No Alcohol No Sweat

Food and wine go together like Adam and Eve, Laurel and Hardy, popcorn and the cinema. It’s the same with food pairings for non-alcoholic wine too.

Whatever metaphor you want to use, there are few things finer them enjoying the complementary tastes and aromas of good food and good wine. And certain varieties of non-alcoholic wine pair just as well with particular foods as their boozier counterparts.

Non-alcoholic wine type	Food pairings	Notes
Merlot	Beef, lamb, venison, duck	Non-alcoholic Merlot retains a lot of the traditional version’s soft tannins and fruity notes. These complement the richness of red meats and game birds.
Chardonnay	Seafood, chicken, pasta with cream sauce	Chardonnay’s buttery texture and oaky flavours complement creamy dishes. Think things like Alfredo pasta and also chicken stew.
Pinot Grigio	Light salads, seafood, vegetarian dishes	Non-alcoholic Pinot Grigio has a light and refreshing taste that pairs well with light salads and seafood dishes. Plus, its acidity cuts through the richness of vegetarian dishes.
Cabernet Sauvignon	Grilled meats, hearty stews, strong cheese	Non-alcoholic Cabernet Sauvignon’s bold flavours and high tannins complement the smoky flavours of grilled meats and the richness of stews. It also pairs well with strong cheeses like blues and aged cheddar.
Riesling	Spicy Asian cuisine, pork, fruit-based desserts	Riesling’s sweetness and acidity balance the heat of spicy Asian dishes. Moreover, its floral notes complement the sweetness fruit-based desserts. Non-alcoholic versions may err more towards sweet than the traditional Rieslings. That makes them even more compatible as a counterpoint to spicy food.
Sauvignon Blanc	Light salads, seafood, vegetarian dishes	Sauvignon Blanc’s acidity and herbaceous flavours pair well with salads, seafood, and also vegetarian dishes.
Syrah/Shiraz	Beef, lamb, venison, grilled vegetables	Non-alcoholic Syrah/Shiraz typically manages to retain the wine’s peppery and smoky flavours. As a result, it complements the richness of red meats and grilled vegetables.
Zinfandel	Pizza, burgers, barbecue	Zinfandel – alcoholic or non-alcoholic – is a bold flavoured wine. So it pairs well with savoury and spicy dishes like pizza, burgers and barbecued meats.
Moscato	Fruit, light desserts, spicy foods	Moscato’s sweetness and light body pair well with fresh fruit, light desserts and spicy foods.
Sparkling Wine	Fried foods, shellfish	Sparkling wine’s bubbles and acidity cut through the richness of fried foods. Moreover, its light body and sweetness complement the delicate flavours of shellfish.

_{Image credit: Farhad Ibrahimzade}