Wine Pairings with Comfort Food? Best Reds and Whites

Wine pairings with comfort food?

As the weather draws in, many of us find ourselves working longer hours, not seeing daylight, and giving up on new years resolutions, so, therefore, craving steaming piles of macaroni and cheese and heaps of comfort food whilst snuggled up on the sofa with the right wines to match. What is your idea of wine pairings with comfort food?

The problem with wine, though, is that it can be intimidating and often expensive, however, there are loads of inexpensive wines that are actually enjoyable to share at home with your favourite comfort foods.

So, here we list our favourite comfort food and choose the best bottles of wine for the most enjoyable experience. 

What Do I Pair Wine with Roast Chicken?

Nearly everyone I know loves a good roast chicken, not only on a Sunday. This is my favourite classic roast chicken recipe. 

Red or white wine, light or full-bodied wine, simple or complex – a roast chicken is your most versatile comfort food dish. That versatility is due partly to chicken’s mild flavour; add some juiciness, and a bit of crisp, crackling skin, and, seriously, what doesn’t go with it?

My poultry friendly wines

I find that South African wines are always the perfect match for Roast chicken, they have that perfect complexity to match.

Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2018 is one of the most famous South African red wine. This bottle is made up of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon. We love it because of its rich taste. Red and black fruits are beautifully accompanied by notes of dried herbs and spices and there is also a hint of the spice which nicely cuts through the crisp flavours of the chicken. 

If you haven’t drunk the entire bottle for the meal, find out how long does red wine last once opened and how you can preserve it for some meals later. 

Blank Bottle Kortpad Kaaptoe 2017 is 100% Fernao Pires (which is a white wine grape that originates from Portugal) is produced in the western cape – South Africa. Kortpad Kaaptoe means the quickest route in Afrikaans. This wine is a candid full and rich dry white wine with a deep golden-green colour, it perfectly matches demanding and comforting food on the plate.

What Wine Do I Pair with Spaghetti Carbonara?

One of my favourite comfort food dishes to eat when it’s chilly outside or actually, in general, is Spaghetti Carbonara – but perhaps not as you may traditionally know it. I use a time-old recipe that is without cream and I use Burford Brown eggs instead of what’s supplied in this recipe by Jamie Oliver.

3 of the best wine to pair with Spaghetti Carbonara 

Falerio Oris Bianco DOP, Ciu Ciu 2017 – This wine is from the striking and charming Marche’s Hills in Italy, it was made to be drunk with Carbonara! This wine fills your mouth with striking Moorish flavours, it’s the perfect accompaniment!

Ottavio Rube Bianco, Valli Unite, 2016 – this is also from Italy – but the difference being, it’s from the foothills of Piedmont. Delicious and a thirst-quenching mix of summer flowers, yellow plums and wild herbs held together by racy minerals.

Gonzalvez Côte de Brouilly 2016 – is noted among the accomplished and whimsical Beaujolais wines. The Gonzalvez Côte de Brouilly is known for its abundant fruit, boldness, and distinct minerality which is perfect for breaking down those rich flavours.

Explore how else you can combine great meals and organic wines, take a look at our list of food and organic wine pairings. 

What wine do I pair with the classic Beef Burger?

A regular haunt of mine is Patty and Bun – a trendy burger joint that began as a pop-up and now has three permanent sites across London. You, of course, can (like me) create your own experience at home by following your favourite recipe. 

4 best wines to pair with your favourite home-made Beef Burger 

Côtes du Rhône “Terre de Mistral” 2017 – is the classic blend of Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah from the Rhone valley will perfectly fit the bill when pairing with your burger.

You can also choose Shiraz! Adelina Shiraz Mataro 2017 – Adelina Shiraz wines are low intervention wines, produced with organic and biodynamic principles. Shiraz Mataro is an interesting blend of rich dark fruits and savoury note, and although goes great with slow roasted leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic it also fits perfect with beef burger. What you will experience with Mataro are complex aromas of red cherry, dark berries, plum, plush blackberry and tobacco leaf with dark chocolate. All in all, Australia is your ideal beef burger wine! 

Kokotos Three Hills Agiorgitiko-Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – is from a family run vineyard in Greece, that started back in 1970. It has a pleasant fruity character with a bouquet of red fruit with floral notes. It’s well balanced in the mouth with supple tannins and great acidity.

Chateaux Ollieux Romanis, ‘Lo Petit Fantet d’Hippolyte’ 2017 – a blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah from the Corbieres region of France. Hippolyte means Little child and is the name of Pierre’s young son, who wanted to have a wine he could call his own. Despite its powerful alcohol (14%) and herbal undertow, it is perfectly in balance and has an intense nose with sweet raspberry and kirsch fruit which will really help cut down the fatty flavours of your burger.

Here’s some extra tip if you don’t have a bottle opener at hand, find out how to open wine without a corkscrew. 

Bonus wine for a pizza lover!

The Ultimate Pizza Wine: Free Run Juice Samurai Shiraz 2019

If you are on a plant based diet and decide to order last minute pizza, Free Run Juice Samurai Shiraz is a vegan wine from South Australia which is the ultimate Pizza wine!! There are berry-laden fruit aromas and flavours with a nice underlying spiciness and a peppery kick to its finish. Also, if you mind how many calories in a bottle of wine or sugar in wine you can get along with pizza, leave your worries aside. Red wines have the lowest amounts of sugar and tons of beneficial ingredients. 

And a friendly tip: See how you can surprise your last-minute guests with Nero d’Avola food pairing! 

What are your best wine pairings with comfort food?  

The inclination to brave the weather outside for going out doesn’t mean that being at home can’t be more fun than heading out to your favourite restaurant with your favourite wine, especially with these easy wine pairings that take the guesswork out of everything.

Share with us in the comment! Cheers!