Soup and Wine Pairing
Oh, baby, it's getting cold outside! We must admit that it's our favorite time of the year with the beautiful fall foliage on the Blue Ridge Mountains and, let's face it, our viticulture and harvest work is almost complete. Pairing soups and wines for a tasty treat can be tricky. Besides there being many types of soup (stews, chowder, broth-based, etc.), soups are liquid and pairing liquid with liquid is s little different. In reality, the proper wine will enhance the flavors of the soup. Join us at our winery on Bent Mountain VA to see how it can be done during our 18th Annual Harvest Soup & Wine Festival Saturday and Sunday, November 9th and 10th, 2019. It's a local favorite and has become a tradition as a family & friend get together.
The easiest, and tastiest, way to think about wine and soup is to look at the ingredients in the soup. Our tip is to determine what the main ingredient is and think about what type of wine would go great with that. If you're not sure about basic wine pairings, take a look at our easy wine pairing guide from soups the Amrhein family and staff find work well with our wines. It's got great tips. Also, see below what soups we have served at our past Harvest Soup & Wine Festival and get your tickets to this delicious event!
Pairing Examples
Here are examples of popular soups and our wine suggestions. Chicken Noodle Soup: Try a light white like AmRhein's Wine Cellars Pinot Grigio or a dry Chardonnay. If choosing Chardonnay, avoid any heavy oak blends. AmRhein's Chardonnay is fermented in steel tanks so it's perfect for this soup! Tomato Soup: White or red will pair nicely with tomato soup (especially if served with grilled cheese). If you're typically drawn to whites, try our fruity Traminette.. For reds, a more full-bodied Merlot is delightful. Chicken Tortilla Soup: This hearty soup requires a hearty wine. Try our reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Agianico or Cabernet Franc. New England Clam Chowder: White is what you'll grab if serving New England Clam Chowder thanks to the seafood. Try our Pinot Grigo, or our full-bodied Vidal Blanc. Corn Chowder: The buttery flavor in this soup pairs extremely well with our Traminette -the slight dry wine cuts through the heavy chowder ingredients. Beef Stew: Beef stew is a rich, complex dish and pairs well with bolder, full-bodied red wines. A perfect pairing with our Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Aglianico. Chili: Full of spice so bring out flavors in the chili with Cabernet Sauvignon. What you're looking for is a medium to full-bodied red.
AmRhein's Wine Cellars' 18th Annual Harvest Soup Festival is November 9th & 10th, 2019 from 11am-5pm! Taste from a selection of 5 homemade gourmet soups paired with 5 artisan crafted AmRhein’s wines. Sample the five pairings, pick your favorite pairing, relax with a bowl (included) and a bottle of wine (for purchase) while listening to great live blues and soul creations by Dave Porter Band! On Saturday, all Veterans receive a free glass of wine with valid Veteran's ID. Wine and soup pairings will be posted soon on our website but here's a sample of delicious soups that have graced our tables in the past: Blue Crab and Shrimp Bisque, Famous Floyd Chili, Portuguese Chorizo Chicken & Kale Soup, Hearty Venison Stew, Pesto Chicken & Roasted Pepper Soup, Shrimp Gumbo with Sausage and so many more! We always include a gluten & vegan free soup every year like Cauliflower & Turmeric Soup, Butternut Squash Bisque, Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale and many more!
Tickets for each day are $20 adults and $10 under age 21. Tickets are on sale now on our website www.amrheinwine.com/events.
Want to make it a weekend trip? We suggest visiting The Pine Tavern Lodge. A beautifully renovated 1927 hotel known for its charm and hospitality that has suites available for your furbabies too. It's only 20 miles from the winery on Rt. 221 south and the perfect getaway right in the hippie town of Floyd VA.
Check out more close lodging choices here.