No one has to tell you how cold it is, and the winter chill is expected to last at least through this week and perhaps into February.
Snow is forecasted for Saturday and Sunday, adding to the impetus to hunker down indoors, except to leave for only necessary trips.
In short, it is soup season.
Here are some classic soup and sip pairings from Fine Wine & Good Spirits Product Education Specialist Pamela Mysels.
From broccoli cheddar with Chardonnay to chicken tortilla with Grüner Veltliner, these expert pairings bring warmth and flavor to the season and are perfect for National Soup Month, elevating January meals and cold-weather gatherings.
Below are the pairings and a bit of background from Mysels on each.
Little Cricket Gruner Veltliner Pannon 2024 ($12.99)
Pair with … chicken tortilla soupBecause … When you’re not sick, who wants plain old chicken noodle soup? Instead, go for its spicier cousin, Chicken Tortilla Soup! In contrast, the broth is slightly thicker, the herbs are more significantly varied and exotic, and the whole bowl is much spicier. A Gruner Veltliner adds a pleasant dose of acidity to the dish. Plus, it carries its own black pepper and green pepper notes that highlight those same ingredients in the bowl.
Meiomi Cabernet Sauvignon (Sale $17.99)
Pair with … beef pot roast soupBecause … A heavy, hearty soup calls for a heavy, hearty wine. There’s almost no one as perfect for this as a California Cabernet Sauvignon. The bold tannins bind beautifully with the meaty pot roast that fills the bowl. This interaction results in your palate being able to continually enjoy each and every spoonful without developing flavor fatigue.
Hoopes Chardonnay Napa Valley 2021 (Chairman’s Selection $15.99)
Pair with … broccoli cheddar soupBecause … Thanks to a certain ‘bread shop,’ many are obsessed with Broccoli Cheddar Soup. What better way to eat your broccoli! And a lightly oaked Chardonnay is the perfect partner. The touch of oak in this wine comes across as a subtle butter cookie, which melds with the soup’s cheesiness, while the medium level of acidity helps cut through too much cheesy decadence. Also, the acidity comes across as a mild stone fruit flavor, which creates contrast to the drowned broccoli, resulting in it being more prominent.
Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon (On Sale $12.59)
Pair with … Mediterranean lentil soupBecause … With many changing up diets in the new year, a Mediterranean Lentil Soup fits into many of the variations (especially gluten-free and vegetarian). Cabernet Sauvignon, especially from Australia, makes the perfect pairing! In dishes like these, the umami flavors can be more subtle, but Cabernet Sauvignon’s tannin binds to the umami notes and brings them to the flavorful forefront. However, be cautious about where the wine comes from. For example, a California pick will be too bold for this soup and overpower its flavors. So, by picking Australia’s Yellow Tail, the wine is comparatively lighter in body and a little higher in acidity, which brings the perfect balance to a Mediterranean Lentil Soup.
The Retreat Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2023 (Chairman’s Selection $9.99)
Pair with … soup dumplingsBecause … That’s right! Soup isn’t confined to just bowls; now it’s in dumplings! Despite its thick dough, the flavors of Soup Dumplings are commonly more delicate. To elevate its subtleness, pop these dumplings alongside a Sauvignon Blanc. Its light body and crisp texture will swim delicately next to the pocketed broth. And if a New Zealand-sourced wine is selected, it will possess more grassy and vegetal notes that boost any herbs and vegetables mixed in the dumpling’s filling.
Dining and Cooking