Whether you’re hosting a party or want a chill break from the long tiring week, pairing snacks and wine is a beautiful idea. After all, a hearty snack may be the best thing to look forward to on the weekend.
So, prepare your glasses, and grab now your favorite wine bottle. Make your quick bites unique and fun, and have these 10 Fantastic Snacks with your favorite wine!
1. Pizza
Like cookies and cream, pizza and wine are the ultimate duos. That’s why we put pizza at the top of our list. However, while pizza and wine pairing are something to die for, not all wine bottles can go well with the iconic Italian snack.
Paring pizza and wine all boils down to one rule: the toppings. Both the ingredients and flavor of this Italian snack will complement or contrast the taste of wine. For a kickstart, here are some recommendations worth remembering!
Tomato-based pizzas such as Margherita or Marinara will go well with light red blends and dry rose wines. White blends like Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, and Falanghina are the best pairs for white pizza.
But if you’re an avid fan of meat-based pizzas, fruity and soft wines like the Sangiovese, Barbera, and Barbaresco will complement this strong-flavored pizza. And if you want to go bubbly and giddy, pair your favorite pizza with sparkling wines like Lambrusco and Prosecco.
2. Cupcakes
Indulging in wine and cupcakes is self-love, or should I say self-care. It’s indeed a flavorful and hearty treat for the mind and soul. But, on your first try, pairing these two favorites can be pretty challenging. So, here are some tips on the best wine pairs of cupcakes.
Medium to full-bodied red blends like Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah have chocolate undertones. So, expect these wines to work magically with your favorite chocolate cupcakes.
On another note, vanilla cupcakes will be fantastic pairs of dry Chardonnay or Riesling. For salted caramel cupcakes, you can try sweeter red blends like Australian Shiraz and Banyuls with spice and dark fruit notes. The Oreo of Cupcakes, the Cookies N’ Cream, will complement a fruity Pinot Noir.
3. Cheese
Cheese would make it to the list of best snacks paired with wine. Since the two have an aromatic and delicious taste, the result is a fantastic combination of flavors. The golden rule when having cheese paired with wines is to always go with the mild ones.
Soft cheese will always work best with sparkling wines or white blends like Chardonnay. On the other hand, you can best serve aged or sharp cheese with full-bodied wine to balance the intense flavors.
For a quick run-down, hard cheeses like Parmigiano will go well with Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Semi-hard cheeses such as Cheddar complement Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir.
You can try having semi-soft cheeses like Fresh Mozzarella and Havarti with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. And Blue Cheese and Brie is the ultimate partner of Merlot and Riesling.
In addition, Riesling, Champagne, and Merlot complement soft cheeses such as Boursin and Brie. And finally, you can never go wrong with having Goat Cheeses with Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Want more ideas about how to best pair wine and cheese? Listen to one of America’s wine experts in this YouTube Video.
4. Chocolate
When you search the web for the best snack to pair with wine, chocolate will surely rank on the list. The two are undeniably one of the best food treats! Since chocolate and wines have dry and intense flavors, it will always be best to pick wines that are juicier and much softer than the former.
While it may sound weird, matching the same flavor intensity is the way to go when pairing wines with chocolate. Light-bodied wines work with less intense chocolates. Strong-flavored chocolates will pair magically with full-bodied blends.
So, consider these tips for your next wine and chocolate pairing inspiration. White Chocolates are the ultimate pairs of Moscato d’ Asti, Riesling, and Sweeter Rose. Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Merlot will perfectly blend with Milk Chocolate.
Dark chocolate loves full-bodied but fruity wines like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. Finally, have Brachetto d’acqui with Hazelnut Chocolates.
5. Popcorn
Popcorn and wine are genuine all-time favorites because they blend so well. Plus, this food pairing is perfect for any occasion, whether for a chick flick movie marathon on weekends or fancy, romantic dates. So, if you want a delightful snack, here are some great ideas.
Plain Popcorn deserves a light-bodied white blend that would not overpower its mild flavor. Fantastic choices include your favorite Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. However, try to avoid wines with oaked flavors.
