Asparagus pairs best with crisp and dry unoaked white wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Grigio and Vermentino. Keep all red wines and rosés away from Asparagus as the red fruit flavours clash with the pungency of Asparagus, making the wine taste like a dank and mouldy basement where small rodents go to die.
Sweet wines and Asparagus are also a terrible mix. Thus if you pair up Asparagus with a Riesling, ensure it is a bone dry Riesling. Otherwise, your sweet wine will taste like mossy compost water.
Finally, keep all oaked wines away from Asparagus as well. The oak notes clash with the vegetal and green flavours of Asparagus and will make the wine end up tasting incredibly weird. However, if the Asparagus is served in a cream sauce, a buttery Chardonnay provided it isn’t heavily oaked. The reason creamy Asparagus and an oaked Chardonnay works is that the creamy sauce spreads out the bitter asparagus flavours, meaning the flavours aren’t overly concentrated to the point that they will clash with the oak in your wine.
Best Wine with Asparagus
Type | Varietal | Food | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
White Wine | Grüner Veltliner | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Sauvignon Blanc | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Muscadet | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Grüner Veltliner | Asparagus Tempura | |
Fortified Wine | Marsala, Dry | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Sancerre | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Sauvignon Blanc | White Asparagus | |
White Wine | Savennières | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Petit Chablis | Asparagus | |
Sparkling Wine | Sekt | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Pouilly sur Loire | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Pinot Bianco | White Asparagus | |
White Wine | Favorita | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Friulano | Asparagus With Prosciutto and Eggs | |
White Wine | Muscat, Dry | Asparagus Tempura | |
White Wine | Languedoc, White | Asparagus | |
Sherry | Sherry, Amontillado | Crab and Asparagus Soup | |
White Wine | Koshu | Asparagus Tempura | |
White Wine | Picpoul de Pinet | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Gentil D'Alsace | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Muscat, Dry | White Asparagus | |
White Wine | Grillo | Linguine with Cod and Asparagus | |
White Wine | Roupeiro | Asparagus Risotto | |
White Wine | Silvaner | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Menetou Salon, White | Asparagus w/ bacon Kushiyaki | |
White Wine | Châteauneuf du Pape, White | Asparagus Potage | |
White Wine | Sauvignon Blanc | Asparagus Soup | |
Sparkling Wine | Champagne | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Vermentino | Roasted Asparagus | |
White Wine | Pigato | Asparagus Risotto | |
White Wine | Quincy - Loire Valley | Asparagus w/ bacon Kushiyaki | |
White Wine | Châteauneuf du Pape, White | Asparagus Quiche | |
White Wine | Semillon | Asparagus Soup | |
White Wine | Pouilly Fumé | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Gavi di Gavi / Cortese di Gavi (DOCG) | Asparagus Risotto | |
White Wine | Tursan AOVDQS - White | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Grillo | Asparagus with Parmesan Dressing | |
White Wine | Muscat, Alsace | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Mâcon, White | Asparagus Quiche | |
White Wine | Semillon | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Chardonnay, Unoaked | Asparagus Salad | |
Sake | Sake | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Sauvignon Blanc | Asparagus Risotto | |
White Wine | Muscat, Dry | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Chenin Blanc, Loire Valley | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Sauvignon Blanc | Asparagus Salad | |
White Wine | Graves, White - Bordeaux | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Vouvray | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Pinot Grigio | Asparagus Risotto | |
Sparkling Wine | Prosecco | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Pinot Gris | Asparagus | |
Beer | Wheat Beer | Asparagus Salad | |
White Wine | Fumé Blanc | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Pinot Grigio | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Soave Classico | Asparagus | |
Sparkling Wine | Champagne | White Asparagus | |
White Wine | Riesling | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Verdicchio | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Bordeaux, White, Dry | Asparagus | |
Sparkling Wine | Sparkling Wine | Asparagus | |
Beer | Wheat Beer | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Riesling, Grand Cru, Alsace | White Asparagus | |
Red Wine | Red Wine | Asparagus | |
White Wine | Gewürztraminer | Asparagus |
Sauvignon Blanc and Asparagus Pairing
Sauvignon Blanc is fantastic wine pairing with Asparagus as this crisp white wine is a little pungent and grassy on the nose which complements the Asparagus flavours. Furthermore, the fresh flavours of lemon, grapefruit, green apple and lime brighten up the spring-time flavours of Asparagus.
I like my Asparagus steamed and covered in butter. Sauvignon is perfect with this side dish as the crisp acidity of the wine cuts through the oils with ease while amplifying the green freshness of the Asparagus, as well as providing a refreshing contrast.
One of my favourite spring-time meals is grilled Salmon with Asparagus on the side. A glass of Sauvignon Blanc is amazing with this combination.
Grüner Veltliner & Asparagus Pairing
Grüner Veltliner is a white wine that is high in acidity and loaded with clean green notes of lentils, mineral, herbs, white pepper, and peas which complement all the bitter green flavours of Asparagus. Meanwhile, the fruit flavours of green apple, lime apricot, grapefruit and melon provide a crisp and refreshing contrast to the Asparagus.
Grüner Veltliner is not a crowd-pleasing wine, so I would not serve it up at a ladies spring luncheon. Instead, reserve Grüner Veltliner for intimate meals with your family or close friends, such as during a mild spring evening, where you are enjoying a salmon burger with a side of freshly steamed Asparagus from your garden.
Grüner Veltliner is the best wine to pair with all sorts of challenging to pair vegetables, including artichokes, bell peppers, broccoli, arugula, green beans and peas.
Vermentino & Roasted Asparagus Pairing
Vermentino is a light-bodied white wine that has aromas of pear, melon, lemon, grapefruit and crushed gravel. While Vermentino is light in body, it often has a soft and creamy texture that is lovely with roasted Asparagus. Vermentino also has a subtle bitterness that complements the bitter asparagus flavours. Flavours of herbs and mineral found in the wine wine make Vermentino an excellent wine pairing with Asparagus as it complement Asparagus’s green and earthier side, making for a fantastic pairing.
Pinot Grigio & Asparagus Pairing
A light Italian Pinot Grigio is a wonderful wine pairing with Asparagus as the light and dry flavours of lemon, green apples, melon and peach won’t overshadow the pungent green flavours of Asparagus. You’ll also find notes of stone, mineral, grass and smoke that complement the earthy green flavours of Asparagus that have been grilled or roasted.
While Pinot Grigio wouldn’t be my first choice with Asparagus, this white wine is a huge crowd pleaser making it perfect for a large spring luncheon or banquet where Asparagus is being served as a side, as part of a salad, or as a creamy soup. Another fantastic alternative would be a crisp and dry white wine such as Prosecco, as the neutral flavours provide the right amount of refreshment with the green flavours of Asparagus.
Muscat D’Alsace & Cold Asparagus Salad Pairing
Asparagus served in a cold salad with a vinaigrette is perfect beside a glass of dry Muscat D’Alsace. There are many styles of Muscat, so make certain you seek out Muscat D’Alsace, a French wine that smells like Spring. Floral aromas along with honey, pear, and peach flirt perfectly with the pungent green flavours of the Asparagus and the sharp vinaigrette bite of the dressing.
Make sure you stick to a dry Muscat D’Alsace from France or a bone dry Yellow Muscat from Austria. Sweet Muscat styles (which are popular) are terrible with Asparagus, and will taste like mossy compost tea.
*(Tasting Compost Tea is something I recommend avoiding at all costs as it is nasty. I know this from experiences as I have been splashed in the face many times by compost water from my home gardening adventures)