6 good wine pairings for aubergine/eggplant

Aubergine - or eggplant as it’s known in the US - doesn’t have a strong flavour of its own but tends to enrich any dish in which it’s included especially when baked with tomatoes and cheese. So if you're looking for a wine pairing for aubergine parmigiana or eggplant parmesan read on!

In general I find the best wine match for aubergine or eggplant is a hearty red unless you’re serving it cold as in a baba ganoush or spicy aubergine salad. Good examples are:

* Italian reds - especially southern Italian and Sicilian reds with their dark slightly bitter hedgerow fruit which seem made for aubergines. Try a Negroamaro or Primitivo (see also Zinfandel below)

* Greek, Turkish and Lebanese reds with their wild briary flavours. Unsurprisingly since aubergine is such an important ingredient in that part of the world. 

* Provençal reds especially those that are made from or include Mourvèdre in the blend - like Bandol

*Zinfandel is always good with rich aubergine bakes like moussaka but stick to the younger fresher styles. Killer Zins of 15% can be a bit overwhelming with this kind of dish 

Which wine to pair with moussaka

*For cold aubergine dishes such as baba ganoush or aubergine salads or try a crisp dry Provençal or southern French rosé or Spanish rosado.

*I'm also really into amber/orange wines with aubergines as in this pairing with grilled aubergines and walnut sauce. If you're looking for an alcohol-free pairing pomegranate juice is a delicious match.

*For lighter aubergine dishes such as a tian of aubergine try a medium-bodied Italian red such as a Chianti or other Sangiovese-based red.

Image ©Anna Shepulova at shutterstock.com

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