The Best Wines to Pair with Holiday Desserts
This holiday season, take your desserts to the next level by adding a perfectly paired wine. Not only will it impress your guests, but it will also make your celebrations even more delicious and memorable. Cheers to sweet endings!
1. Apple Pie and Riesling
Apple pie, with its warm spices and sweet-tart apples, pairs beautifully with a chilled glass of Riesling. A semi-sweet Riesling complements the pie’s cinnamon and nutmeg notes while balancing the sweetness of the apples with its crisp acidity. For an extra festive touch, try a sparkling Riesling!
2. Chocolate Cake and Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich, velvety chocolate cake deserves an equally luxurious wine. A Cabernet Sauvignon, with its bold, fruity notes and hints of dark chocolate and coffee, is a classic pairing. The wine’s tannins help cut through the richness of the cake, creating a balanced and indulgent finish.
3. Pumpkin Pie and Gewürztraminer
Pumpkin pie’s creamy texture and warm spice flavors pair wonderfully with Gewürztraminer. This aromatic wine has notes of honey, ginger, and lychee that harmonize with the pie’s cinnamon and nutmeg. Its slight sweetness enhances the pie’s flavors without overwhelming your palate.
4. Cheesecake and Moscato d’Asti
Cheesecake’s creamy richness is beautifully complemented by the light, bubbly sweetness of Moscato d’Asti. This slightly effervescent wine has fruity notes of peach and apricot that balance the tangy cream cheese filling, making every bite and sip feel perfectly balanced.
5. Pecan Pie and Tawny Port
The nutty, caramelized sweetness of pecan pie pairs exquisitely with Tawny Port. This fortified wine’s toasted almond and caramel flavors mirror the pie’s filling while its velvety texture matches the richness of this Southern classic.
6. Gingerbread and Zinfandel
Gingerbread, with its spicy molasses flavor, calls for a bold and spicy wine like Zinfandel. The wine’s hints of blackberry, pepper, and clove enhance the warm spices in the gingerbread, creating a pairing that feels cozy and festive.
7. Fruitcake and Sherry
Love it or hate it, fruitcake is a holiday staple—and it pairs wonderfully with a dry or sweet Sherry. The wine’s nutty, raisin-like flavors bring out the best in the cake’s dried fruits and nuts, elevating this polarizing dessert.
8. Sugar Cookies and Prosecco
Simple yet delightful, sugar cookies pair perfectly with Prosecco. This sparkling wine’s light and crisp profile complements the buttery sweetness of the cookies, while its bubbles add a celebratory touch.
9. Yule Log and Pinot Noir
The chocolate sponge and cream filling of a Yule Log (or bûche de Noël) pair harmoniously with a light-bodied Pinot Noir. With its delicate red fruit notes and subtle earthiness, Pinot Noir enhances the dessert’s chocolate flavors without overpowering them.
10. Tiramisu and Vin Santo
This Italian classic, with its coffee-soaked layers and mascarpone cream, pairs wonderfully with Vin Santo. This sweet Italian dessert wine has notes of honey, almond, and dried fruit that mirror the richness of the tiramisu, creating a truly indulgent pairing.
*** Final Tips for Pairing Wine with Desserts
Balance Sweetness: The wine should be as sweet or sweeter than the dessert to avoid a clash in flavors.
Consider Texture: Match creamy desserts with smooth wines and lighter desserts with more delicate wines.
Experiment: Everyone’s palate is different, so don’t be afraid to try unconventional pairings to find what you love.