Thursday Virtual Happy Hour: Pairing Wine with Ice Cream
Details
Pairing wine with ice cream relies on matching intensity and matching sweetness, generally pairing creamy textures with sparkling, sweet, or fortified wines. Top combinations include vanilla with Prosecco or Moscato, chocolate with Ruby Port or Shiraz, and fruit flavors with Riesling or Rosé.
Key Pairings by Ice Cream Flavor
- Vanilla: Pairs well with sweet sparkling wines like Asti Spumante, Moscato d'Asti, or a Demi-Sec Champagne.
- Chocolate: Matches perfectly with full-bodied, fruity reds such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, or a sweet Ruby Port.
- Mint Chocolate Chip: Complements the eucalyptus and red fruit notes of a young Australian Shiraz.
- Strawberry/Berry: Pairs well with sparkling Rosé, Moscato, or dry Rosé.
- Caramel/Butter Pecan: Pairs well with Tawny Port, Sherry, or Vin Santo.
- Coffee: Pairs well with creamy, bold reds like Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Plain/Tart Yogurt: Matches with acidic dessert wines like Vin Santo.
Key Tips for Success
- Sweetness is Key: The wine should generally be sweeter than the ice cream; otherwise, the wine will taste sour or bitter.
- Try Wine Floats: For an extra indulgent treat, pour sparkling wine over sorbet.
- Consider Toppings: Nuts pair well with Madeira or Sherry, while dark chocolate toppings pair well with Zinfandel.
- Avoid High Tannins: Very dry, tannic red wines will clash with the creamy, sweet fat of the ice cream
We have a choice of videos to watch including:
- https://youtu.be/vnqUiFG25OQ?si=yuFDkYrB693FnJA5 - You Scream, I Scream for Ice Cream and Wine!! - Three Corky Dudes (18:20)
- https://youtu.be/f9z-2Vy1gnw?si=tPTVvX8ks9KgoaDK - Wine & Ice Cream Pairings - Good Day Sacramento (4:08)
- https://youtu.be/4RBX5nFQPVQ?si=_RNdibWuKZRMK87U - Does Ice Cream and Wine Work? We Try the Viral Trend - The Wined Up (8:21)
So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!
Cheers!!