Fondue & raclette are great dishes to serve. To make the most of these dishes, we’ve made a list of the best wines to go with these snacks.
The best wines to pair with these foods are white wines that are high in acid and dry.
The cheeses originally come from Switzerland and other wine regions that surround the Alps. It is no coincidence that these regions have fantastic white wines that pair brilliantly with raclette and fondue.
So, if you’re looking for some delicious wine to serve with fondue and raclette, we’re here to help! We’ve compiled a list of some of the top 15 types of wine to serve with these dishes.
We’ve included some white and red wine options on this list. Let’s dive in!
Tips On Pairing Wine With Fondue And Raclette
When it comes to pairing your fondue and raclette with wine, there are a few things that you should consider. These include:
- Wines with high acidity pair very well with these foods
- Wines that contain nutty flavors and age are much better with these cheeses
- You should choose wines from wine regions that make these dishes, such as Switzerland and Germany
- White wines pair better, but if you pair red wines with these dishes ensure they are high in acidity
- Sparkling wines work very well as a pairing
White Wines To Serve With Fondue And Raclette
White wines are great wines to serve with fondue. They have high acidity levels which cut through the fat content of the cheese and balance out the saltiness.
Some great wines to try with these delicious dishes are:
1. Chasselas
Chasselas is a Swiss variety of cheese that tends to showcase its origin more than with other grapes.
Cheese fondue and Chasselas are a great pairing because the texture of the wine matches the cheese. This acidity slices through the fat, leaving your palate very fresh.
Chasselas is Switzerland’s most popular variety of white wine. It makes up over a quarter of the vineyards in the country.
2. Gruner Veltliner
This is a white wine variety that is grown in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
These deep green grapes usually ripen in mid-late October in these areas. This is the most planted grape variety in Austria and it is made into sparkling wine in certain places.
In most cases, you will not consider Austria to be the most important location for most wine lovers. However, this wine is getting noticed.
It is a cool and collected wine with a combination of citrus and apple. This wine is very acidic and eccentric, making it very likable.
Food matching is one of the great things about this wine, and it pairs very well with lots of different dishes, including cheeses, creamy sauces, and potato salad.
3. Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio, is a pink grape. The grape is a mutation of Pinot Noir, and it is famously known for its zesty white wines.
This grape can also be used for rosé. You can find this grape in Northern Italy, Oregon, and Alsace, and it works very well with foods like white meats and seafood. This is particularly true in meals that include a fruit element, including oranges, peaches, or apricots.
Pinot Gris also works very well with cheeses, as it complements the flavors well. It works well when consumed on its own too, or as an aperitif alongside salads.
4. Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is a great wine that can do it all. It originates from the Loire in France and you will also find it in South Africa and certain parts of Australia. This wine is recognizable because of its acidity and apple-like fruit.
In the Loire, Chenin is used in a range of different wines. Chenins from the Loire can range from fully dry to off-dry or sweet, so it is important to check the bottle before drinking. These wines are often a great, affordable alternative to champagne.
In South Africa, nearly 20 percent of vineyards are planted with Chenin, and it was first planted to produce brandy. However, it is now used to make some of the most famous wines in the world.
Chenin has a very distinct apple taste and it is very acidic. In warmer climates, you may get tropical fruit notes, such as pineapple.
This wine goes very well with lots of different cheeses, including fondue and raclette. It also pairs well with other cheeses, such as goat’s cheese.
5. Muscat
Muscat is a wine that is produced from a grape variety in the Muscat family. Within this family of grapes, of which there are over 200 varieties, there are lots of important clones and production techniques available.
The range of wines in this case is broad and fascinating, and the different techniques make this wine very individual. It is great for pairing with fondue and raclette, as well as cheesecake.
6. Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a very popular white wine that is loved for its herbal flavors and acidity. It is grown all over the world, so there are many different styles of wine out there.
This wine works well when it is paired with herb-driven sauces that are served over things like tofu, chicken, or fish.
It works very well with Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, and it pairs well with lots of different cheeses. Along with fondue and raclette, enjoy this wine with goat cheese, feta, and parmesan.
7. Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the best-known grape variety, and it takes its name from a village in France. Chardonnay is one of the three main grapes in the Champagne region, alongside Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Chardonnay works very well when paired with cheeses. The flavors of this wine include peach, melon, and citrus. It has an affinity with oak, due to the flavors of vanilla, coffee, and hazelnuts.
8. Champagne
Champagne is a great sparkling wine that bears the name of the region that it comes from. It must meet a long line of requirements to be considered champagne.
This covers details like the grape varieties, along with the winemaking method and the pruning process. Champagne also has to meet a certain alcohol content.
9. Limoux Blanc
This wine is great to pair with things like fried chicken or fish and chicken tacos. It is produced in lots of different regions, and it also works very well with cheese due to its high acidity levels.
Red Wines To Serve With Fondue And Raclette
There are lots of red wines that work well with fondue and raclette. In this case, you should look for high-acid dry wines, as these work best with this type of food.
Let’s take a look at some of the best red wines to pair with these cheeses:
10. Grenache
Grenache is a very heartwarming and deliciously round fruit. It brings a full-body sensation to those who drink it, and it is very sweet. It has high levels of alcohol and glycerol.
This wine is made from plump, red fruits and spice flavors. It is also made with a hint of white pepper.
Grenache is found all over France and Spain, and it thrives in very hot and dry vineyards. It will age gracefully in the bottle and it is naturally high in alcohol.
This wine pairs very well with fondue and raclette, bringing out the strong flavors of the cheese and complimenting them.
11. Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a very popular light-bodied red wine. It is loved for the red fruit and spice aromas that are emphasized by the smooth finish of the wine.
This wine is very versatile when it comes to pairing with food, and it has much higher acidity levels and lower tannins. Pinot Noir pairs well with chicken, pork, and mushrooms.
Pinot Noir originated in France, and you will find them planted close to the areas where Chardonnay was planted.
It pairs very well with lots of different foods, including fondue and raclette.
12. Blaufränkisch
Blaufrankisch is a very popular wine, and it is very high in acidity. It displays notes of wild cherry and berry.
This wine pairs very well with cheeses, which is emphasized by the area in which the wine grows. For instance, it works well with cheesy spaetzle dumplings and many other dishes.
13. Zweigelt
This wine variety became very popular after the second world war, and it became the most widespread red wine variety in Austria. It is found in lots of different places and it is planted extensively due to the high vine training system that it has.
Between 1999 and 2020, the demand for this wine was rapidly increasing, and it is now very common. This wine pairs well with cheese due to the flavors in the wine.
14. Barbera
The Barbera grape variety produces fantastic wines that are great for pairing with different foods. They are complex and vibrant, and the grapes are grown around the world. They are grown from California to Australia, but they are most popular in Northern Italy.
15. Tempranillo
Tempranillo wines are a great match with both meats and cheeses. They work very well with lamb and pork. The wine contains medium to high tannins and is fairly high in acidity.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it! After reading this article, you should now have a detailed understanding of the best wines to pair with fondue and raclette.
While white wine works better with these foods, we have given both red and white wine recommendations to serve with your cheeses.
I can offer you articles and information about wine from a seasoned sommelier, and now a winemaker too! I hope that you enjoy some of our articles, and start thinking outside of the box when it comes to wine.
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