Ah asparagus! Known to be difficult to pair with wine, they are however succulent and a welcome addition to many spring dishes. Not to back down from a challenge, we have to together a selection of wine that’d pair wonderfully with this prized vegetable.
You know spring has sprung when you see green and white asparagus popping up in markets and shops.
It has to be said that this vegetable has long-lasting vegetal, bitter flavours and a particularly fibrous texture. Given all this, finding a wine to pair with it is not easy. It’s best to stay away from red wines as the tannins in them exacerbate the bitterness in the asparagus and go for a white wine that’s dry and been aged in oak, which is rather fruity and wonderfully mineral. Here are the pairing ideas we have for you!
With white asparagus, opt for a Loire Sauvignon Blanc
White asparagus gets it colour from the fact that the vegetable doesn’t get any sunlight as it grows. Farmers cover the stalks in earth until ready to be harvested. This also means that its flavours remain subtle and delicate with a soft texture. To pair this with a wine, you want to find one that has no trace of wood, good aromatic intensity and some tautness. Sauvignon Blanc is a variety that goes quite well with white asparagus as it has vegetal notes, is fruity and mineral and also has an acidity that creates a nice harmony with the vegetable. This gives us quite a large choice of wine from Touraine, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.
With purple asparagus, choose a dry Alsace or a Loire Chenin
Purple asparagus is white asparagus that has been allowed to grow out of its earth cover and takes on a mauve colour in the little light it gets. It can be characterised by its juiciness and fruity flavours as well as a slight bitterness. To counterbalance its bitterness, you could choose a dry Muscat from Alsace or a Chenin Blanc from the Loire whose very fruity flavours and tautness go well with the purple asparagus.
With green asparagus, go for a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or white Burgundy
Green asparagus grows completely above ground, and sunlight gives it its wonderful green colour. These are the most tender form of asparagus which has the most pronounced vegetal notes. A Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand would be just the trick here! These wines are light and fruity and have a slight asparagus flavour that will match the vegetable on your plate. Equally, you could choose a a white Burgundy Chardonnay.
