What wine to pair with egg-based dishes

What you should know about pairing wine with egg-based dishes

Can you believe the long Easter weekend is just around the corner? Indeed, me neither.

But since this is the time, you are likely busy planning your Easter brunch/lunch. In many countries, this will include eggs. And while hard-boiled coloured Easter eggs are a staple almost globally, there might be other egg-based dishes on your Easter menu.

And looking beyond the long Easter weekend, many spring and summer dishes await involving a good portion of eggs. Just think of asparagus with poached egg, or the different quiche and frittata variations.

So, you want to have the right wines at hand to pair with egg-based dishes for the Eater weekend and beyond.

Egg-based dishes are often said to be difficult to pair with wine. The truth is, like every dish there are wines that will work well, and others less so.

The wines you are looking for will have to stand up to the umami flavour of the eggs along with egg yolks coating the palate which can make certain wines taste metallic. How you prepare the eggs, and which other ingredients are involved, is likewise important when looking for the best wine match.  

One pairing that will almost always work with eggs is sparkling wine, especially the classic method sparkling wines (thus those with second fermentation in the bottle, like champagne). This is also the most classic pairing when you decide to have wine with your breakfast.

Looking beyond breakfast there are of course many egg-based dishes for lunch or dinner, and that the time you might be looking for a still wine to go along with. Even though champagne and sparkling wines will still work here too.

Best wines to pair with egg-based dishes

As usual, it is down to your own taste which wine you will prefer with egg-based dishes for your lunch or dinner.

However, to give you an idea of the best wines to pair with egg-based dishes check out the list below.

Devilled eggs: Somewhere between breakfast and appetizer for aperitivo, devilled eggs beg for a glass of champagne or sparkling wine.

Eggs with fried potatoes: This classic dish can be eaten for breakfast but is often served for lunch or dinner. It pairs perfectly with a sparkling wine, a high-acid dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a fruity Grillo from Sicily.

Huevos Rancheros: This popular dish from Mexico, typically served either for breakfast, lunch or dinner is served on corn tortillas and includes eggs, salsa, and beans. It works best with a medium to full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon.

Quiche: Starting from the classic Quiche Lorraine to potato quiche, quiche with salmon or meat there is a wide number of different quiche variations. The best wine to choose will be largely based on the combination of egg with the remaining ingredients.

• Quiche Lorraine: This classic quiche originating from the Lorraine region in northeastern France definitely calls for a Riesling from neighbouring Alsace. The tight acidity of this particular type of Riesling will have no trouble cutting through the intense flavour of the quiche.
• Quiche with chicken/meat or mushrooms: A rosé or light, fruity red Beaujolais would work well with this type of quiche.
• Salmon quiche: Your best match would be a crisp Chablis, fruity Pouilly-Fumé, a Sauvignon Blanc or a characterful rosé.

Frittata: Originating in Italy, frittata is similar to omelette and quiche. It is based on an egg-mixture and ingredients ranging from cheese to vegetables, fish, and meat. It works well with sparkling wine, in particular those from Franciacorta in Italy, or Cava from Spain. If you prefer a dry white, a Fiano from Italy, or a dry Riesling from Germany.

Tortilla: The traditional Spanish tortilla combining eggs, potatoes and olive oil calls for a high-acidity dry white like an Alvarinho, a dry Riesling, a dry rosé or a sparkling wine like Cava or champagne.

Asparagus and poached eggs: A Pouilly-Fumé, a crisp dry white like Chablis, or a dry Italian Soave would work well with the asparagus-egg combination.

Do you have a favourite wine with egg-based dishes? Let me know which one in the comments below.