Potato Leek Soup & Wine Pairing

An earthy but slightly sweet and creamy bowl of Potato Leek Soup pairs best with white wines such as Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc.  I’m not a huge fan of red wine with leeks as I find the berry flavours do not complement the sweet, oniony and green leek flavours.  However, if your Potato Leek Soup contains bacon, an Oregon Pinot Noir is exceptional with the soup.

Best Wine with Potato Leek Soup

Chardonnay & Potato Leek Soup Pairing

A slightly oaked Chardonnay will have round flavours of butter and vanilla that complement the richness of the creamy Potato Leek Soup.  Meanwhile, you’ll also find contrasting elements of citrus, baked apple, pear and melon that serve up plenty of refreshment.

Stick to Chardonnay that has only seen a touch of oak.  Napa Chardonnay, for example, can often be too buttery and overwhelming against the delicate leek flavours of the soup.  I’d highly suggest opting for a Chardonnay that is produced by a reputable winery.  Cheap bottles of Chardonnay often don’t do the wine justice and come off as perfumed with sweet flavours of vanilla extract and artificial flavours of rancid butter.

Pinot Gris & Potato Leek Soup Pairing

The high acidity of Pinot Gris allows it to easily cut through the rich texture of the Potato Leek Soup.  Some recipes call for adding cream or yogurt to make for a creamier soup, but I often find the starchy flavours of the Potato are enough to provide an ample amount of body.  In either case, Pinot Gris will have no issue keeping you refreshed with its flavours of citrus, honey, mango, peach and pear in between sips of soup and wine.

The minerality and chalkiness of Pinot Gris also complements the earthy texture of the potatoes which form the base of the soup.

Grüner Veltliner & Potato Leek Soup Pairing

Grüner Veltliner has the perfect amount of acidity to help cut through the creamy depth of this earthy soup. The clean, almost crystalline flavours of  citrus, apricot, stone and pear provide a heavenly contrast to the starchy potato flavours. Meanwhile, Grüner Veltliner’s classic pepper and green notes of lentils and herbs are a wonderful complement to delicate leek flavours or any herbs you add to the soup.

Sauvignon Blanc & Leek and Potato Soup Pairing

Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp acidic white wine that cuts through the creamy depths of Potato Leek Soup with its citrusy flavours of lemon, lime and grapefruit.  You’ll also find green notes of herbs and grass that complement the green leek flavours.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is my favourite style of Sauvignon Blanc, however, in the case of Potato Leek soup, the grassy green notes along with the strong gooseberry profile will overpower the subtle leek flavours.  Thus, I’d suggest you hunt out a French Sauvignon Blanc, such as a Sancerre or a Pouilly Fumé.   Pouilly Fumé is famous for having a smoky vibe that is exceptional with Potato Leek Soup containing smoked bacon.

Verdelho Madeira & Potato Leek Soup Pairing

It might seem like an unusual choice, however, Verdelho Madeira, which is a fortified wine from an Island owned by Portugal,  is excellent with Potato & Leek soup.  Verdelho Madeira is a rich medium-dry wine with an amazing smokiness flavour that complements the creaminess of Potato Leek Soup.  You’ll also find notes of spice, caramel and roasted almonds which adds an indulgent complexity to this pairing.

Verdelho Madeira is an off-dry fortified wine with a kiss of sweetness that dances wonderfully with the sweet onion flavours of the leeks in your soup.  Notes of orange peel, smoke, citrus and peach further add to the ying-yang relationship of complementing and contrasting the Potato Leek Soup.

Verdelho Madeira is my favourite pairing with Potato Leek Soup as I must always have hot soup, and the contrast between cold white wine and the heat of the soup hurts my teeth.  Verdelho Madeira can be served at room temperature in small 3 ounce portions.  This helps the Potato Leek Soup taste hot, as you only need to sip away at the fortified wine to get its full punch of flavours.

I’d suggest Verdelho Madeira for intimate dinner parties around the kitchen table.  Verdelho Madeira might be a challenge to obtain, and for those not experienced with wine, the small serving size and bright punch of flavours it provides may come across as confusing.