Comfort food is all about indulgence, familiarity and that cosy, satisfying feeling. The right wine can take it to another level without losing any of the comfort. From fish and chips and mac and cheese to sticky ribs and a takeaway curry, here’s your guide to the best wine with comfort food.
What wine goes with comfort food?
As a rule, match the weight of the wine to the dish, and reach for bubbles or fresh acidity with anything fried or cheesy. Here are our top picks:
- Fried chicken and fish and chips: Champagne, Cava or English sparkling wine
- Burgers: a Malbec or a Zinfandel
- Mac and cheese: an oaked Chardonnay or a Chenin Blanc
- Pizza and lasagna: a Chianti
- Shepherd’s pie and sausage and mash: a Syrah or a Côtes du Rhône
- Ribs and chilli: a Zinfandel or a Shiraz
- Chicken wings and curry: an off-dry Riesling
- Sticky toffee pudding and ice cream: a Tawny Port or a sweet Sherry
- Chocolate cake: a Ruby Port or a Banyuls
What wine goes with fried food?
Fried chicken
Fried chicken‘s crispy coating and juicy meat pair brilliantly with sparkling wine. A dry Champagne or Crémant de Loire has lively bubbles and acidity that cut through the fat. For a more budget-friendly option, a crisp Cava from Spain delivers the same refreshing effect with citrus and brioche notes.
Fish and chips
The bubbles and acidity of a sparkling wine work just as well with the crispy batter of fish and chips. Try a Brut Champagne or an English sparkling wine. If you prefer a still wine, a Chablis or a Picpoul de Pinet is crisp and lemony, like a squeeze of lemon on the fish, and both are classic wines with fish.
Burgers
Juicy, beefy burgers call for a wine that matches their richness. Malbec from Argentina is a go-to, with plush dark fruit and smooth tannins that pair with grilled meat. If your burger is loaded with cheese and smoky bacon, a Zinfandel from California adds bold fruit and spice that stand up to all the extra flavours.
What wine goes with cheesy comfort food?
Mac and cheese
Few dishes scream comfort like mac and cheese. Its creamy richness calls for a wine with enough body to stand up to it. Oaked Chardonnay from Burgundy or California is a classic choice, with a buttery texture and notes of vanilla and toast that mirror the dish. If you prefer something fresher, a Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley has the body to handle the creaminess and the acidity to cut through it.
Cauliflower cheese
Cauliflower cheese, baked in a Cheddar sauce, is lighter than mac and cheese but just as comforting. A Mâcon-Villages, an unoaked Chardonnay from southern Burgundy, brings fresh apple and citrus notes that suit the sauce. Its fresh, unoaked style is just as good with raclette and tartiflette.
Grilled cheese or croque-monsieur
The crunch and gooeyness of grilled cheese or croque-monsieur beg for a wine with freshness. A dry Riesling from Germany or Alsace is super refreshing, with bright citrus and floral notes. A Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley adds crisp acidity and herbaceous freshness, and works just as well if you’re dipping your sandwich in a bowl of tomato soup.
What wine goes with pizza and lasagna?
Pizza
Pizza is a comfort classic. A Chianti works beautifully, with its bright acidity balancing the tomato sauce and its savoury notes enhancing the cheese. For a richer pizza with meat toppings, try a Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux, which has enough structure to handle bold flavours. For a match for every topping, see our guide to wine with pizza.
Lasagna
Lasagna layers pasta, meat, tomato and cheese, and it needs a wine with freshness to balance the richness. Chianti Classico or a Nebbiolo-based wine has high acidity and savoury flavours, perfect with tomato sauce. As an alternative, a Zinfandel works beautifully with the meat, as it does with most meaty pasta dishes.
What wine goes with pies and mash?
Shepherd’s pie and cottage pie
Shepherd’s pie (or cottage pie), with savoury minced meat topped with buttery mashed potato, is as hearty as it gets. A Syrah from the Northern Rhône works beautifully, with peppery spice and earthy notes. From the same area, a Côtes du Rhône blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre is another great option.
