When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, you probably think beer, whiskey, and Irish coffee. However, wine is still a popular alcoholic beverage in Ireland, with the majority of the wine coming from South America — specifically Chile — Australia, France, or Spain. If you’re looking to avoid a beer belly or hangover this St. Patrick’s Day, we’re sharing some tips and tricks on how to drink wine as part of your celebrations.
1) Try a Guinness Wine Cocktail
Debatably the world’s most iconic beer, Guinness has been brewed at St. James’ Gate brewery in Dublin, Ireland, since 1759. This world famous Irish stout is a must-drink on St. Patrick’s Day, and frankly, every day if you’re Irish.
If you’re dead set on drinking your annual St. Patty’s Day Guinness, adding some wine can create a lighter twist on the classic. Enter the Black Velvet Guinness and Champagne Cocktail. While unexpected, this drink has history on its side — it’s said that the Black Velvet Cocktail was made to mourn Queen Victoria’s husband when he passed in the mid-1800s.
Image courtesy of The Spruce Eats.
Ingredients
- 4 oz. chilled Guinness
- 4 oz. chilled Champagne or sparkling wine
How to make it
Fill your wine flute halfway with sparkling wine. Our recommended sparkling is our Private Reserve Aromica. The aromas of toasted almonds and fresh-baked bread will perfectly complement the roasted malt flavors of the Guinness. Then slowly fill to the top with Guinness. Cheers!
2) Pair Wine with Irish Cuisine
There are a handful of Irish meals that are simply begging to be paired with a glass of wine. The following Irish wine pairings aren’t just luck - they’re matches made in green heaven. (Disclaimer: We won’t be pairing any of these traditional Irish dishes with Wild Irish Rose - the delightfully cheap and super sweet stuff of legend you can find in any grocery store wine aisle.)
Corned Beef
When pairing wine with corned beef, go for a less tannic red like a Zinfandel or Merlot. Cabernet Franc is also a great option, as it complements pickling spices. People often assume a bold, high-tannin wine like Cabernet Sauvignon would pair well with corned beef, but the cut of meat used for corning is actually not as fatty as you’d expect, so low tannin reds are a great choice.
Example: We recommend our MeetCute Merlot. This smooth tannin red is brimming with dark fruit aromas of juicy plum, raspberry, and black cherry with dark chocolate in the finish.
Bright Cellars' Meet Cute Merlot
Shepherd's Pie
This hearty dish pairs well with Sangiovese. Spiced lamb meat complements the wine’s lively acidity, medium tannins, and savory notes. A Northern Rhone Syrah is a great backup - the savory, juicy flavors will jive with the gaminess of the lamb.
Example: Give our Silverscape Syrah a try with your Shepherd’s pie. This nicely aged red shows complex elements of spice, earth, and leather along with notes of raspberry, blackberry, and fig.
Potato Soup
If you’re in the mood for something warming, try the combination of creamy potato leek soup and Grüner Veltliner. We always look to the acidity of a wine like Grüner Veltliner (or Sauvignon Blanc) to cut creaminess when it comes to heavier soups. Not to mention, the notes of green pepper will complement the herby leek flavor. Oh, and don’t forget to check out our other winter soup and wine pairings!Example: Have you tried our Herz & Heim Grüner Veltliner? It has a clean finish with citrus and stone fruit aromas, a punch of green apple, fresh herbs, and spicy white pepper on the palate.
Bright Cellars' Herz & Heim Grüner Veltliner
In Vino Finito
Do you have plans for St. Patty’s Day? What’s your favorite St. Patrick’s Day tradition?
