Soup and Wine Pairings

A perfect pairing - wine and soup. Image Credit: Slash Foods

Guest Blogger: Becky Tyner of Small Wine Lots
 

Last month, I was asked by a well known chef to make a soup, pair it with wine, and then tweet about it. At first I thought it would be a difficult feat. But after thinking about it I realized that pairing soup with wine is like pairing any other meal with wine. Let’s take a steak dinner.  On the plate are some veggies, mashed potatoes, and then the steak. When picking out the wine for that plate we mainly focus on the wine though we do take into consideration the side dishes.  Soup is similar to this. It’s basically a plate of food in liquid form. So, when pairing the most important thing is to focus on the main flavors. Chicken, spice, mushrooms, whatever it is..and figure out which wine will go with those flavors. Of course the best pairing is that you drink wine you like with food that you like!
 

Here are some of my recommendations for wine and soups:

1. Roasted Butternut Squash - Pair with Spann Vineyards Chardonnay -

A naturally sweet soup, butternut squash works well with this Spann Vineyards Chardonnay - a crisp, refreshing and food-friendly wine.

2. Beef and Barley Soup- Pair with Clark Claudon Cab
ernet -

Containing black fruit aromas such as black cherry, plum and cassis with hints of pomegranate, this Cabernet works well with the rich and hearty beef in this soup. The wine is also described as being "full on the palate" whose complex tastes include "cured meats, floral notes and shaved dark chocolate leading to a long cedar, black fruit and mocha finish."

3. Turkey and Vegetable Soup - Pair with a light D’Argenzio Tocai Fruilano 
-

A delicious addition to mix up a typical Turkey Soup, this seasonal delicacy pairs well with the fruity notes in this wine.

4. French Onion Soup - Pair with Mount Rose of Syrah -

A pungent soup generally made from beef stock, French Onion Soup and its rich gruyere cheese is a classic that pairs well with wine from New Zealand. Described as having a "deep, rich color with a concentration of flavors." This wine works well with the rich flavors of this soup.

5. Potato and Leek Soup - Pair with Spelletich Chardonnay (non ML)
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A creamy and velvety soup, Potato and Leek Soup pairs well with Spelletich Chardonnay, a wine from Napa Valley. Described as containing "hints of lavender and caramelized apricots lead into a perfectly balanced mouth feel with a tantalizing soft hint of cream" this complex blend balances well with this earthy and flavorful soup.

6. Chicken Noodle Soup - Pair with Broman Sauvignon Blanc - 

A classic soup recipe that is not only a hearty meal but mom's choice as a natural cold elixir.  Broman Cellars' Savingnon Blanc is the perfect pairing with this soup that features a vibrant blend of citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemongrass and lime zest) and some white peach and apricot.


7. Manhattan Clam Chowder - Pair with Tool Box Pinot Grigio
 - 

The tomato sauce version, Manhattan Clam Chowder combines the perfect blend of fresh clams, celery, onions, pepper, and potatoes. The Tool Box Pinot is balanced with fresh green apple, bright citrus and clean mineral flavors" that provides a crisp and satisfying finish when paired with a fish-based soup.

8. Minestrone Soup - Pair with Spotted Owl Alexandria’s Cuvee
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A hearty vegetable soup with red beans, macaroni pasta, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini and much more is an easy and quick soup recipe that pairs well with Spotted Owl Alexandria’s cuvee, a wine that is not produced every year. This unique varietal is reminiscent of a Syrah as well as aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, mulberry, and spice.

9. Pork Wonton Soup - Pair with a Halleck Dry Gewurztraminer
 - 

A traditional Chinese dish, pork wonton soup is a delicious combination of vegetables and pork broth that pairs well with a Halleck Dry Gewurztraminer, a wine from the Russian River Valley. Containing "deep lychee, pineapple, rose petals and magnolia," this complex wine is said to leave a "long cleansing finish." 

10. Kale, White Bean and Sausage Soup - Pair with Moshin Vineyards Bowman Zin (2007
) -

A wine that contains notes of white pepper, spice, vanilla and blueberry that complements the smoky flavors of the sausage (or chirzo), hearty beans and rich flavors in the kale. 

11. Lentil Soup - Pair with Renard Roussanne (2007) - 

One of my favorites, Lentil Soup is classic comfort food that also happens to be healthy. This Renard Roussanne, a chardonny from Santa Barbara, is a complex blend featuring "almond blossom, nectarine, apricot and honeycomb as well as accents of melon and mint. Said to have a "lasting finish," this wine can enhance the flavors in the lentils and make for a luxurious meal. 

Small Wine Lots is a boutique company that focuses on smaller lost wineries in order to connect the wine enthusiast to a winery and to make sure they have fun while doing so. Small Wine Lots hosts wine events, provides tours to wineries, hosts dinners with their Sommelier and has a wine club. To learn more about Small Wine Lots, please call (707) 501-7954, email info@smalllotsbigwines.com or visit their website: Small Wine Lots.