Wines for Fondue!
Here at The Cheese Shop, we are biiiig fans of fondue. Nothing tops a big pot of warm, melted cheese and a whole bunch of bread, pickles, meats, and veggies, ready for dunking. It is the most comforting, satisfying food in the world, and certainly a highlight of the winter season. Now for the million dollar question - what wine should you pair with fondue?!
When making fondue, a splash of wine goes right into the fondue pot, so you want to use a wine with ample acidity. The tartaric acid in wine prevents the casein proteins in the melted cheese from sticking together and turning your fondue into a lumpy mess. Which wine should you go with? Check out some of our current favorites below!
2017 Horst Sauer Silvaner
If you are a fan of Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is for you. Silvaner is a grape commonly grown in southern Germany that has similar vibrant acidity to Sauvignon Blanc. Father-daughter duo Horst and Sandra Sauer make wine in the hilly region of Franken, Germany. Their Silvaner is fermented in stainless steel and has notes of pears and gooseberries. It is an excellent lower cost wine for cooking because of its balanced, apple and citrus flavors and smooth body. Pour a splash into the fondue pot, and then a splash into your glass!
2020 Claudio Vio Vermentino
For an Italian pairing, let’s head to the coastal region of Liguria, where white wines tend to be deliciously salty and mineral-driven. Claudio and Maria Grazia hand harvest their Vermentino grapes and allow ambient yeasts to commence fermentation. The wine ages on its lees for several months, which increases the Vermentino texture and adds creamy, yeasty notes to the wine. When paired with fondue, the lemony notes of the wine play happily alongside the nuttiness of the cheese.
NV Deutz Champagne Brut
There’s nothing like a bite of fondue alongside a sip of Champagne. In fact, when in doubt about what wine to pair with food, there is one simple rule: choose bubbles! Champagne, in particular, has high acidity and crisp bubbles, and the citrus and tart green apple flavors partner perfectly with fondue. NV Champagne Deutz Brut, from the Aÿ region of Champagne, is a gorgeous bubbly with aromas of pears, freshly baked rolls, and wild flowers. When paired with fondue, it’s simply heavenly!
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