We all have a friend or relative who prefers eating a vegetarian meal, whether it is their preference or just occasionally. It can be a challenge at times to find the right wine pair with vegetables. Assuming that "vegetarians" entrees might include fish or eggs, but with an emphasis on truly vegetable dishes, what are some excellent pairings that you have tried? Don't believe the nonsense you may have heard that vegetarian dishes are too light. Many vegetarian dishes or vegetable dishes have wonderful flavors which contain many ingredients. Unfortunately there are no animal fats and proteins in vegetarian dishes (as there is in meat.) Which is what helps to tame the tannins of full bodied red wines and oaky whites.
The way to make the vegetable dish work for wine pairing is to use ingredients that produce strong flavors. Do this by making sauces or purees (such as mushroom, cheese, polenta or by roasting vegetables.) With a vegetable based menu, choose wines that are more mature rather than young, they will have less tannins, so they won't overwhelm the dish.
Here are a few of my favorite veggie dish and wine pairings.
Rustic Mushroom Tart with a Valpolicella from Italy or a Rioja From Spain.
Hearty Minestrone Soup with Montepullciano
Caesar Salad with a California Sauvignon Blanc
Spaghetti with Parsley and Almond Pesto with Chianti or a Soave
Garden Pizza (tomato, mozzarella cheese, basil, onion or whatever you have in garden) with a Pinot Grigio or California Merlot.
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