Riesling Snack & Appetizer Pairing – Mistakes to Avoid

Riesling is a popular white wine acclaimed for its rich floral aroma, its fruity flavors and light bodiedness. Due to the high acidity of the grape, it produces a few of the best late harvest wines in the world.

Riesling wines come in a variety of styles, from sweet and off-dry to dry wines.They maintain their sharp, acidic taste that gives it a crisp refreshing finish. It is a wonderful wine that can be paired with snacks and finger food, especially spicy food.

It is useful to take into account the characteristics of the grape when pairing with food. 

• Very high acidity – goes well with salty food or even with fatty or acid food
• Hint of sweetness – complements with Mexican and Asian Cuisine
• Aromatic profile – pairs well with flavorful food

What Snack Goes Well With Riesling

Riesling wine, sweet and dry styles, pairs well with a wide array of snacks. These are ;

• Spicy Chile nuts or Nachos
• Sweet popcorn
• Salty crackers
• Baked Brie or other soft cheese
• Pita bread with an avocado or garlic hummus
• Prawns
• Pizza
• Fruit platter
• Nuts like cashew and pistachio
• Mini cupcakes

What Chips Goes With Riesling

Chips and white wine are a great combination. The saltiness of the chips adds to the refreshing zestiness of the wine. Easy and quick to assemble, these chips go great with Riesling and are a definite crowd pleaser. They are :

• Classic potato chips
• Tortilla chips with salsa
• Sour cream and onion
• Barbecue chips with their smokey flavor
• Parmesan and garlic chips
• Salt and vinegar
• Sweet chili heat Doritos

What Snacks Should I Avoid

Certain ingredients in snacks just do not complement Riesling. Their flavors are too strong and tend to overwhelm the taste of wine. They are best avoided in whatever form they are served in.

• Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower
• Asparagus and artichokes
• Eggs
• Kale
• Blue cheese

What Appetizers Goes Well With Riesling

Dry and Off-dry Riesling wines come with their own set of appetizers. With Dry Riesling you can have :

• Cheese board – Emmental, Feta,Brie with rind and Raclette
• Apple or Pear slices with blue cheese
• Smoked salmon with a creamy sauce dip
• Mussels or sea scallops
• Sushi
• Baked ham with crisp crostini
• Grilled peaches 

Off-dry Riesling wines pair well with:

• Cheese board – Edam, Gouda, Blue cheeses and Gorgonzola
• Chinese Dumplings
• Jalapeno chips or Vinegar chips
• Shrimp and scallops with sauces
• Peach bruschetta with goat cheese and honey
• Spicy olives

With sweet Riesling wines, you can pair it with pies and many citrus desserts.

• Lemon meringue pie
• Berry desserts
• Caramelized pears with blue cheese
• Peach cobbler

What Appetizers Should I Avoid

Depending on the style of wine being served, be it dry or sweet Riesling, it is best to avoid specific food types. 

• Heavy red meat
• Tomato based sauces 
• Stuffed mushrooms
• Kale chips

Final Thoughts On Riesling’s Snack and Appetizer Pairing 

In conclusion, whatever style of Riesling you choose, it must balance out with the flavor of the food. As long as you stick to certain guidelines, it is possible to have a good combination of wine and food, giving it the wow factor.