Pairing Wine With Vegetables

If you are a vegetarian or if you are hoping to pair your wine with a vegetable in your meal rather than the protein or meat, we’ve put together a list of great pairings. Depending on how the dish is prepared, the type of vegetable or the sauces on the vegetables, the best wine choice may be different. These can also be great pairing wine with vegetable appetizers and finger food.

Tips For Pairing Wine WIth Vegetables

Fresh veggies versus cooked veggies will make an impact on which wines go best with the dish. Lighter veggies have a much different intensity and texture than cooked veggies.
If the veggies are cooked, each method will pair differently. Grilled veggies typically have stronger flavor than roasted or steamed. Deep fat fried veggies also have a completely different flavor profile.

If there are sauces or dairy mixed with the veggies, it can change the complexity of the pairing. If the dish has a creamy sauce, an oaked chardonnay might be great with it. If the sauce is spicy or acidic, an off-dry Riesling would pair well with the dish. If the dish is light and fresh, a Rose would be great with the food.
Don’t forget to consider what other dishes you are eating with the vegetables.
Last, don’t forget to drink what you like! Don’t pick a wine you don’t like just because it pairs well with your dish. Odds are you won’t end up liking the combination. But don’t be afraid to try new things. Often, your tastes will change drastically, and you may love a wine with a specific food, but not like the wine by itself.

Best White Wine With Vegetables

If you enjoy white wine with vegetables, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc are fantastic with fresh green vegetables. Chardonnay is delicious with creamy vegetable dishes. Riesling is best for spicy or acidic vegetable dishes.

Best Red Wine With Vegetables

Some of our favorite pairings are Zinfandel, Chianti and other full but fruity reds with hearty vegetarian fare based on beans and cheese. Pinot Noir or Chianti will pair excellently with earthy foods like mushrooms.

Pairing Wine With Different Vegetable Dishes

Pairing Wine With Salads

Typically it is best to pair salads with the main protein or the salad dressing on the salad. Try to avoid vinegar salad dressing because those can easily overpower your wine. A crisp Provence Rose, Sauvignon Blanc or Italian white wines are all fantastic to drink with salads.

Pairing Wine With Mushrooms

Earthy tones in mushrooms are best paired with a complementary wine that also has earthy tasting notes. Red Burgundy and Pinot Noir typically have earthy notes and are wonderful with wild mushrooms like Morels and other mushrooms fried or sauteed. Barolo, Northern Italian reds and Cabernet pair beautifully with grilled portobellos.

Pairing Wine With Asparagus

Try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, which tends to have veggie aromas. That is the perfect wine to enjoy with asparagus. Soave and Pinot Grigio are two other wines that go well with butter, cheese or Milanese prepared asparagus. Grüner Veltliner or Sancerre are also great choices.

Pairing Wine With Artichokes

If you are eating fresh artichokes, we recommend drinking a nice glass of Vernaccia, Greco di Tufo or other Italian white wines. With spinach and artichoke dip we recommend trying a Sancerre ou Pouilly-Fumé or Loire white wine. Champagne or a dry Rosé are also good with artichoke dishes or appetizers.

Pairing Wine With Brussel Sprouts

This can be a tricky dish to pair with because of the strong flavor of brussel sprouts. And the dish is also cooked with balsamic vinegar often, which can change the taste of the wine if you aren’t careful. Add in bacon, cranberries, onions, garlic and other strong flavors, and it can be quite difficult to find a wine that isn’t overpowered or tastes “off” because of the dish. However, it isn’t impossible. Try drinking a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc or dry Chenin Blanc, which have high acidity that can cut through the strong flavors of brussel sprouts.