Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish. It consists of a minced sheep’s heart mixed with onion, suet and oats, ensconced within the skin of an animal’s stomach (or an artificial casing, which is more common nowadays). It is certainly one of the more unusual national dishes, but of course, it can still be enhanced with the right glass of wine. It is a rich, savory dish, so haggis matches best with bold red wines or the occasional full-bodied white.
Wine Characteristics To Pair With Haggis
| Characteristic | Detail |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Acidity | High |
| Tannins | Smooth to Tannic |
| Body | Medium to Bold |
| Tasting Notes | Dark berries, spice and smoke, or rich citrus fruits with creamy hints of nutmeg, vanilla and butter. |
Haggis is usually served as a main course, in the same way as a more traditional slab of meat, alongside mashed potatoes and vegetables. Therefore, dry wine is the way to go. You will want high acidity to cut through all of the rich, savory flavors, and perhaps some firm tannic structure to soak up the suet. However, the meat in haggis is lean and mixed with oats, so you can certainly get away with a rich white wine.
Best Red Wine To Drink With Haggis
Red wine is the obvious choice to match the earthy flavors of haggis. Wines with dark, ripe berry flavors and rich spices will match the lean meats and spices of haggis beautifully. For the most part, we’re sticking to wines that could be called “moody” or “brooding”, but there are some lighter options that will enhance a plate of haggis too.
Shiraz/Syrah
When it comes to Syrah, Australian Shiraz or a leaner wine from the Rhone will both do nicely. Shiraz is typically smokey and ripe, so it will match the comforting feel of haggis. An elegant Syrah, however, offers more of a contrast, with enough acid to chop through the fat and plenty of spice flavors to mingle with the spice in the dish.
Tempranillo
Tempranillo is another round, bold option that can complement haggis. We specifically recommend a wine from Ribera Del Duero. These bold wines contain a firm tannic structure, perfect for absorbing all of the hard fats (suet) in the dish. It is also pleasantly smokey and comes with undertones of leather, which are a great match for haggis’ overall earthy flavor.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cab Sav is the go-to for pairing with meat, and haggis is no exception. It offers a lot of angular, biting acidity for getting through the side dishes, plenty of spice and some underlying vegetal notes, which are always fantastic when a dish is served alongside roast vegetables.
Mourvèdre
As a single-varietal, Mourvèdre is often overlooked. It is an incredibly “moody” wine, with lots of earthy, farmyard flavors and deep notes of black pepper, chocolate and leather. This deep, grounded character makes it an excellent wine for matching the savory, spicy flavor of haggis, and of course, it contains more than enough acids and tannins to match the dish’s intensity.
Best White Wine To Drink With Haggis
To pair a dish with lean meats, spices and suet, you’ll need a white wine with a slightly fuller character. That is why we’re recommending varietals that are frequently aged in oak, bringing a creamy texture and slightly more tannic structure.
Viognier
This is a rich full-bodied white wine, particularly if you can find a bottle from hot regions like Australia, California or South Africa. It is often aged in oak, imparting a subtle spiciness that is perfect for matching haggis. The dish usually contains nutmeg, rosemary and thyme, which you can find traces of in Viognier. However, at the forefront, you will find good acidity and notes of peach and mango – full, juicy fruits that can stand up to the boldness of haggis.
Chardonnay
Oaked Chardonnay offers similar qualities to a glass of oaked Viognier, with a buttery, creamy mouthfeel, and notes of nutmeg, vanilla and ginger. Often, it is slightly higher in acidity that Viognier, making it very suitable for cutting through all of the fats, grains and carbohydrates that come with a haggis dish.
Best Wine To Drink With Haggis
In summary, haggis works best with rich wines that have a deep character and a spicy edge. You should stick to wines that range from medium-bodied to full, but that doesn’t mean you have to ignore white wine completely. These are our top five picks, the rest is up to you:
- Mourvèdre
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Shiraz
- Viognier
- Tempranillo
