Wine & Bites

Elevate your snacking game!

When serving several wines at a gathering, having the proper snacks will help cleanse the palate between different wines. And serving the proper complementary flavors can turn a good tasting wine into a great tasting wine.

Cheese

A typical accompaniment at wine tasting parties, cheese and wine go together like milk and cookies. The oils and flavors from the cheeses will help to cut some of the acidity of the wine while diluting the aftertaste of the wine. Having a wide variety of cheeses available will make any wine tasting a great success. It’s great fun trying to pair different dairy flavors with favorite wines. Stay away from the ‘stinky’ variety of cheeses, as they will fill the air with their special ‘perfume’ and do not mix well with any wine. Their aroma is much better suited for very strong beer.

Chocolates

Rich red wine and rich dark chocolates go hand in hand. Of all the flavor combinations, this is the one that makes people ‘purr.’ Choose very good chocolate, rich in cocoa, which usually means a bit darker. You don’t have to choose bitter chocolate. Look for somewhat darker, very smooth, individual chocolates that are free of fillings and nuts; you don’t want anything to distract from the chocolate-wine combination. Simple, solid, smooth chocolates that melt in your mouth will be the perfect accompaniment to most any red wine.

Crackers

A staple with many cheeses, crackers help to cleanse the palate while absorbing some of the alcohol from the back of the throat and cheeks. A tip with crackers is to keep it simple. Crackers with strong flavors may actually alter the taste of wines because they are so overpowering. Look for lightly salted, simple crackers that let the flavors of the cheese and wine come through. And, heaven forbid, do not include any cheese-flavored crackers. That just defeats the purpose.

Cured Olives

We see more and more of these treats at prestigious parties and modern restaurants during wine tastings. The salty flavor compliments many wines, while the briny solution allows the mouth to salivate, thus recovering from some of the drier wines. Kalamata olives are an excellent choice that many people are familiar with. Be sure to provide bowls for the olive pits.

Varied Nuts

An assortment of different nuts is a perfect accompaniment to wine. A good assortment of nuts goes well with cheese, as well as wines. Macadamia nuts, walnuts, and almonds are great options for light, yet rich nuts to serve at a wine tasting party. You can choose to buy un-roasted nuts and toast them in a skillet or cookie sheet and sprinkle with a light dusting of salt.

Dried Fruit

Since dried fruits usually have a lighter taste and a more solid texture than fresh fruit, a simple dried fruit selection can actually help to play out the fruit tastes in the wine. Dried strawberries, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, and apricots make great additions to wine tasting.

Bruschetta

Bruschetta is a great snack for wine tasting because it combines the soaking ability of the bread along with the oily cheese and even some tomato and basil to help cut the acidity in the wines.