Wine Pairings for Vegetarians

Many of us were taught that white wine goes with fish, and red wine with meat. But what if you are a vegetarian? Does that mean there is no wine pairing for you? Absolutely not! I am a long-time “pescetarian” who eats dairy products, eggs and fish, and I have some great wine pairings to recommend based on my experience.

The goal for pairing vegetarian dishes with wine is the same as pairing non-vegetarian dishes with wine. The wine and the dish should complement each other. Ideally, each should accentuate the other.

It’s a Matter of Strength
For a good pairing, you want to make sure that the food and wine have roughly the same strength of flavor. A big, full-bodied red wine such as a Cabernet Sauvignon would probably be much too powerful for a light salad. The salad would get lost.

Complement or Contrast
For a good pairing, you want to complement or contrast the flavors and textures in the food and wine. An example of a complementary pairing is an earthy Pinot Noir with a wild mushroom risotto. The food and the wine exude earthy, mushroom notes. An example of a contrasting pairing is a crisp, acidic Sauvignon Blanc with a buttery, creamy fish dish. The crisp acidity of the wine cuts through the creaminess of the sauce.
Until the 1980s, the complementary strategy prevailed. In the last 30 years, as people have become more experimental in the kitchen, the contrasting strategy has gained more favor (and flavor).

Dish	Recommended Wines
Mushroom dishes (e.g., vegetarian mushroom stroganoff, mushroom bisque, mushroom risotto)	Pinot Noir
Pizza	Zinfandel, Sangiovese or Cabernet Sauvignon
Tomato-based pasta dishes	Sangiovese
Other pasta dishes (e.g., eggplant lasagna, cheese tortellini with pesto)	Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
Vegetable stir fry	Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir
Spicy Asian dishes (including Thai, Indian and Chinese)	Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc or Rosé
Garlic-heavy dishes	Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah/Shiraz
Barbecue dishes (e.g., tofu, fish, vegetables)	Syrah or Merlot
Sushi	Sparkling Wine/Champagne
Nachos and other Mexican dishes	Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc or Tempranillo
Dishes with almonds or walnuts	Chardonnay
Macaroni and cheese	Chardonnay
Roasted potatoes	Tempranillo or Pinot Noir
Salads	Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio or Rosé