Ever wonder how to pair dessert with wine? If you’re planning a special menu and are looking for just the right wine to serve with dessert, look no further.

Can you drink wine with dessert?
Yes, for sure. Just follow a few important guidelines and you can pour a glass of wine with dessert.
I’m not a wine expert, but I’m not afraid to create pairings based on my own taste and the advice of the experts. You can do the same.
Tips for pairing wine with dessert
- A key piece of advice for how to pair dessert with wine; the dessert should not be sweeter than the wine. You don’t want the wine to taste tart and thin when sipped with a very sweet or really rich dessert.
- If you’re serving a divinely sweet and rich dessert that would overwhelm most any wine, it might be best not to drink wine with your creation since it could simply overwhelm the wine.
- If you’ve got a very special sweet wine it can be all the dessert that you need. Pair that special bottle with a little cheese or some nuts.
- When pairing any food and wine, experts advise that the dish and the drink should match in body, acidity and complexity of flavor.
- Chocolate desserts, especially dark chocolate, pair very well with red wines. Consider serving a ruby port with your chocolate dessert.
Winning dessert and wine combinations
Apricot Frangipane Tart & Asti
Fruit tarts are a great partner for many dessert wines. Short dough crust is not extremely sweet and fruit can highlight the fruit flavors in a good dessert wine. I like this particular pairing because the bubbles in the Asti cut though buttery frangipane filling perfectly.

Classic Creme Brulee & Sauternes
There’s a reason that Sauternes & Creme Brulee is a classic pairing. The rich body of Sauternes matches nicely with vanilla custard. The sweetness of the sugar topping is tamed by bitter notes in the caramel, so the wine is not overwhelmed by sweetness.

Warm Chocolate Almond Cake & Ice Wine
Chocolate and red wines can pair very nicely. Chocolate Almond flourless cake is not super-sweet so it doesn’t wash out the flavor of Cabernet Ice Wine. A good Ice Wine has enough acidity to stand up to the richness of the chocolate cake. Cabernet Ice Wine has lovely berry flavors that work well with maple roasted cherries.
Port Wine Hot Fudge Sauce
This sauce is a dessert and wine pairing in once package. Port wine is a wonderful partner for dark chocolate. Enjoy this sauce over Vanilla Ice Cream or Vanilla Cream Puffs. Pour a little of the port you used for the sauce to sip with dessert.

Michelle
Sunday 1st of January 2017
Such great suggestions!
Eileen Gray
Monday 2nd of January 2017
Thanks, MIchelle. Happy New Year!
Isabel
Sunday 1st of January 2017
Although I drink wine, I don't consider myself very knowledgeable when it comes to wine pairings. Thanks for the great tips!
Eileen Gray
Monday 2nd of January 2017
Thanks, Isabel. I'm no wine expert, but I know what I like.
Eileen Gray
Friday 30th of December 2016
Hi Sara, I totally agree with you about dark chocolate and a big red. I always say that red wine and chocolate and two of my favorite food groups, especially when served together!
Sara
Friday 30th of December 2016
Wine can be paired with anything! Love your post because it allows people an entry into that thought process. As crazy as it may be, I'm still such a big fan of deep, rich, chocolate desserts and a cab from Napa (or something that also provides a complex, rich profile.) Love your post!! Looking forward to more!
Katrin
Friday 30th of December 2016
What an interesting and informative article! Wishing you a very happy 2017 :)
Eileen Gray
Monday 2nd of January 2017
Thanks, Katrin!