How to Pair Sparkling Shiraz & Dessert

Sparkling Shiraz is easy to pair with dessert, because its flavor notes make it so versatile.

Sparkling Shiraz is a sparkling red wine that is so popular in Australia, many vintners reserve their finest fruit for its production. The drink is less well known in the United States, but it is slowly becoming a drink of choice as people discover its versatility for pairing with food items. Although sparkling Shiraz is perhaps best known for bringing out the flavor of white meats, it is also surprisingly versatile as a dessert wine. Shiraz and sparkling Shiraz are known for their spicy and sweet flavor notes, which help them enhance light and sweet desserts or spicy desserts.

Instructions

1. Read the flavor description on the back of the bottle to find out which spices and fruits contribute to the sparkling Shiraz's flavor. Not all wine labels include a flavor description, but knowing the flavors will better prepare you to pair sparkling Shiraz with dessert, because you will know which flavors to enhance.

2. Pair the wine with any type of chocolate dessert, such as chocolate truffles or cake. The chocolate enhances the fruity and spicy undertones of the wine, while they likewise bring out the flavor of the chocolate.

3. Serve a berry dessert with the sparkling Shiraz that complements the berry flavors within the wine. Sparkling Shiraz might contain hints of strawberry, raspberry or blackberry flavors that can be further enhanced with a dessert that features the same berry.

4. Match the delicate fizz of your sparkling Shiraz with a heavy cream-based dessert, such as a cheesecake, ganache or mousse. You could also try desserts with toppings, such as cheesecake with berries or chocolate berry cake with a dollop of whipped cream.

5. Create a delicious blend of fruit and spices by pairing your sparkling Shiraz with a spice cake that is consistent with the flavor impression indicated on your wine bottle. The delicate sparkles of a sparkling red wine complement holiday fruitcakes well.

6. Avoid citrus-inspired desserts, such as lemon meringue pie, because the tart citrus flavors clash with the berry and spice notes.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel free to experiment with different dessert pairings until you find one that is especially palatable to you. As long as you follow these basic rules and stay within the same family of flavors, failure will be unlikely.

References

• Chow: Sparkling Shiraz: A Confession
• StarChefs.com: Making Friends With Wine and Chocolate
• Wine Rack Shop: Sparkling Reds
• Eat Drink Smile: Sparkling Shiraz
• Tamara on Wine: Wine Pairings: All Wines Love a Good Complement