January 26, 2021 | wine | Pacific Rim
There is nothing better on a cold, rainy, snowy, icy, damp, or just long and stressful day than a plate of steaming hot comfort. Extra homemade bread and butter please! Sure, sipping a glass of Pinot Gris with foie gras is the epitome of elegance - but sometimes, we just want some of Mom’s famous mac & cheese or Pop’s pasta al fredo. What are some great go-to comfort food and wine pairings?
Speaking of mac & cheese - creamy, goey, satisfying mac & cheese - pour a glass of cabernet franc. The dry red has notes of raspberry, strawberry, bell pepper, and chili pepper. The complex notes pair perfectly with this classic noodle dish, adding a smooth tone that’s not too heavy and not too light.
If you’re looking for the perfect meatloaf wine pairing, don’t be afraid to go bold. A strong red, like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, or shiraz will be able to stand up to the hearty meat and mashed potatoes (because you are required, by law, to have mashed potatoes with meatloaf). They’ll taste even better if you use tomato sauce or paste in your loaf.
Pot roast is another dish where red wine rules: try a merlot. Heck, you can even add some while you’re cooking it to infuse dynamic flavor into the meat.
Some of our other favorite wines to pair with comfort foods:
Riesling and chicken pot pie
Pinot gris or pinot grigio with grilled cheese and tomato soup
Chili and pinot noir
Riesling and Chinese takeout (what’s more comforting than food you don’t have to cook!)
Chardonnay with turkey and all the fixings
Off-dry riesling with BBQ pork and potato salad
Cabernet sauvignon or shiraz with sloppy joes and fries, burgers, or pastas with meaty, red sauce
What are your favorite comfort food and wine pairings?
FAQs
White wine pairings include white meat, white fish, and pasta. Red wines are best suited to red meats and desserts. Rosé wine pairings include seafood. Sparkling wines should be paired with shellfish, fruits, and cheeses.
What is a proper pairing of food and wine? ›
One of the most well-known principles in pairing food and wine is to match red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat. The tannins in red wine can interact with the protein in meat, enhancing the flavors and creating a pleasant taste sensation.
What wine pairs with mashed potatoes? ›
Mashed potatoes are a classic comfort food, and few wines are more classic than Cabernet Sauvignon. This pairing is especially perfect when served with a rich and savory gravy!
What is the ideal wine pairing? ›
The wine should have the same flavor intensity as the food. Red wines pair best with bold flavored meats (e.g. red meat). White wines pair best with light-intensity meats (e.g. fish or chicken). Bitter wines (e.g. red wines) are best balanced with fat.
What not to pair with wine? ›
Asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and even the beloved kale all have high levels of organosulfur compounds, AKA straight up sulfur. The same vegetables that can give you serious, uh, gas can also make wine taste awful.
What is the most important factor when pairing wine with food? ›
Matching the power of the wine and the food is crucial. A heavy, flavourful dish can overwhelm a light-bodied wine, while a full-bodied grape overpowers a delicate dish. Pair a spicy dish with a sweeter wine to balance the heat. Similarly, a rich, full-bodied wine may pair well with a heavy, meaty dish.
What is the most difficult food to pair with wine? ›
The Results
- 47.7% of respondents said spicy food + wine was the hardest pairing.
- 25.8% of respondents said vegetarian/vegan food + wine pairing is the hardest.
- 5.7% of respondents said dessert + wine is the most difficult pairing.
- 4.7% of respondents said fish + wine is the hardest pairing.
Slightly sweet white wines like Riesling or Moscato will pair nicely with any sandwich that has a spicy kick. Adding any sort of “green” like pesto or arugula, go with a light bodied wine with some acid like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
What wine to pair with meatloaf? ›
If you're looking for the perfect meatloaf wine pairing, don't be afraid to go bold. A strong red, like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, or shiraz will be able to stand up to the hearty meat and mashed potatoes (because you are required, by law, to have mashed potatoes with meatloaf).
What wine pairs with sloppy joes? ›
The high alcohol content and moderate tannins in Zinfandel can stand up to the robust flavors of the dish, while its slight sweetness can complement the tangy, sweet sauce. A Loire Cabernet Franc, from the Loire Valley in France, would also be a good match.
Red wines that pair well with tomato-based pasta include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel. If you're looking for a more fruity option, you can go with a red wine with a hint of citrus, such as Shiraz or Pinot Noir. You can also try a white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
What wine pairs with lasagna? ›
Pairing lasagne and wine: Quick guide
- Beef lasagne calls for ripe, juicy red wines.
- Try Barbera, Gamay, plus lighter styles of Carignan and Sangiovese.
- Avoid too much oak and tannin.
- Vegetarian lasagne fans could try lightly oaked Chardonnay.
CONSIDER THE TOPPINGS
Here are a few guidelines for pairings: TOMATO-BASED: Simple tomato sauce pizzas like marinara or Margherita tend to go well with dry rosé wines and light reds. WHITE PIZZA: Pizza bianca, or “white pizza,” pairs well with white wines like Pinot Grigio, Falanghina, and even Prosecco.
