Pairing Wines with Mackinac Fudge (2024)

FAQs

What wine goes well with fudge? ›

Red Wine!!

Any full-bodied red will do. Favorites are so subjective. Two Washington Syrahs that work are “Haystack Needle” or “Lick my Lips”. Another fun pairing is an Italian Negroamaro by Palama.

A sweet dessert wine, a rich port, or even a smooth whiskey can enhance the flavours of the fudge. The key is to balance the sweetness of the fudge with the right alcoholic note. Ice Cream: A classic pairing is fudge with vanilla ice cream.

When serving wine with a dessert, the wine's sweetness should equal or exceed that of the dessert, or the wine will taste sour and unappealing. This is the one hard-and-fast rule in this otherwise relaxed exploration of wine and food.

The general rule of thumb is to serve a wine at least as sweet or sweeter than the food being served. Sweet foods make dry wines seem over-acidic and tart. Sweet wines with a good level of acidity, such as Sauternes, are a perfect match for rich foods like pâté.

The cold, creamy texture of the ice cream melds perfectly with the dense, soft fudge, creating a classic dessert combination. Whipped Cream or Clotted Cream: Adding a dollop of whipped or clotted cream to a piece of fudge can soften its intense sweetness and add a luxurious texture.

When choosing the right wine for dessert, get creative. You don't have to stick with just dessert wines. Varieties like Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Moscato, Cabernet, and Syrah are also great choices, as are many blends.

Fudge Brownies and Merlot

One of our go-to chocolate-heavy desserts is brownies! When pairing brownies with wine, I recommend sticking to dry red wines like Merlot or even a Cabernet Sauvignon. Dry red wines will accentuate the chocolatey flavors and withstand their sweetness.

Champagne, Prosecco and other sparkling wines are the perfect drinks to enjoy with fruity desserts. For a romantic pud, why not go for the classic combo of Champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries? And if you really want to ramp up those fruity flavours, you could always try a refreshing gin liqueur.

Believe it or not, Cabernet Sauvignon can go well with desserts, too, notably those of the dark chocolate variety. Rich, decadent dark chocolate complements the fruit flavors of the wine, while the dessert's sweetness balances the tannins.

Does Pinot Noir go with dessert? ›

Pinot Noir and Chocolate Tort: A classic red wine and chocolate pairing, Pinot Noir and chocolate cake is a match made in heaven. The rich, dark flavor of chocolate ganache and summer berries is perfectly offset by the bright red fruit notes of Pinot Noir.

Pairing a bold wine like cabernet sauvignon or syrah with delicate dishes like white fish is a major no-no. Save those wines for hearty fare, rich meat sauces and grilled or smoked meats. The same is true for cheese. Strong cheeses call for robust wines—like pairing Stilton with port.

Foods with the following characteristics are somewhat difficult to match: salty foods, extremely sweet foods, high acid and spicy foods (adapted from Baldy, 1993). Salty Foods. Some foods like ham, anchovies, bacon, or oysters can have a fairly high level of salt which can make wine pairing difficult.

So, the 20/20 rule is to simply to put the reds IN the fridge for 20 minutes or so, and take the whites OUT of the fridge 20 minutes or so before serving. This will ensure that each wine is at the optimal temperature for enjoying all that the winemaker intended.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot are winners. For higher cacao percentages, you may have to go for sweeter wines that balance the bitterness. Some ideas are Ruby Port or Italian dessert wine.

Enjoy chocolate covered nuts alongside a nutty wine like a Madeira or a Marsala. This is especially good to remember when enjoying truffles with wine.