While beer definitely takes center stage on St. Patrick’s Day (and we have been known to indulge in a few cold pints from time to time!), wine lovers will be delighted to know that it doesn’t have to be the default celebratory beverage for this traditional Irish festival.
In fact, even the Irish are beginning to turn their focus to wine: “After all, we’re a nation of wine drinkers, and last year quaffed a third of all prosecco produced worldwide!” trumpets the Irish Examiner. Millennials seem to get credit (or blame!) for everything these days…and we are at it again. Since the shift to wine seems driven by their globe-trotting experiences leading them to acquire a taste for different foods, flavors and wines – variety that beer can’t quite match.
So which wines go best with the traditional Irish/American fare that signifies a “real” Irish celebration? Hearty dishes like corned beef and cabbage, soda bread and shepherd’s pie, beef and lamb roasts, or roasted fingerling potatoes and apple pie?
Here are a few of our favorites:
- 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Reynolds Family Winery): We would be remiss not to start with one of our preferred wines offered by one of our partners, Reynold Family Winery. This Cab offers an abundance of cranberry, cassis and ripe red fruit with multiple layers of luscious cherry that pairs perfectly with roasts, vegetables and braised corned beef.
- 2016 Cabernet Franc Balboa Winery: Another favorite from our partner Balboa Winery, this fruit-forward wine balances well with the bitterness of the cabbage and may be served slightly chilled, for a clean, fresh and crisp edge, which will bring out its aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum and dried roses.
- Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio Vigneti delle Dolomiti: Perhaps something a bit lighter? Try this balanced, light-bodied white, ranked among the top 100 wines of 2018 by Wine Spectator. Its notes of peach, passion fruit, floral and pink grapefruit zest makes it a solid choice for corned beef and cabbage.
- Reguengo de Melgaco Alvarinho Vinho Verde 2017: It wouldn’t be St. Paddy’s Day without the mention of “green.” This popular and versatile wine from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal pairs well with a variety of dishes — from the main course to dessert, including dishes high in acidity, such as red meat and apple pies.
They say we are all Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, so in that spirit, we say: “Sláinte!”