At Carnival, every joke counts. What wines should you choose for dessert during Carnival? Making the right choice is not easy – it’s not enough to go for a sweet wine.
Carnival is a very important holiday in many parts of the world and, as such, to celebrate properly it requires careful food and drink selection. Dessert cannot be missed during this festive period and, for this very reason, we will discuss wines suitable for Carnival desserts in this article, with a separate mention for Moscato d’Asti, Malvasia and Recioto.
First, it is important to understand the main characteristics of Carnival recipes, which are often very sweet and rich in flavor, with ingredients such as sugar, chocolate and jam. So, wines that go best with them are aromatic and light.
Let’s start with Moscato d’Asti. This is a sweet, aromatic wine from the Piedmont region. Moscato d’Asti is produced using the white Muscat grape, which is known for its aromas of fruit and flowers. These aromas result in a wine that tastes fruity and sugary, with notes of peach, apricot and tropical fruit.
Moscato d’Asti pairs well with many types of Carnival desserts. For example, with shortbread cookies filled with jam, or with fried recipes such as chiacchiere, frittelle and zeppole, which are fried dough ribbons, aniseed fritters and fried donut balls, respectively. This wine is also excellent as an aperitif or paired with a plate of fresh fruit.
In general, Moscato d’Asti is a very versatile wine that can be enjoyed on many different occasions. Its sweetness and fruity aroma make it an excellent choice for Carnival desserts, but also for other types of desserts or for a Sunday brunch.
Another suitable wine for Carnival is Malvasia, a balanced, aromatic white wine from Central Italy. Malvasia is a wine produced in many Italian regions and is characterized by a fruity, floral aroma, with notes of peach, apricot and citrus.
Malvasia pairs well with many types of desserts, such as apple fritters, castagnole (fried sweet dough balls), fruit tarts, and almond or jam-filled desserts. It is also an excellent choice as an aperitif or to enjoy with fresh fruit dishes or soft cheeses.
Finally, Recioto, a soft, aromatic wine produced in the Veneto region using Recioto grapes, which are dried to increase the sugar and aroma concentration. The result is a full-flavored wine reminiscent of the great Passito wines, offering great complexity and elegance. It can be paired with fruit-based recipes and tarts, as well as with chocolate and traditional dry pastries.
An extra tip? Soften the fried desserts with bubbly. Champagne is perfect to pair with Carnival chiacchiere! Drop by the wine shop or contact us for tailor-made recommendations to choose from our wide range on our online shop!