But suppose you prepare a salted Homemade Popcorn. In that case, it is best to go for fruity and crisp wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio.
Sweet or less dry wines like Moscato and Riesling are an excellent choice for Caramel Popcorn. And lastly, a full-bodied Zinfandel is the way for Cheesy Popcorn.
6. Potato Chips
Another food pairing to die for is none other than having potato chips with wine. Since chips have a salty taste and wine has acids, they will have a flavor explosion when matched together. For regular chips, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir would be fantastic.
The smoky and spicy taste of Barbeque Potato Chips complements well a dry Rose and a light Pinot Noir. But a creamy white wine like Chardonnay is the best if you’re into chunks with a nice zing like Sour Cream and Onion. On the other hand, Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent choice for Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips.
7. Crab Cakes
Recent trends feature crab cakes and wine pairing. The sweet and crispy crab crake with creamy sauces will do wonders when you have it with sparkling wines and medium-bodied white blends.
For anything fried, sparkling wine is the ultimate go-to. And crab cakes are not an exception. So, if you’re looking for a cool drink to wrap your delightful crab cake snack, why not try Champagne?
But if you like a wine with a soft texture and not overly acidic for your crab cakes, it will never be wrong to stick with classics like Chardonnay. Or its best alternative, the Pinot Blanc.
8. Cashew & Pistachio Nuts
You would agree when I say that nuts are handy snacks to pair with wines. And one of the top favorite nut bites would be the Cashew and Pistachio nuts. Light and zesty wines like Sancerre, Albarino, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio are the way to go for the two nuts.
The bright flavor of these wines would blend perfectly with the nuts’ undertones. In addition, high-fat cashew nuts would meet the lightness and freshness of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. Finally, if you like nothing but Pistachio, try pairing it with sparkling wines.
9. Fruits
If you’re like me who want to have wines and a little treat like fruits, here are some delicious ideas. Like fresh fruits, our favorite wines come with different tastes, aromas, and textures.
Let’s start with red blends. There are a lot of fruits you can have with red wines. But here are the timeless favorites. Berries and bananas are best to have with light-bodied red wines. On the other hand, heavy red wines will complement dried mixed fruits like raisins and figs.
And if you’re an avid fan of white blends, here’s something to try. Sparkling wines like Muscat perfectly blend with berries. Apples and pears will go with white wines having mid-sweetness like Pinot Grigio. But, if banana’s your favorite, try it with drier wines such as the Sauvignon Blanc.
Finally, fresh blueberries will unleash their magical taste when you pair them with sparkling Champagne. If you like red wines, go for a smoky Merlot or Petite Syrah. And, of course, you can serve your favorite blackberries with a Muscat or Zinfandel.
10. Bread
While it may look uncommon or unusual, bread and wine can pull off successfully. Blending wine and bread is like other pairings. Generally speaking, dense and heavier loaves of bread will work well with complex wines. And lighter wines love lighter slices of bread.
But of course, when pieces of bread have toppings, it often becomes an entirely different game. Garlic bread usually works well when paired with Chianti, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc.
If you have pastry bread, you can never go wrong with a sweet and bubbly wine like Champagne. Pinot Grigio, on the other hand, will complement a baguette. Wheat loaves of bread blend well with Pinot Noir. And finally, rye bread goes with Cabernet or Pinot Gris.
Coming To End
Wine is indeed a versatile drink. You can pair it with anything, including your favorite snacks! So, the next time you need some ideas for a chill and relaxed break, give some of these 10 Fantastic Snacks a shot and have them served with wine!
Do you have any other ideas about snacks and wine? Please share it with us in the comments!
George Moore, co-founder of Wine Flavor Guru, is a charismatic entrepreneur with a rich background in California’s wine industry. Alongside Sylvia, he transformed a Sonoma County vineyard into a source of premium wines. George’s expertise in sourcing exceptional grapes and his approachable style make wine appreciation both accessible and engaging.
