Pairing Donuts and Wine

Wine is unique because it can be enjoyed alone or in combination with other things. Both options are good, they are just different. When you enjoy a glass of wine on its own, the flavors you taste will most likely match what the bottle suggests. When you enjoy a glass of wine with food, it’s a whole new experience. The flavors in your meal with bring forward new flavors that may have previously been hiding in the background.

For this reason, many wineries offer wine and food pairings. They may do this by offering specific cheeses that pair particularly well with a variety of wine or they might host a full-on event where you enjoy multiple-course meals, enjoying a different wine with each dish. If you live close to a winery, either of these may be a viable option for you. Attend and learn from the professionals in person while experiencing an overwhelming number of flavors you may not have previously known.

If you aren’t in close proximity to a winery or are picky about your food and wine, you can easily recreate a pairing at home. With a quick trip to the grocery store, you can control how much you want to spend and what type of food you’d like to enjoy with wine.

Deciding On Your Wine Pairing

There are many different wine pairing options you have to choose from. There are the traditional wine and cheese pairing, but there are also many others you may not have heard of. Here are some wine pairing ideas:

Wine and cheese
Wine and chocolate
Wine and cake
Wine and pasta
Wine and sushi
Wine and tacos
Wine and fast food
Wine and leftovers
Wine and donuts

As you can see, you can pair wine with almost anything. The trick is pairing the right one. A good rule of thumb is picking a theme and sticking with it. For example, if you want to pair wine and pasta, look for Italian brands of wine to pair with it. The wine in that region is made to perfectly pair with that variety of food.

Another way to decide on what to pair it to buy the wine first and look at what the label suggests. Usually, a wine label will tell you one or two meals that the winemaker thinks it’s best for. Try buying the wine and then curating a meal based on the label suggestions.

Lastly, if you don’t trust your pairing skills, you can look up other wine pairing guides. They will instruct you on exactly what each food will pair best with. As an example, Shari’s Berries has donut and wine pairing guide that will discuss what flavor notes each combination should yield. As a bonus, they have also included a personality element so you can find the perfect pairing for your personality.

Donut and Wine Pairings

If you have a sweet tooth and are looking for a unique dessert pairing, this is the wine pairing for you! The sugary donut seasonings mix with more bold wine flavors for a remarkable combination. Browse through the pairings to find one that fits your style.

Chocolate Donut + Syrah

Wine and chocolate are meant to go together. For a bitter-free aftertaste, pair a chocolate donut with a sweet red Syrah. You’ll be able to taste caramel, toffee, and chocolate flavor notes.

Cinnamon Sugar Donut + Pinot Noir

On it’s own, pinot noir tends to be highly acidic and have notes of black cherry, cloves and potpourri. This blends perfectly with the sweeter cinnamon flavoring of the donut.

Strawberry Frosted Donut + Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc tends to be a sweeter, dessert wine that originates from France. When you pair this refreshing wine with a strawberry frosted donut, you’ll be able to taste notes of strawberry, vanilla and passion fruit.

Old Fashioned Donut + Zinfandel

Zinfandels have a bold and fruity flavor that is very dry. Pair this stand-alone wine with a more simple, old-fashioned donut. You’ll be able to taste the unique black pepper, blueberry and tobacco flavors.

Glazed Donut + Merlot

Pair a classic donut with a timeless wine for a combination that’s hard to beat. The vanilla flavoring in the donut with brings out the dark plum and cedar notes in the wine that you may not have tasted before.

Creme-Filled Donut + Port

You probably know port as a dessert wine. Pair this raspberry, blackberry and caramel flavored dessert with a creamy smooth donut for a silky combination.

Jelly Donut + Rosé

For a fruity escape that will remind you of long summer days, try pairing a jelly donut with a light rosé. You’ll be able to identify hints of strawberry, cucumber, and cherry in this pairing.

Conclusion

The experts will tell you what they think best, but in the end, wine pairings are up to the taster. You get to decide what tastes best to you. It may differ from the people around you and that’s okay. There is no wrong answer when it comes to wine tasting, it’s all about personal preference. Tasting different wines and trying new combinations will help you learn what’s best for you. As an example, Shari’s Berries has a donut and wine pairing guide that discusses this topic more.