Along with the likes of Rioja, Bordeaux and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Barolo is considered to be one of the best red wines in the world. It’s made from the Nebbiolo grape in the north of Italy and is famous for its extreme, mouth-puckering tannins and “tar and roses” bouquet. It usually sits above average in terms of price, so if you’ve gotten hold of a bottle, we recommend taking your time to decide what to pair it with. It deserves something special, and in this article, we’ll outline your best possible options.
Meat That Pairs Well With Barolo
Barolo could be considered the “apex predator” of pairing food and wine – meaning, it’s very difficult to find a dish that will overpower it. Barolo is packed with tannins, acidity and intense dark fruit flavors, so you can pair it with the richest, heartiest pieces of meat that you can find.
One unique option is offal. Liver and kidney are extremely high in protein, fat and strong gamey flavors, which will help to soothe the wine’s intense tannins and tease out its hidden flavors. Keeping that idea in mind, roasted game birds such as goose and duck are a popular Barolo pairing. They are often quite oily, which balances out the tannins and does wonders for both the food and the wine. Of course, you also can’t go wrong pairing Barolo with a delicious ribeye steak, or wild meats such as boar and venison. It all depends on your personal preferences.
Cheese That Pairs Well With Barolo
With Barolo, you can apply the same pairing guidelines to meat and cheese – look for pungent, powerful flavors. Barolo is one of the few red wines that can stand up to blue cheese, so if you already have a bottle in the cupboard, that combination is definitely worth trying out. The more salty and pungent the better. These characteristics enhance the refreshing, fruity side of the wine, and the high fat and protein content of cheese helps to absorb some of those intense tannins. We specifically recommend trying Barolo with Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Parmigiano or Provolone.
Appetizers That Pair Well With Barolo
Appetizers offer a great opportunity to explore all of Barolo’s multifaceted flavors in one sitting. Charcuterie boards are an obvious choice – packing briny olives, salty, smokey meats and pungent cheeses onto one plate. You can also try out a strong cheese fondue, appetizers containing intensely flavored nuts like walnuts or chestnuts, or something utterly earthy, such as truffles.
Vegetarian Dishes That Pair Well With Barolo
Along with its cornucopia of dark fruit and floral flavors, Barolo has an intense leathery, earthy side – which is what you should be focusing on when choosing a vegetarian pairing. Rich and savory dishes such as mushroom risotto are excellent, but you can also kick things up a notch by making a truffle-based risotto or pasta dish. The intense umami flavors will accentuate Barolo’s sweet, fruity side. This wine works great with a huge range of roasted vegetables, including the more difficult ones to pair, such as fennel. Finally, we recommend trying Barolo with some classic tomato-rich Italian dishes, such as eggplant parmesan.
Herbs That Pair Well With Barolo
Barolo has to be matched with intense flavors. You can pair it with any pungent or slow-warming herb/spice, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, bay leaf or ginger. It can also be paired with small amounts of more “spicy” spices, such as chili flakes, paprika or cayenne pepper – but be careful. Barolo often has high alcohol content, and if your dish is too piquant, it can clash.
Food That Does Not Pair Well With Barolo
We wholeheartedly advise against pairing Barolo with white fish, shellfish, or any delicate form of seafood. The high tannic content will clash with fishy oils in an unpleasant way. You should also try to avoid dishes that are too spicy, as Barolo’s alcohol content can make spicy food even hotter, and simply unpalatable.
Best Foods To Eat With Barolo
To sum up, Barolo is a kingly wine, worthy of being served with a luxurious dish. There are a variety of roasted meats that fit the bill, but if you can splash out on ingredients such as truffles, there are also some brilliant vegetarian options that will make for a harmonious culinary experience.
- Ribeye Steaks
- Truffle Risotto
- Liver
- Venison
