Wine and ice cream are two of life’s greatest pleasures. Well, at least they’re my greatest pleasures. But, finding the perfect pairing can be a challenge.
Pairing wine with ice cream may seem counterintuitive, as they’re usually enjoyed separately and have very different flavor profiles, but we really like having some fun around here so I figured I was up for the challenge.
With a little experimentation and knowledge of wine, you can create a delicious and unexpected dessert pairing that will actually work well together and, if you’re having friends over, something fun to do that just may impress them (if you even care).
I know that most will say this is pointless and almost impossible to do, especially since the rich and creamy texture of ice cream can clash with certain wines and the sweetness of ice cream can make some wines taste overly acidic or tannic.
Well, despite these challenges and what you may think, I had some fun and think I totally rocked this pairing – even with some of the oddest (yet popular) ice cream choices.
Wines That Go With Ice Cream
Vanilla Ice Cream + Riesling
One of the most popular (and common) ice creams is vanilla. Pairing wine with vanilla ice cream can be a bit challenging since the sweetness and creaminess of the ice cream can overpower so many wines. Alas, there are wines that can go well with vanilla like a sweet wine with a good balance of acidity and sweetness that can complement the overall vanilla flavor.
One excellent wine to pair with vanilla ice cream is a late harvest Riesling from the Mosel or Rheingau regions in Germany. These wines are typically sweet, with notes of apricot, honey, and a refreshing acidity that can cut through the richness of the ice cream.
Another great option is a Sauternes from the Bordeaux region in France. Sauternes is a sweet wine made from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes that has a luscious texture and notes of honey, apricot, and tropical fruit that can complement the vanilla ice cream’s creamy sweetness.
Wines to Avoid: I would avoid pairing dry wines like Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon with vanilla ice cream as they can clash with the ice cream’s sweetness and make the wine taste bitter and astringent. Yuck.
Chocolate Ice Cream + Port Wine
When it comes to pairing wine with chocolate ice cream, you’ll want to choose a wine that can balance the richness and bitterness of the chocolate. Depending on that here are a few you can choose from.
Port: Port is a fortified wine from Portugal that comes in a range of styles, from dry to sweet. A tawny port or ruby port can be an excellent match for chocolate ice cream. Tawny ports have nutty, caramel flavors that complement the chocolate, while ruby ports are rich and fruity with notes of blackberry and cherry that can balance the bitterness of the chocolate.
A full-bodied red wine like a Zinfandel or Syrah can pair well with chocolate ice cream, especially if the ice cream has a high percentage of cocoa. Look for a wine with bold, ripe fruit flavors and smooth tannins that can complement the chocolate.
While a bit controversial, a sweet sherry like Pedro Ximenez can be a surprising but a great match as well. This wine is thick and syrupy with flavors of raisins, figs, and caramel that can complement the chocolate’s richness. Not a personal favorite of mine, but it still works.
Matcha Ice Cream + Champagne
Anyone notice how matcha is still everywhere these days? Well, this includes ice cream too.
Overall, matcha ice cream is a really unique flavor that can actually be tough to pair with wine. The green tea flavor can be pretty delicate, so you’ll want to choose a wine that won’t overpower it.
My personal favorite (always) is to go with a Champagne, Prosecco, or other sparkling wine: The effervescence of Champagne can help refresh your palate between licks of your matcha ice cream. A dry Champagne with notes of citrus and minerals can complement the ice cream’s herbal flavor without overwhelming it.
You can also go with a Sauvignon Blanc too. A crisp Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley or New Zealand can be a good match for matcha (see what I did there?). Look for one with notes of green apple, grapefruit, and herbs that can complement the tea’s vegetal notes.
And you can always go with a Muscat. A sweet Muscat from the Alsace region of France or Italy can be a great option too. The wine’s floral and fruity flavors can complement the ice cream’s grassy and earthy notes.
Wines to Avoid: It’s best to avoid pairing full-bodied red wines or wines with strong tannins since they can overpower the delicate flavor of your matcha ice cream.
Coffee Ice Cream + Tawny Port
Personally, I drink 3 coffees per day and usually a glass of wine at night. Don’t judge. So pairing up a wine with a coffee ice cream is like a dream come true.
Generally, coffee ice cream is rich and flavorful that usually pairs well with a bunch of different wines so there’s really something for almost everyone.
My personal fave is to go with a tawny port. Like I mentioned above, a classic tawny port has amazing caramel and nutty flavors marry well with the chocolate ice cream. The wine’s overall sweetness can complement the ice cream’s richness and bring out its chocolatey notes.
If s tawny port isn’t your jam, you could always try a full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel. In this case, look for a wine with ripe fruit flavors, like blackberry or cherry, and smooth tannins that can balance the ice cream’s bitterness.
Another personal fave is going with a Madeira. A sweet Madeira with its rich, nutty flavor can complement the coffee ice cream’s caramel notes. Look for a wine with notes of toffee, caramel, and dried fruit that can balance the ice cream’s bitterness.
And finally, of course this isn’t a wine but you can never go wrong with an espresso martini. The martini’s coffee and vodka flavors can complement the ice cream’s coffee notes, while the espresso’s bitterness can balance the ice cream’s sweetness. Just be wary of the amount of caffeine in each (the ice cream and the espresso martini) because you don’t want to be up all night. Or do you?!