Fish pie
A creamy fish pie with smoked haddock, salmon and prawns needs a white with freshness. A Chablis or another unoaked Chardonnay balances the creamy sauce, while an Albariño brings a lovely salty, citrus edge that suits the seafood.
Chicken pot pie
Creamy chicken pot pie, with its golden pastry and rich filling, pairs beautifully with a lightly oaked Chardonnay from Burgundy or California. For something lighter, a Pinot Gris from Alsace is also an option. The same wines suit most creamy stews and casseroles.
Sausage and mash
Sausage and mash with onion gravy loves a juicy, easy-going red. A Côtes du Rhône or a Chilean Merlot has soft tannins and ripe fruit that match the sweet, savoury gravy. Serving a full roast instead? Here’s the best wine with a Sunday roast.
Toad in the hole
Toad in the hole, sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter, works with the same fruity reds as sausage and mash. A Beaujolais, made from Gamay, is a lighter alternative, with bright red fruit that lifts the dish.
What wine goes with spicy and smoky comfort food?
Chilli con carne
Chilli con carne is spicy, smoky and warming, making it a great match for fruit-forward wines with bold flavours. Zinfandel from California is a perfect choice, with jammy fruit and peppery spice that complement the heat. If you prefer an Old World style, try a Grenache from Spain or southern France, which offers bright red fruit and a hint of spice.
BBQ ribs and pulled pork
Sweet, sticky barbecue ribs and pulled pork need a red with plenty of ripe fruit to match the sauce. A California Zinfandel or an Australian Shiraz, from regions like the Barossa Valley, has the richness and smoky spice to stand up to the barbecue flavours.
Chicken wings
Spicy buffalo wings are best with a wine that cools the heat. An off-dry Riesling, with a touch of sweetness and fresh acidity, is ideal. A dry rosé also works well, especially with milder barbecue wings and other grilled chicken.
Nachos
Loaded nachos with melted cheese, salsa and jalapeños are perfect with a fruity Spanish Garnacha or a crisp rosé, two wines that also work with tacos, enchiladas and most Mexican food.
A takeaway curry
A Friday-night curry is the ultimate British comfort food. An off-dry Riesling or a Gewürztraminer softens the spice of a korma or a jalfrezi, while a light, fruity red suits a tikka masala: a mild korma and a fiery vindaloo need very different wines with curry.
What wine goes with comfort desserts?
Sticky toffee pudding
A rich sticky toffee pudding needs a wine that is at least as sweet as the dish. A Tawny Port, with its caramel and nutty notes, or a sweet Pedro Ximénez Sherry, full of dates and raisins, echoes the toffee sauce beautifully. Both are among the best dessert wines for winter puddings, while an apple crumble is better with a lighter, fruitier sweet wine like a Late Harvest Riesling.
Chocolate cake
A slice of chocolate fudge cake can make a dry red taste bitter, so choose a sweet red instead. A Ruby Port or a Banyuls from southern France has rich red fruit and enough sweetness to match the chocolate. Milk, dark and white chocolate each have their own match, so here’s how to choose the right wine with chocolate.
Ice cream
Ice cream is tricky with wine, as the cold numbs your palate, but a sweet, intense wine works well. Try pouring a little Pedro Ximénez over vanilla ice cream, a classic Spanish dessert, or serve a Tawny Port with salted caramel ice cream.
FAQ
Red or white wine with comfort food?
It depends on the dish: reds suit meaty dishes like burgers, pies and chilli, while whites and sparkling wines are better with fried, creamy and cheesy food. When in doubt, a sparkling wine works with almost everything.
Does sparkling wine go with fried food?
Yes, it’s one of the best matches there is. The bubbles and acidity cleanse your palate after each crispy, salty bite.
What’s a good budget wine for a cosy night in?
A Côtes du Rhône, a Chilean Merlot or a Spanish Garnacha are all great value. They’re fruity and easy to drink, and they suit most comfort dishes.
What wine goes with a takeaway?
An off-dry Riesling is a safe bet for spicy curries and Chinese food, while a fruity Zinfandel or Malbec suits pizza and burgers. For fish and chips, open a bottle of bubbles.
