Whether you’re enjoying Thanksgiving dinner or a Sunday night, there’s nothing like a nice slice of pie. Savory, tart, sweet, or rich — they all have a place at my table. Everyone loves to serve a nice slice of pie with a steaming hot cup of coffee, and I’m no different, but sometimes, you need something with a little more oomph. Let’s be real here — sometimes you just need wine. (And by sometimes, I mean all the time.) But it’s more than just picking a dessert wine and calling it done. Knowing some wine and pie pairings can make your get-togethers all the more delicious.
If you’re on the fence about wine and pie, let me explain to you why this is something you should try immediately. Generally, pies are made for bigger dinner nights, right? Holidays, family reunions, birthdays, dinner party with friends — all are great reasons to bake a delicious, buttery crust and fill it with some incredible filling. And having people over to spend quality time together is so festive, that it’s also a great reason to break open a bottle of wine. We’ve all had nights where we finished off half a bottle of merlot on our own, but there is something so wonderful and lovely about sharing a bottle with friends. Refilling glasses, cutting a slice of pie, and laughing are some of my favorite things in the world. So even if you’re a coffee and pie person, which I totally get, try one of these nine pie and wine pairings next time you’re serving a lattice-crusted dessert. Eat, drink, and be merry!
1Pumpkin Pie and Riesling
Because pumpkin pie is so dense and full of spice, Wine Enthusiast recommended a medium to sweet Riesling to pair with this Thanksgiving favorite. Crisp, light, and sweet, Riesling makes for a nice balance with such a heavy pie.
2Apple Pie and Moscato d’Asti
Once the pies come out, you’re probably already feeling a little full, so sticking with a low-alcohol wine isn’t a bad idea. When it comes to apple pie, Food & Wine recommended a Moscato as it has fruity tones and is fizzy, sweet, low in alcohol. It matches well with the buttery crust and apple tartness.
3Pecan Pie and Madeira
With the brown sugar and dark molasses texture and taste of pecan pie, Serious Eats recommended a Portuguese wine called Madeira. A bit like port, Madeira has a bit more of a “burnt” taste to it and is delightfully sweet to pair with pecan pie.
4Chocolate Cream Pie and Port
A chocolate cream pie is sweet, decadent, and silky and deserves a great wine to accompany it. According to Food & Wine, a glass of port pairs nicely and is affordable, too.
5Mince Pie and Merlot
Serving a sweet and spicy mince pie? Break out a bottle of merlot to accompany it. Ralph Real, owner of Monmouth Bottle Shop told The Examiner that a medium-bodied merlot with cherry and allspice flavors pairs well with this classic holiday pie.
6Sweet Potato Pie and Gewurztraminer
For sweet dishes, you should try to match the level of sweetness and acidity to a glass of wine. That’s why Better Homes and Gardens noted that a sweet potato pie goes well with a bottle of Gewurztraminer, a sweet German wine.
7Lemon Meringue Pie and Chardonnay
Tart and sweet, a lemon meringue pie is a favorite and tastes great with a glass of crisp, sweet chardonnay according to Matching Food and Wine. The trick is to finding a wine that has more acidity than the lemon pie so the two don’t wipe the citrus flavors out and leave the tastes strong and too sharp to enjoy.
8Coconut Cream Pie and Sauternes
A delicious, fluffy coconut cream pie deserves a sweet wine that will enhance those tropical flavors. Wine Enthusiast noted that the wine to choose is Sauternes. With flavors of mango, coconut, and pineapple, this is the perfect pairing for an exotic pie like coconut cream.
9Banana Cream Pie and Ice Wine
To keep everyone, including the kids, happy at the table, a banana cream pie is a must. Don’t let the kiddos enjoy its pairing though. Because a banana cream pie is incredibly sweet, a traditional dessert wine isn’t the best option according to Vanessa of Chefdruck. Instead, choose an ice wine, a sweet, acidic, German dessert wine.
Images: Courtesy of Freeskyline/Fotolia; The Tedster, Suzette, Laura Bittner, [puamelia], beckayork, RebeccaVC1, Jules, notahipster, jeffreyww/Flickr
