Red wine with a hearty meal, white with fish or chicken, say the food and wine basics. But what wine goes well with vegetables?
While this may sound like combining the incompatible, it’s time to shift the perspective and give a try to the best wonders of nature. The latest market trends show that people are growing keen on mindful eating and veggies are at the top of the list. With this in mind, finding your perfect wine and veggie match can turn into a lifetime ritual.
The taste and smell of roasted veggies can be a fair tablemate to a glass of your favourite wine. Sounds tempting? Take a look at the following veggie-friendly wines, you`d be surprised how delicious these pairings can be.
Short Guide for Pairing Veggies and Wine
Vegetables, whether fresh or cooked, come with versatile tasting notes that can be a challenge to pair with wine. Once you learn the tricks, everything will go off without a hitch.
First, you need to consider the vegetables you are serving and the array of different flavours they come with. You can choose between:
- Light and colourful veggies, like left greens, celery, green beans or peas make a great match with light and un-oaked whites or refreshing bubbly.
- Root and earthy veggies, like carrots, beets, mushrooms, sweet potatoes or lentils can pair well with oaked white wines, some roses or even with a light red wine.
The perfect choice for a veggie-friendly wine greatly depends on the cooking method you’ll choose. For instance, fresh and raw vegetables pair well with a crisp white wine, while blanched or roasted veggies go well with richer wines. Note that every cooking method makes a great difference in the taste and texture of the vegetables. Can you compare the taste of crisp, and fresh broccoli to the rich and almost sweet flavour of roasted broccoli?
If you are hooked on sauces, you probably know that the sauce can shift the dish`s overall taste and flavour. For rich and creamy sauces opt for an oaked California Chard. You like to spice things up? Grab a semi-sweet Riesling, while New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is the top match for an Italian pesto or similar herb sauces.
Powerful Wine and Veggie Combinations
Whether you are a fan of warm and hearty meals, or you enjoy the enchanting aromatic taste of herbs and veggies, these powerful wine and veggie combinations will leave no one unimpressed.
Sprouting Vegetables and Wine
Asparagus, kale, broccoli or green peas make a great match with white wines rich in pyrazine flavours ( the smell of asparagus or bell pepper in wines) like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Whites with soft vegetal aromas can be great tablemates, too. For instance, you can try unoaked Grüner Veltliner from Austrian soils, Spanish Verdejo or Grüner Silvaner. They all have a soft touch of asparagus and green bean. These veggies are a match made in heaven with white citrusy wines with fresh vibrant acidity.
Mushrooms and Wine
Grilled garlic butter mushrooms, fried or roasted mushrooms or creamy mushroom sauces can do wonders with mature fizzy wines made in the classic method. Rich and oaked Chardonnay or Viognier are a superb choice, too. The hearty, earthy flavours of dark and wild mushrooms make the perfect pairing with the forest floor and autumn leaves aroma of Pinot Noir and Shiraz. Other reds with a savoury palate and saline edge, like Chianti Classico, can make a mouthfeel to remember, too.
Root Veggies and Wine
Carrots, celery and beetroot are famous for the subtle touch of sweet earthiness that goes beyond delicious when roasted. This complex and aromatic taste is perfectly balanced with a well-rounded oaked Chardonnay and other rich whites. Silky-textured dry and light whites like Pinot Grigio are a magnificent option, too. The super-healthy beetroot can do wonders when paired with aged Pinot Noir.
Sweet roasted marrow or fried veggie marrow in a lemon garlic creamy sauce sounds mouthwatering. The earthy, sweet and velvety texture of marrows makes a delicious pairing with citrussy Sauvignon Blanc, fresh dry Italian whites, and light Greek whites like Assyrtiko. Zucchini makes a great couple with aromatic Moscato, while you can also choose light red wine like Valpolicella, depending on the recipe.
Discover a Wine Tailored to Your Taste
From Napa Valley Cabernets to Syrahs from Judean Hills an extensive Old and New World wine selection with the most delicious wines across the globe. Get in touch today and grab generous promotions and discounts!
Pairing Veggies and Wine is a feature post
