Pairings

My top wine pairings with strawberries

Posted on June 30 2025 at 09:37

I’m sure you’re enjoying a bowlful or two of strawberries at this time of year. But what to drink with them?

Tags: noshow:highlight passionfruit juice mango juice fruit juice ratafia di fragola Pimms No 1 Cup orange liqueur Cointreau bellini kir royale strawberry beer cherry beer raspberry beer kriek frambozen fruit beer Beaujolais sparkling rosé drink:red wine Australian sparkling rosé Moscato Asti Moscato d'Asti sparkling white Zinfandel demi-sec Champagne Beerenauslese Riesling Coteaux du Layon Semillon Sauvignon vin doux naturel Maury Muscat Sauternes Muscat-de-Beaumes-de-Venise sorbet ice cream chocolate pavlova sundae meringue shortcake tart cake gâteau soufflé mousse Eton Mess strawberry strawberries food:desserts & cakes food:fruit
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What to drink with cake (updated)

Posted on September 5 2007 at 09:42

A recent email from a reader asked me to suggest a wine to go with “a triple coconut cake with a tangy pineapple icing served with fresh fruit salsa that has kiwi, strawberry, mandarine oranges, blueberries and fresh pineapple in it”.

Tags: noshow:highlight tropical fruit juice fruit juice espresso double espresso coffee latte cappuccino Earl Grey green tea Darjeeling chocolate beer raspberry beer cherry beer frambozen kriek coffee beer porter passion fruit beer mango beer peach beer fruit beer barley wine spiced rum rum malt whisky fruit liqueur peach schnapps peach liqueur whisky Whisky Mac ginger liqueur ginger wine cherry brandy Cointreau orange liqueur Grand Marnier passion fruit liqueur Moscato d'Asti Moscato demi-sec Champagne Prosecco rosé Champagne Champagne Maury Banyuls Vintage Character port Late Bottled Vintage port vin doux naturel liqueur Muscat Bual oloroso sherry Madeira port tawny port Pedro Ximenez cream sherry Moscatel de Valencia coconut cake coffee and walnut cake coffee cake chocolate roulade chocolate cake gingerbread fairy cakes cup cakes ice cream gâteau mille feuille fruit cake lemon cake orange cake almond cake pound cake madeira cake gâteau cake cakes food:desserts & cakes
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8 great drinks to match with mince pies (updated)

Posted on December 2 2024 at 11:36

Mince pies are so popular we all start eating them well before Christmas so what’s the best drink to pair with them?

3 things you need to think about when pairing wine with chocolate

Posted on July 7 2021 at 07:15

Chocolate is supposed to be impossible to match with wine but like any other ingredient it depends on the chocolate and how it’s used.

The best food and wine pairings for Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 12 2025 at 07:02

If you’re planning a special meal for Valentine’s Day you may be wondering which wine to pair with your menu. I’ve picked some favourite Valentine’s Day foods and suggested some matches that should work well with them.

The best food pairings for Grenache

Posted on September 17 2021 at 08:27

Although grenache is a grape variety that is not often celebrated, it’s one that deserves a closer look. As usual it’s hard to pin down a definitive style but it’s fair to say grenache is usually full-bodied, soft and low in acidity. Some grenaches are pretty powerful - usually due to natural bedfellows like syrah and mourvèdre being blended in - others, like Côtes du Rhône, are easy-drinking.

Tags: Spanish rosé vin doux naturel Maury Rasteau Banyuls drink:sweet & fortified wine Languedoc Tavel Grenache rosé Garnacha Rosado white Côtes du Rhône drink:rosé Côtes du Rhône Blanc Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe Blanc Collioure Blanc white Rioja white Grenache Rhône drink:white wine Mourvèdre Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe Syrah Côtes du Rhône Garnacha Grenache drink:red wine chocolate figs food:fruit blue cheese paella charcuterie root vegetables oxtail venison game Christmas dinner Christmas turkey vegetarian Christmas turkey barbecue bean bake beans pulses macaroni cheese cheddar Red Leicester pie meat pie steak and kidney pie shepherds pie mash sausages sausage and mash rogan josh tagine curry goulash pimenton paprika lamb lamb shanks should of lamb casserole braise stew daube pork rabbit Moroccan cuisine Indian cuisine cheese grenache drink:red wine
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Stichelton (or Stilton) with Maury 1974 and Bristol Beer Factory Glenlivet-cask stout

Posted on December 19 2011 at 21:17

Two matches for the price of one this week - both killer pairings at our Christmas Cheese School* last week.

Tags: stout drink:beer & cider Grenache Maury fortified Maury 1974 drink:sweet & fortified wine Stilton Stichelton blue cheese food:cheese Glenlivet Cask Stout Bristol Beer Factory
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Figs, blue cheese and Maury

Posted on September 1 2008 at 18:57

We’ve been feasting on figs from our neighbours' fig tree in Grau d’Agde down in the Languedoc this weekend - all the more satisfying as I gather that back home Waitrose is currently selling them at 99p each.