What happens if you don’t have a full meal in the house yet you want to finish off that bottle of wine? If you’re like many people, you start mixing leftover wine with other foods to see what happens. For example, what happens when you mix a red wine with fish or there is half a bottle of chardonnay and you are having roast for dinner? This becomes more interesting with desert wines. We have been conditioned to believe desert wines are only for desert. Whether from bad marketing or memories of cloying sweet wines, you can drink desert wines at almost any time.
Many of us are also on a budget and have processed foods around the house. Is it possible to enjoy desert wines with common processed and snack foods? Yes, and it can be very tasty.
Desert Wines
Not all desert wines are sugary sweet. Some like viognier and sauternes are crisp and only mildly sweet. However, compared to the tannin heavy wines like merlots and cabernets these wines could be seen as sweet.
Parings
- Viognier and Guacamole: Viognier is a grape that comes from France that has recently been grown in Texas and Washington. It has the flavor of fruits such as mangos and peaches. It pairs well with creamy guacamole, especially if it has lemon or lime in it.
Also try it with: ice cream or applesauce
- Muscat and Macaroni and Cheese: The Muscat grape originally comes from Greece and is thought to be the oldest grape in the world. Its lasting, sweet flavor is broken by something creamy or spicy. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Deluxe is a good choice. Essentia is made from a different type of Muscat from the United States that has very heavy orange flavors. Try this style of muscat with Tres Leches Ice Cream and Dark Chocolate.
Also try it with: Indian food or salsa
- Sauternes and Caramel Apples: Unlike the other grape varietals, it is not made from the grape that it is named after. Sauternes are made from a combination that includes Semillion and Muscadelle. It has a light, apple-y taste that with caramels remind you of well….caramel apples.
Also try it with: M&M’s or fruit cocktail
- Port: Ports are fortified wines that have been aged in oak. This imparts a heavier flavor that should be paired with a similarly heavy food. The tangy, cheddar taste of cheese-its stands up well to port.
Also try it with: Slim Jims
