Soups, chili and stews are perfect for cold weather. Pairing wines with your soup can be tricky. But if you take a closer look at your recipe it might give you a better idea of which wine to pair with. For example, take a hearty bowl of chili – the most common ingredients include ground beef, tomatoes and beans. For a heavy tomato sauce it is best to pair with a wine that is not so bitter. For a chili that is heavy on meat or beans go with a wine that has more body and strength, like a Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon or a Malbec.
By taking these concepts a little further you can find the right wine match for a variety of soups, stews, chilis and chowders. Here are some pairings to get you started:
Chicken Noodle Soup
would pair well with a Pinot Noir or perhaps a Chenin Blanc.
A Cream of Chicken Soup
on the other hand would likely prefer a Sauvignon Blanc or Viognier.
Gumbo
If you are going for consider Gumbo a Pinot Noir.
French Onion Soup
give a French Beaujolais or Beaujolais Nouveau a go or perhaps opt for a White Burgundy.
Seafood Bisque or Stew
If you are serving a Seafood Bisque or Stew you will want to grab a Sauvignon Blanc – the earthy tones, mixed with a citrusy spike will complement a myriad of sea creatures.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup will appreciate a staple Spanish wine like a Rioja.
New England Clam Chowder
needs a well oaked Chardonnay. Speaking of chowder, perhaps you are a Corn Chowder
Corn Chowder
fan, if so grab the nearest bottle of German Riesling (dry) and let it knock your socks off!
Beef Stew with Vegetables
is your gig, then you can’t go wrong with a Cab or Shiraz for red wine lovers and if your preferences lean towards white wines, give a Gewurztraminer a go.
Keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules for pairing wine with foods and specifically soups, stews and the like; however, there are certainly some wines that will enhance a pot of soup infinitely better than others. So experiment with some of these listings and try your own. If you find any tip top matches, be sure to share them on the wine forum.
