What Snacks Go Good With Wine?

Drinking wine is usually more fun when several people are enjoying the wine together. Often wine is served with snacks.  What are the best snacks to eat with wine? 

Some wine connoisseurs suggest that only certain foods should be consumed at the same time, but there is no universal rule mandating such an idea.

Granted, for some official gatherings you may want to be super selective about your pairings, but if you are at home or among friends, you can drink wine and combine it with any food that you like; of course, some pairings will better enhance the taste buds.

Further, there is no harm in experimenting with different foods. If you are having a wine gathering, here are some food pairing suggestions.

1. Crackers, cheese, and summer sausage are favorites of many that always go great with either red or white wine (Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay).  This is a good snack to eat with Pinot Noir.  You may wish to have a variety of different types of cheeses available (i.e., Cambernet, Brie, Cheddar, Roquefort, etc.) and salted crackers to enhance the taste.  There are so many good cheese and cracker combinations.
    
2. Veggies with hummus is another snack that is universally liked by most people. Plus, vegetarians, vegans, and individuals who try especially hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle will love this food. You can use a combination of veggies (carrots, celery, cauliflower, cucumber), and an assortment of exotic homemade hummus (roasted, spicy, creamy avocado, etc.).
    
3. Trail mix (almonds, pistachios, cashews, peanuts) is another great snack to eat with Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. To make it even tastier, add some dried fruit (cranberries, raisins) with a tinge of sweet roasted coconut.
    
4. If you are at home watching a movie, then try popcorn with either sparkling (Champagne, Cava, Moscato) or dessert wine (Ice wine, Vin Santo, Sauternes).
    
5. If popcorn is not your thing, then try potato chips (barbecue, spicy, onion flavor) and combine it with one of the following wines - Moscato, Riesling, Port, etc. If the chips are salty, stick with a sweet wine as it will also quench the thirst.
    
6. Deli meat (Chorizo, slices of ham, Prosciutto, chicken fingers, salami, and chicken wings) will go great with fruity wines (i.e., Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, and Syrah).
    
7. Almost any type of pizza goes great with wine (i.e., Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Fiano, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barberra, etc.). The key is to make the pizza spicy, hot with a variety of toppings (sausage, bacon, mushroom, olives, anchovies, and gorgonzola).
    
8. Tortilla chips and dip (salsa verde, creamy tahini, spinach artichoke, avocado aioli, roasted garlic red hummus) will go great with Malbec, Chardonnay, or Port.
    
9. Finally, if you are having a romantic get-together, then nothing beats chocolate and wine. Almost any Cadbury chocolate is a great snack to eat with Pinot Noir, but if you like dark chocolate, then Merlot, Zinfandel, or Syrah can make the romance blossom.

There really is no right or wrong food that can be eaten when consuming wine. It is all a matter of personal preference.  What are the best snacks to eat with wine? 

If you like a particular food, then, by all means, pair it with a wine and see what happens!  Check out the Pacific Rim and Blog Company to discover new wines.