Wines to Avoid: I personally wouldn’t pair white wines or wines with high acidity, as they can clash with the coffee ice cream’s bitterness and make the wine taste sour.
Pistachio Ice Cream + Moscato d'Asti
Pistachio is always my dad’s favorite ice cream flavor so I wanted to help paid a wine just for him!
For this ice cream, I’d recommend going with a Moscato d’Asti, which is a sweet Italian wine with a light, effervescent character. Its fruity and floral flavors can complement the pistachio ice cream’s nuttiness and bring out its sweetness.
You could always go with Amontillado Sherry, which is a medium-dry fortified wine with nutty and savory flavors. Its salty and savory notes can complement the pistachio ice cream’s nuttiness and add complexity to the pairing itself.
Wines to Avoid: I would stay away from pairing red wines or wines with strong tannins as they can overpower the pistachio ice cream’s delicate flavors.
Strawberry Ice Cream + Rosé
Strawberry ice cream is always a summer favorite since it’s fruity and refreshing. This is another flavor that can work well with a bunch of different wines. Here are some of my personal picks.
A dry rosé wine can be an excellent match for strawberry ice cream. Look for a wine with bright fruit flavors, like raspberry, cherry, and watermelon, that can complement the ice cream’s sweetness and bring out its strawberry flavors.
You can go with a sweet Riesling as well. Seek out one with notes of peach, apricot, and honey that can complement the ice cream’s fruitiness.
And you know I love a Prosecco. Its light and effervescent character can refresh your palate between bites of strawberry ice cream and complement its sweetness.
Wines to Avoid: It’s best to avoid pairing red wines or wines with high tannins as they can clash with the ice cream’s fruitiness and make the wine taste bitter. I’d avoid some dry white wines with high acidity, like Sauvignon Blanc, since they can make the ice cream taste sour.
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream + Ruby Port
Mint chocolate chip ice cream can be a tough one to pair with wine since it has such a strong and unique flavor. But here we are.
For this one you can always go with a ruby port, since it has fruity and sweet flavors with notes of black cherry, plum, and chocolate that can complement both the chocolate chip and mint flavor.
If you want to get a little adventurous, go for a Brachetto d’Acqui. It’s a sweet Italian red wine with aromas of rose petals and red berries. Its fruitiness and sweetness can complement the ice cream’s minty and chocolatey flavors.
Coconut Ice Cream + Late Harvest Gewürztraminer
I’m definitely not a huge fan of coconut ice cream, but I know it’s a fan favorite for all those ice cream obsessors out there. So, here’s how you can pair it.
Go with a late harvest Gewürztraminer. A late harvest Gewürztraminer with its floral and fruity aromas can be a great match for coconut ice cream. Look for a wine with notes of lychee, rose petals, and honey that can complement the ice cream’s tropical flavors.
Ube Ice Cream + Gewürztraminer
Speaking of a Gewürztraminer here’ another ice cream you can pair it with.
If you haven’t heard of Ube ice cream you may not be on TikTok or Instagram. I started seeing ube ice cream pop up everywhere when I lived in NYC and people were obsessed.
Ube ice cream is a popular Filipino ice cream that’s made with purple yam and has a sweet and earthy flavor.
When trying to pair it, I’d recommend going with a Gewürztraminer with its floral and spicy notes. Again, pick out one with notes of lychee, rose petals, and ginger that can complement the ice cream’s sweet and earthy flavors.
Cookie Dough Ice Cream + Tawny Port
A tawny port made my pairing list again and this time with the ever-popular cookie dough ice cream.
Usually cookie dough ice cream is rich and sweet and has flavors of cookie dough, vanilla, and sometimes chocolate chips.
Since a tawny port is sweet and nutty, I’d look for one that has notes of caramel, toffee, and nuts. It’ll help balance everything out, including the sweetness of the ice cream itself.
Oreo Ice Cream + Malbec
Typically when I’m ordering an ice cream, I’m going with Oreo or cookies and cream (similar, right?) so if you want to pair a wine with that, I’d recommend going with a Malbec wine.
A classic Malbec is fruity and medium-bodied with notes of dark fruit, chocolate, and vanilla that can complement the Oreo’s ice cream flavors.
Believe it or not you can even go with a Zinfandel that’s fruity and full-bodied with flavors of blackberry, raspberry, and spice that can complement the Oreo ice cream’s chocolate and vanilla flavors.
Cake Batter Ice Cream + Prosecco
Cake batter ice cream (or birthday cake ice cream) is always a cause to celebrate. Usually cake batter ice cream is sweet, creamy, and has a nice vanilla base to it. So, if we’re going to pair something with it and celebrate all at the same time, you can’t go wrong with a Prosecco.
The Prosecco’s bubbles and light sweetness will help refresh your palate between licks and nibbles of the ice cream, while its fruity notes can complement its vanilla-based flavors.
In Conclusion
Let’s wrap this up so we can all go out and pick up an ice cream or two and those applicable bottles of wine!
Pairing wine with ice cream can be a fun and delicious experience, but it can also really be tricky. So, it’s best to choose wines with fruity, sweet, or nutty flavors that can complement the ice cream’s sweetness and richness.
It’s also important to avoid pairing dry wines or wines with high tannins as they can clash with the ice cream’s flavors.
Overall, the key to a successful pairing is finding a wine that can balance and enhance the flavors of the ice cream. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Even if you won’t end up loving the pairing, you could always use that wine for another fun occasion.
