region matters. To grow individual varieties of grapes, you need a certain level of rainfall, a specific mineral content in the soil, a particular amount of sunlight, and the right temperatures to achieve the perfect vintage. The same strict standards apply to beef. Here is why you should buy your beef like you buy your wine.
Why you should buy your beef like you buy your wine: region
We source our beef the way we would source our wine. We choose specific countries that provide the perfect environment for raising cattle, and within those countries, we dial it down to specific regions. All of our beef comes from New Zealand and Australia. The ample rainfall and mild climate of these areas let nutritious grass grow and thrive, so cattle can be raised on grass year-round.
Farmers in these regions also use sustainable practices, like combining sheep and cattle on the same pasture. Sheep will eat just about anything (weeds included!), which lets the cattle munch on the grasses they prefer.
Fun fact: sheep and cattle both outnumber the human populations of New Zealand and Australia.
Why you should buy your beef like you buy your wine: breed
The breed of cattle we source plays a big role in the Pre difference. We compare this to the variety of grape used in different wines. Each variety tastes different, thrives in certain growing conditions, and yields different fruit.
The breeds we use are called British breeds. Examples include Angus, Hereford, Red Devon, Murray Grey, and cross-breeds. We use British breeds, as opposed to tropical breeds such as Brahman, because British breeds are smaller, gentler animals that provide high-quality beef.
Why you should buy your beef like you buy your wine: age
Just as aging is important in fine wine, beef needs to age, too. Our beef wet ages in the time it takes to travel halfway across the world. Wet aging is the process of beef aging in a vacuum-sealed bag, which allows the enzymes in the beef to tenderize the cut and enhance its flavor. When it arrives in Chicago, we cut steaks, grind the beef, and send it to a store near you. Use our store locator to find one.
Learn more: the difference between wet aging and dry aging and how Pre beef stays fresh through transport.
Just like with wine, region matters. In order to grow individual varieties of grapes, you need a certain level of rainfall, a specific mineral content found in the soil, a particular amount of sunlight, and different temperature requirements to achieve the perfect vintage. The same strict standards are needed for grass-fed beef.
More resources on why Pre beef is different
FAQ
What does region have to do with how beef tastes?
Just like grapes, cattle thrive under specific conditions. Rainfall, climate, and the quality of the grass all shape the flavor of the beef.
What is wet aging?
Wet aging is the process of beef aging in a vacuum-sealed bag, which allows the enzymes in the beef to tenderize the cut and enhance its flavor.
What breeds does Pre source?
British breeds, such as Angus, Hereford, Red Devon, Murray Grey, and cross-breeds. They are smaller, gentler animals that provide high-quality beef.
Where can I buy Pre 100% Grass-Fed & Finished Beef?
Pre Brands beef is a lean, High Protein, delicious way to keep dinner healthy. Use our store locator to find a store near you, browse all Pre products, or find us on Instacart.
