Vegetarian festive dinners call for their own wine pairing ideas which is why we’ve put together some suggestions for you to delight your taste buds. Let’s dive in!
Christmas is nearly upon us and that means Christmas Dinner preparations are in full swing. I know I’ve been making my shopping list for weeks, ordering in advance the ingredients that I can’t source just before the big day. And perhaps like me, this year, you are organising a vegetarian Christmas Dinner for all or some of your guests. Here is guide for a festive vegetarian menu with, of course, wine suitable pairing ideas.
Pairing ideas for vegetarian festive nibbles
We’re off to a good start as many amuse-bouche dishes are vegetarian or can be adapted easily to be so. For example, savoury choux pastry puffs and other pastry-based dishes are already suitable as are vegetable savoury mouses.
Most nibbles and amuse-bouches are light in flavour and the possible wine pairings are quite easy to find as most light wines will go perfectly with the dishes. Bubbles, especially those made solely from white varieties, will start the dinner off on a festive note, while bringing the freshness found in the wine. Here are our ideas:
- Cheese choux pastry puffs and Blanc de Blancs Champagne
- Vegetarian pesto puff pastry Christmas tree with crémant
- Beetroot and goat’s cheese mouse with a Chablis or Sancerre
- A small glass of cream of mushroom soup with a white Burgundy (a little oaked would be perfect)
- Mushrooms stuffed with Stilton and nuts with a Savagnin from Jura, a Condrieu or a late harvest wine
- Shropshire Blue and pear toast with a slightly sweet Gewürztraminer or a sweet wine from the Loire
Pairing ideas for vegetarian festive starters
Starters differ from country to country, family to family, but still a large proportion contain fish or meat but there’s no need to panic as there’s a whole host of options, many thanks to mushrooms (fresh or dried) which pair wonderfully with ample and powerful white wines with notes of wood.
- Onion tarte tatin with a Vouvray or a Savennières
- Mushroom vol-au-vent with a white Rhône, a Châteauneuf-du-Pape for example
- Pear and Stilton tart with a Sauternes or a Coteau du Layon
- Roasted leek and soft-boiled eggs with truffle vinaigrette with a Meursault or a Puligny-Montrachet
- Mushroom pâté rolls with a Meursault or a Vouvray
Pairing ideas for vegetarian festive main dishes
There are so many options for a Christmas main dish no matter whether you want to find something that goes with the traditional side dishes or something a little off-piste. If you’d like red wine, it’d go with some of the dishes in this course but make sure to stick to a light wine, such as Pinot Noir. Or simply continue enjoying white wines.
- Truffled potato dauphinois with a Pinot Noir from Burgundy or Alsace
- Mushroom, chestnut and butternut squash wellington with a Trousseau from Jura
- Truffle risotto with a Barolo or a Nero d’Avola from Sicily
- Nut roast with a girolle mushroom sauce with a Cabernet Franc from the Loire or a Pomerol
- Vegetable bourguignon with Pinot Noir
- Lentil, hazelnut and mushroom pastry parcels with a Saint-Julien or a mature Saint-Emilion (at least 10 years old)
- Pumpkin stuffed with cheese, mushrooms and nuts with a Beaujolais cru wine
This final dish could also be paired with dry or sweet white wines.
For those who’d like to stick with white wines, here are our suggestions:
- Truffle risotto (again) with a mature Vouvray or a white Rhône
- Spinach, artichoke and preserved lemon lasagne with a Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling or a Vermentino
- Squash stuffed with chestnuts and morille mushrooms with a Mâcon or a Pouilly-Vinzelles
- Red lentil, pumpkin and butternut squash dahl with an Alsace grand cru or a Sauternes
- Caramelised fennel and herby polenta with a Condrieu or a white Bandol
Pairing ideas for Christmas cheeses
There doesn’t need too many changes to the festive menu when it comes to cheese. The only thing you have to check is that animal rennet isn’t used in the production process. This blog article covers all you need to know about cheese pairings. Here are some ideas:
- Cheddar with a Cabernet Sauvignon or Port
- Cornish yarg with a Burgundy Pinot Noir
- Stilton with Sauternes or Tokaji
- Wensleydale with a Viognier or a Chenin Blanc or a Pinot Noir especially if it contains cranberries
- Hard goats’ cheese with Riesling or Montlouis
Pairing ideas for vegetarian festive desserts
Most Christmas desserts are thankfully vegetarian but just watch out for Christmas pudding which isn’t traditionally vegetarian. Here are a few of our ideas for festive desserts:
- Chocolate Yule log with a Rivesaltes or a Maderia
- Lemon cheesecake with a Sauternes or a Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
- Raspberry trifle with a sparkling rosé or a Cabernet d’Anjou
What do you think about these suggestions? Let us know in the comments what’s your favourite veggie pairing!
