The best beverage to pair with Nachos is beer. However, as this is a wine pairing website, and you are not here for the obvious, the best wines to pair with nachos are light and fruity wines, such as Pinot Grigio, Prosecco and Lambrusco.
Nachos are mega salty, and full of fat, carbs, and proteins which can clog your taste buds by the time you’re reaching for your third serving. Thus, you need something bubbly to scrub all that gunk off your tongue, and light to wash it all down. While Beer is king with Nachos, a sparkling white wine like Prosecco or Cava will do you some good. Same goes for a Lambrusco, which is a bubbly red wine, that is a touch sweet. With all that said, good luck finding any of these in a pub. Or if you are eating nachos alone at home (there is no shame in that), you might not want to crack open a bottle of Prosecco to consume on your own. Thus, if you are really against beer, I’d suggest a glass of Pinot Grigio. It’s light, fruity, subtle and it’s going to keep you alive as you stuff your face full of delicious nacho chips, beans, melted cheese, onions, salsa, sour cream, guacamole and whatever else is piled on to you platter of nachos.
+ Click on the plus sign in the table below to expand upon why these individual pairings work! +
| Type | Varietal | Food | Rating (out of 5) | Why This Pairing Works |
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| Sparkling Wine | Sparkling Wine | Nachos | Nachos are salty as heck! Not only that, they are loaded with lots of taste bud clogging fats from the melted cheese, guacamole and sour cream that will numb your sense of taste after a couple of servings. Pairing sparkling wine, like Prosecco or Cava offers a lively and fun combination that enhances the flavours of the dish while refreshing the palate. The bubbles and acidity of sparkling wines cut through the richness of melted cheese and other hearty toppings. Meanwhile, the salt in the nachos will bring out all the subtle flavours of your sparkling wine, such as apple, citrus, almond, pear, minerals and peaches. Sparkling wine is particularly well-suited to nachos with spicy elements like jalapeños or salsa, thanks to its bright acidity and citrus notes, which balance the heat and richness. The only issue with sparkling wine is that pubs that serve nachos may not carry it, or you may have to order it by the bottle. My advice, don't order Champagne, as, while it will go great with this pairing, it is considerably much more expensive than Prosecco or Cava. |
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| Sparkling Wine | Prosecco Brut | Nachos | Prosecco Brut pairs wonderfully with nachos, offering a refreshing and balanced combination. The crisp acidity and effervescence of Prosecco Brut help to cut through the richness of melted cheese, guacamole, and sour cream, while its bright citrus and green apple notes complement the zesty and spicy elements of nachos, such as salsa and jalapeños. The wine’s light body and bubbles cleanse the palate, ensuring each bite remains vibrant and enjoyable. |
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| Cocktail | Red Sangria | Nachos |
Not every bar serves Sangria year round, but you'll often find it during the summer at many restaurants. Beware, however, come the later summer months, Sangria becomes a wasp magnet in North America during the day time hours. |
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| Red Wine | Cabernet Franc | Nachos | Cabernet Franc is a wine high in acidity, with medium tannin, making it perfect for Nachos that have some ground beef, or strips of steak tossed in. The high acidity of the wine will cut through the salt and cheese, while the tannin will improve the taste of the beef (or pork). Cabernet Franc, being a red wine has juicy flavours of raspberry, cherry and plum, however, you also get notes of herbs and green bell pepper, and green olives, making it go exceptionally well with any peppers, onion or shredded lettuce mixed into your nacho platter. |
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| Red Wine | Lambrusco | Nachos | The slightly sweet, sparkling red wine from Italy offers fruity notes of red berries and cherries, which serve up lots of refreshment against the savoury and spicy toppings often found on nachos, such as jalapeños, salsa, or seasoned meat. The light effervescence of Lambrusco helps cut through the richness of melted cheese, sour cream, and guacamole, cleansing the palate between bites. Its mild tannins and lively acidity also balance the bold, salty flavours of the dish, making Lambrusco a refreshing and playful match for a plate of loaded nachos. |
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| Cocktail | White Wine Spritzer | Nachos | If beer makes you bloated, and there's no sparkling wine available, a White Wine Spritzer is a great little cocktail to pair up with your plate of nachos. Half soda water, half white wine (usually Pinot Grigio), and served over ice with a lemon or wedge, a Spritzer is going to keep you refreshed against the saltiness and carb heavy nachos. The drink is also going to cool you down against any heat found in the salsa, or on the patio if you are eating out on a sunny day. |
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| Cocktail | Margarita | Nachos | Hey, what can I really say here besides the obvious. Margarita's are a staple at any Mexican restaurant, and Nachos are Mexican themed dish. The tangy lime flavours of classic Margarita enhance the zesty toppings on nachos, such as salsa, guacamole, or jalapeños. Meanwhile, the tequila found in this beverage, along with the citrusy brightness of the drink cut through the richness of melted cheese, sour cream, and seasoned meats, refreshing the palate between bites. Personally, I'd skip the traditional salted rim of a Margaretta, as the nachos are salty enough. (I don't know why I'm worried about salt when Nachos are already a platter of everything that is not good for you) |
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| White Wine | Pinot Grigio | Nachos | Pinot Grigio is the Coors Light of the wine world. It's crisp, clean, dry, and refreshing. The only thing holding it back from being an excellent pairing with nachos is that it doesn't have any bubbles. Females do love their Pinot Grigio, and if you belong to this camp and want to saddle up to a big plate of Nachos, it's not a bad match. As a man, I'd be happy with the pairing, but I might turn it into a Pinot Grigio Spritzer as I feel the bubbles from the soda water would help wash away the saltiness Anyway, if you're looking for a more technical breakdown of this pairing, here its. The wine's crisp acidity and vibrant notes of green apple, pear, and lemon provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of melted cheese and creamy toppings like sour cream or guacamole. Its clean, light body doesn’t overwhelm the dish, making it especially suited for nachos topped with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, cilantro, chicken, or lime. Pinot Grigio’s subtle minerality also helps balance spicier elements, such as jalapeños or salsa, offering a bright and palate-cleansing pairing. |
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| Red Wine | Ribera del Duero - Crianza | Nachos | A young Ribera del Duero Crianza is a good choice for a situation where you may be having nachos and a whole whack of other meaty finger foods like sliders, pulled pork, or sausage bites. Crianza’s limited oak aging brings subtle hints of vanilla, spice, and tobacco, which enhance the smoky or spicy elements of nachos, like grilled meats or jalapeños. Its balanced tannins and bright acidity cut through the richness of melted cheese and guacamole Ribera del Duero was meant to be food friendly, and is often enjoyed with tapas, so it makes sense that it will go great with a meaty version of nachos. |
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| Red Wine | Zinfandel | Nachos | A medium-bodied California Zinfandel pairs okay with nachos, offering a balance of fruit and spice that jive well with salsa, any beef or pork, as well as baked beans. The wine’s ripe red and black fruit notes, like raspberry and blackberry, are delicious with plain nacho chips, as the chip will soak up those flavours. Meanwhile, Zinfandel's hints of black pepper and spice add depth to the nachos' seasonings. The wine’s plucky acidity helps balance the richness of any loaded nacho plate, making it a satisfying pairing. |
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| Type | Varietal | Food | Why This Pairing Works |
If you do want to see some Beer Parings with Nachos, click on the Discover More Pairings below button. This will bring you to the home page, and you can type Nachos in the the Food and Wine Pairing Database for Beer and Nacho recommendations.