Have you ever wanted to have your friends over for a couple of glasses of wine and small bites, but you just weren’t sure which wine party foods would pair well together? My husband and I love to entertain from the comfort of our own home and, over time, we’ve discovered a few favorite no-fail, simple and delicious appetizers to pair with easy-to-find wines. These wine party appetizers will please wine lovers (and newbies!) and they offer the right food characteristics to balance your wine choices, and create that wow experience.
1. Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Spinach and Artichoke Dip goes with so many different types of wine, from rosé to red! This appetizer is so versatile that you can pair it with almost any wine and it will be a huge hit. I have to say my favorite wine to pair with this delicious dip is a Chardonnay or a Viognier! Both of these wines can hold their own with this rich and creamy appetizer! Great for white wine lovers.
Hamburger sliders are a versatile pairing, and filling enough to satisfy wine tasting guests. We paired ours with Cabernet Franc, a parent grape of Cabernet Sauvignon. Photo Credit: Tim Flynn Photography.
2. Hamburger Sliders
Let’s give more attention to the dry red wines with savory and satisfying hamburger sliders. Hamburger sliders are a great finger food and they go with Malbec, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and any Spanish wine. Burgers are also filling so your guests will not be tasting on an empty stomach, which is a bonus!
3. Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed Mushrooms are a solid pairing for most red wines because of their earthy flavor. They go well with dry red wines such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Spanish blends. Stuffed Mushrooms appeal to a variety of diets, as well, from vegetarian to vegan to keto-friendly, depending on the recipe you choose. Here’s one we love based on our Sommology food and wine pairing methodology.
4. Pulled Pork
There are so many flavors at play in pulled pork, from the tang of vinegar and tomato to the sweetness of maple. These combine to create a nice balance to the salt and fat of the pork for an almost perfect meal. Just add wine. I love a light or full-bodied red, so go for Pinot Noir or a nice Malbec and this small bite will pop!
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5. Pizza
Pizza is always an easy and simple crowd pleaser that can be sliced into bite-sized servings that are perfect for wine tasting! Depending on what toppings you put on your pizza you can pair it with basically any wine in your cellar. One of my absolute favorite pizzas to order is margherita pizza. It’s a nice, light pizza that features fresh mozzarella and basil, and it is fantastic with an Italian wine like Montepulciano or Chianti. As we say at Traveling Vineyard, “what grows together, goes together!” Having Italian food? Pair it with Italian wine. Easy peasy!
Pair dark chocolate desserts with a sweet wine, like our Fissata Sweet Red. Photo Credit: Tim Flynn Photography.
6. Dark Chocolate
Not in the mood to cook for your guest and just want to keep it simple? No worries, just grab a bag of dark chocolate as it always goes remarkably with a big glass of a bold red or even a sweet red wine. Brownies are a snap to serve up, too. And who can resist a brownie?
We love these 6 wine party appetizers because they’re crowd-pleasers, reliably good and easy to make. When it comes to wine party foods, just remember that you can always keep it ultra simple with a platter of a variety of cheeses and a bowl of dark chocolate.
Jennifer Haynes is an Emerald Director with Traveling Vineyard who operates her successful wine tasting business out of New Hampshire. Jennifer and her husband love cooking up special meals and wine party appetizers together and pairing them with the latest Traveling Vineyard wines. Hey, it’s research! Want to know more about becoming a Wine Guide? Read more on our website, or peruse the latest from the #wineguidelife on our Facebook page.