Pairings | Fruit

My top wine pairings with strawberries

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on July 15 2024 at 06:50

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

The classic pairing of champagne is to my mind too dry unless the champagne is rosé or demi-sec but there are plenty of other possibilities depending on how you serve your berries.

Unsweetened strawberries or served plain with a little sugar

Perfectly ripe berries, especially wild strawberries can be delicious with an off-dry sparkling wine such as Moscato d’Asti, Asti, Extra Dry prosecco or even a sparkling white zinfandel or Australian sparkling rosé like Jacob’s Creek. You could also serve them the French or Italian way macerated in a light red wine such as Beaujolais with a little sugar - a (reasonably) healthy alternative to cream!

Strawberries and cream

The perfect foil for a classic dessert wine such as Sauternes or (more economically) Muscat-de-Beaumes-de-Venise. Alternatively if you don’t want to serve wine you could choose a contrasting but complementary well-chilled fruit juice such as passionfruit or mango.

Light airy strawberry desserts such as mousses, soufflés or gâteaux

Demi-sec or rosé Champagne or similar sparkling wine.

Strawberry tarts or shortcakes

The additional sweetness you get from the pastry or shortbread means your wine needs to be sweeter. Sauternes or similar wines from the Bordeaux region will probably work but I’d be inclined to go for a luscious new world botrytised or late harvest semillon or sauvignon. Sweet wines from the Loire such as Coteaux du Layon can also work well

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Comments: 5 (Add)

Fiona Beckett on August 12 2017 at 07:32

What glamour though I'm sure that must have been as much about the occasion as the combination!

Evelyn on August 12 2017 at 01:42

Back in the 1940's, my dad and I would enjoy
Pimms #1 in a copper mug, served with cold
lobster....

Adrian Levy on July 10 2015 at 00:09

I would surely opt for a nice glass of Braquetto d'Aqui to go with my Eton Mess.

Fiona Beckett on July 16 2013 at 11:27

I do agree with you, Regula - I used to love the tart fresh fruit beers and they've really become quite sickly - more like a flavoured cider. Good luck with your beer sommelier school!

Regula @ Miss Foodwise on June 25 2013 at 10:58

I'm very lucky to be able to get my strawberries from a local farm, they are sold from the farm straight from the field and ones you have tasted them you will never buy a punnet in a store ever again...
I like strawberries with a chocolaty stout or porter, I'm not very fond of our new Belgian fruit beers although our traditional kriek beers are very delicious indeed. Recently however the kriek and fruit beers have become sweeter and sweeter which is a terrible shame. The real kriek beers are out of favour because of their natural sour taste (because of the geuze or Lambic), I love them. Some really have the flavour of cherry kernels which is delightful indeed. From the kriek beers I would choose an Oud Beersel, it has a kernel flavour that will work nice with the strawberries and isn't very sour. It is hard to get, but worth it to have a look!
I'm starting Belgian bier sommelier at school in september, I hope you will enjoy to read my musings from class on my new beer blog!

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