Comfort Foods

Are you searching for the perfect wine to pair with your favorite pizza, barbecue, or chocolate cake? Selecting the right wine may seem like an intimidating task, especially when trying to impress guests. The good news is that choosing the right pairing can be fun.

The secret to finding the right wine is to try to create balance. What this means is, you want to pick a wine that does not overwhelm the dish in richness or weight. For example, you probably would not pair a light white wine with a dark chocolate cake. A better pairing would be a sweet red that feels as indulgent as the cake you are eating.

Check out our pairing suggestions below. These are just some general suggestions. Part of the fun of wine pairing, especially with comfort food, is the opportunity to taste and experiment to find the best combinations.

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If the pizza is topped with a lot of meat, try a Zinfandel, Merlot, or Shiraz. If the pizza is mostly veggies, pair it with a Sauvignon Blanc.

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Cut through the richness of this dish with a bold white wine such as an unoaked Chardonnay.

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The ground beef, breadcrumbs, garlic, olive oil, and marinara sauce will be perfectly complemented by a Chianti or Merlot.

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You’ll want to pair this childhood staple with an unoaked Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pino Blanc to help cut through the richness of the cheese.

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For veggie tacos, pick a Sauvignon Blanc. Fried fish tacos, go all out and pop something fizzy like Champagne. Meat filled tacos like tacos al pastor, carne asada, or ground beef go well with Malbec or Pinot Noir.

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An outdoor entertaining staple, pair barbecue ribs or hamburgers with Bordeaux, Argentine Malbec, or California Cabernet. Select white wines to pair with grilled chicken or fish.

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The salt and fat of this southern classic is paired best with the acidity and bubbles of Prosecco.

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There is a reason chocolate and Port will always be a popular pairing. Anyone who has experienced this combo will crave it again and again. Use dark chocolate when baking the cake for a truly decadent experience.

Do you have a go-to wine and comfort food pairing? Comment below and let us know what it is.