Food Pairing Ideas for Sweet Wines

Wine and food go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it’s no wonder that we all search for the perfect pairing ideas when serving our favorite wines with culinary creations. But what if your favorite wines are sweet? There hasn’t been a lot of focus on sweet wine pairings in the wine world, but here at Quady Winery, we think about it often because we’ve been living the sweet life since 1975. So if you’re looking for food pairing ideas for sweet wines, you’ve come to the right place! There’s a palatable new world just waiting to be discovered if you’ve never paired sweet wine with food before.

Appetizers

Feel like keeping things light? Light and sweet Electra Moscatos make an excellent pairing with lighter fare. From your mom’s deviled egg recipe with sweet paprika to salty and savory charcuterie, hitting the appetizer table with a glass of sweet Moscato in your hand never tasted so good.

But what about fuller-bodied sweet wines? Are they pair-worthy with cheeses and other appetizers? Actually yes! Dessert wines are wonderful for pairing with desserts due to their sweetness, but many are also fantastic paired with cheeses of all kinds. Try Elysium Black Muscat with its dark cherry, boysenberry and rose profile, paired with blue cheese for a sublime flavor combo, or enjoy the tartness of goat cheese paired with the sweet & spiced orange marmalade characteristics of Essensia Orange Muscat.

Brunch

Craving an omelet with all the fixings for brunch? Set aside the traditional mimosa or Bloody Mary and sip on something sweet with your eggs instead. A light, crisp Moscato like Electra Moscato is the perfect complement to brunch foods like fluffy eggs flavored with a salty cheese like feta, veggies or even salty meats like bacon or ham. Take a bite, take a sip and enjoy the interplay of sweet and salty.

If sweet brekky like French toast is more your style, then a sweet wine pairing is a definite must! A sweet wine will complement the sweetness in the food for a balanced, satisfactory dining experience. French toast covered in strawberries and syrup is a tasty match with the sweet cherry-berry-pomegranate profile of Red Electra Moscato. This berry nice food pairing with sweet wine definitely offers up a taste of the sweet life.

Barbecue

It’s time to head out to the grill and turn up the heat on hotdogs, burgers, chicken & ribs and more for this food pairing with sweet wine! You likely associate a beverage like beer as being the perfect partner for hotdogs and salty potato chips, but you might be pleasantly surprised by a sweet rosé like Electra Moscato Rosé. Refreshingly crisp and delicately fruity, a white Moscato or a Moscato Rosé is easy to sip alongside hotdogs, pasta salad, potato chips and other barbecue favorites.

Chicken and ribs coated in tangy barbecue sauce are a mouthwatering pairing with a red Moscato like Red Electra. Its sweet & juicy red fruit flavors with a touch of tartness are an excellent complement to the sweet tanginess of spices and sauce used to flavor the meat. Once you try this food pairing idea for sweet wines, you may never want barbecue without Moscato again!

Cultural Cuisine

What do egg rolls, chow mein, sweet orange chicken and spicy broccoli beef have in common? They all taste delicious paired with Red Electra Moscato! Like sweet & salty, sweet with spice is oh so nice. The next time you pick up Asian food for dinner, don’t forget to sweeten the deal with Moscato.

One food pairing idea for sweet wines you don’t have to tell us twice about is tacos. Who doesn’t love tacos?! While a dry red wine might clash with the spiciness of salsa or garnishes such as jalapeños, a light and sweet fruity Moscato will vibe in perfect harmony whether you opt for chicken, carne asada or al pastor.

Pizza

Pizza deserves its own category because it’s, well, pizza! All of that melted cheese and smorgasbord of delicious toppings make pizza a favorite dish of people from all over. Because pizza can be a heavier dish, a light, crisp and refreshing sweet wine like Moscato won’t compete with all of that cheesy goodness.

Meat Dishes

Yes, even meat-based dishes can taste delicious with sweet wine! If you’re not opting for spicy, meats with sweet sauces make an excellent food pairing for sweet wine. So load up on that cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving dinner or try a new recipe that might just become a new pairing favorite!

Are you feeling inspired by these food pairing ideas for sweet wines? What do you like noshing on while sipping your favorite sweet wine? Share your pairings with us by tagging @quadywinery on social. Cheers to flavorful new pairings!