Wine & Nut Pairings

You always hear about wine and cheese pairings and wine and chocolate pairings, which are both delicious of course, but what about nuts? Many bars have nuts on them, usually peanuts, because they do pair nicely with beer. But what about wine? There are lots of types of nuts out there with many different flavors. Let’s see what works…

Some Basic Rules of Thumb

There are over 50 different types of nuts out there and most of us are only familiar with a handful, so we will just focus on those found in the average grocery store.

If you are unfamiliar with a nut, it is always smart to pair wine from the same region that the nuts were grown. As they come from the same earth, they share some common flavor elements.

You can decide whether you prefer to complement or contrast. They can both be pretty spectacular and it’s definitely interesting to see what it does to your palate. A contrast example would be a sweet wine with spicy nuts.

Heavily roasted nuts need a rich, red wine, where raw nuts do better with something light and zesty.

Sample Pairings

Almonds and Cashews do best with a bubbly. Try a Champagne or Prosecco.

Hazelnuts are great with a crisp Chardonnay.

Pecans love a Pinot Noir or perhaps Heart of the Desert’s Corazon Gitano.

Walnuts require a bold red like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Merlot.

Spicy Nuts call for something sweeter such as a Riesling or Malvasia Bianca to really get your palate dancing. You can also go with a spicier red if you prefer to complement.

Candied nuts contrast nicely with a bold red such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Merlot.

Pistachios need a great summer wine. Go for a Gewurztraminer or Malvasia Bianca or even a Pinot Grigio.

We recommend New Mexico grown Heart of the Desert Pistachios and New Mexico grown Heart of the Desert Malvasia Bianca wine for pairing!

Ultimately, no two palates are the same. What tastes good to you, may not work for someone else. Eat and drink what you enjoy and keep exploring. You may come up with a perfect combination that breaks all of the rules.

Heart of the Desert is a working pistachio ranch and vineyard with four retail establishments in New Mexico. They are best known for their farm fresh pistachios and Award-Winning New Mexico wines. Each store offers wine and pistachio tastings. They offer worldwide shipping and produce attractive gourmet baskets that make great corporate and family gifts. The main store, on the ranch in Alamogordo, offers farm tours that showcases how pistachios are grown and processed as well as a stunning Tuscany themed patio that overlooks the groves and is available for weddings, private parties or enjoying a relaxing glass of wine.