Best Wine with Corned Beef
In contrast to the saltiness of the corned beef, Cabernet Franc’s naturally high acidity and notes of raspberries, blackberries, and red cherries are invigorating. Additional flavors that go well with the cabbage include those of herbs, green olives, green bell peppers, and earth. Cabernet Franc typically has a medium weight and medium tannin level, letting the delicious flavors of cabbage still come through.
The one caveat with Cabernet Franc is that if it’s not made right, the wine is terrible. Thus, you have to do your homework first with this red wine to ensure it’s of high quality. To make matters even more difficult, Cabernet Franc is not a popular single varietal wine. Thus, you’ll rarely find an example of it alone (often it’s blended with other grapes to make Bordeaux) in a restaurant. For producers, I’d suggest Pillitteri Estates, Chateaux Des Charmes, Tawse, Jarvis Estates, Signorello, Barboursville Vineyards, Columbia Winery, Hermann J. Wiemer, and Bernard Baudry.
Beaujolais Villages & Corned Beef and Cabbage Pairing
A light and fruity red wine from France, Beaujolais Villages has notes of cherries, strawberries, plums, and raspberries that are invigorating. Additionally, you’ll detect hints of herbs, spices, black pepper, and cloves that go well with the cabbage.
While Beaujolais Villages has aged longer and acquired some complexity, Beaujolais Nouveaux is a red wine that is meant to be consumed young and will be more fruit-forward. Corned beef and cabbage are also a good match for Beaujolais Nouveaux, but they won’t go together as well. Beaujolais Nouveaux also has notes of bubblegum and bananas, which not everyone finds appetizing. Beaujolais Villages is the best option because it is reliable and extremely affordable.
Corned beef and cabbage go even better with Beaujolais Cru, but these wines can be hard to find outside of France because they are produced in ten different regions with distinct winemaking styles. Typically, Beaujolais Cru will have a little more complexity while still being sufficiently fruit-forward to be pleasantly reviving. The best Beaujolais Cru wines to pair with the dish are Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, Morgon, and Moulin-à-Vent because they are the earthier and heartier Beaujolais varieties. These wines will also cost a few dollars more, but Beaujolais Cru is still reasonably priced and provides exceptional value.
Pinot Noir & Cabbage and Corned Beef Pairing
Pinot Noir has an earthy flavor and is also light and fruity. Steamed cabbage pairs well with Pinot Noir’s earthy funk, and the wine’s tangy strawberry and cherry flavors perfectly offset the corned beef’s saltiness.
You can purchase both affordable and high-quality Pinot Noir, but not both. Consequently, if you want a decent bottle of Pinot Noir, expect to pay at least $25. Proper Pinot Noir is classy with delectable fruit notes that tempt the palate and rich with notes of forest floor, smoke, and barnyard. Understanding Pinot Noir is a process that takes time, but once you do, you’ll spend the rest of your life searching for it. Because there are so many subpar options available, I rarely advise buying wine blind, even though I do highly recommend this particular bottle. If you want to purchase a bottle of Pinot Noir but are unfamiliar with it, be sure to research it and ask around. For your dinner of corned beef and cabbage, pick up a bottle of Beaujolais Villages if you want something reasonably priced and fruity.
Alsace Pinot Gris & Corned Beef with Cabbage Pairing
Although it may seem strange to pair white wine with beef, white wines like Pinot Gris go well with corned beef because of its saltiness and the funky flavors of the cabbage. The full-bodied, dry white wine Pinot Gris from Alsace in France has a lot of acidity to balance out the corned beef’s saltiness and fat content. Despite the fact that the grapes for Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same, Italian Pinot Grigio is produced in a lighter manner that cannot withstand the robust flavors of beef and cabbage.
Layers of flavors, including apricot, citrus, honey, flowers, nuts, peach, pear, spice, smoke, stone, and mineral, can be found in Alsatian Pinot Gris. The simple pleasures of corned beef and cabbage are enhanced and delighted by this elegant wine.
Dry Riesling & Corned Beef Pairing
The saltiness of the corned beef is complemented by the dry Riesling’s stony minerality. You’ll also get the crisp flavors of lime and lemon, as well as green apple, peaches, and apricots, in the meantime. Riesling’s crisp flavor cuts through the corned beef’s saltiness and fat, and the aromatic flavors stand up to the flavors of the beef and cabbage.
Wine lovers turn to Germany for their Riesling because that is where it originated historically. However, you’ll find excellent examples of Riesling worldwide. While cooler climates have more minerality and apple notes, warmer climates produce more tropical and lime flavors. I prefer mineral-forward Riesling, which is why I adore German Riesling as well as Riesling from Ontario, Michigan, and New York State.
Off-Dry Riesling is a style of Riesling that is slightly sweet, making it better suited for a wine pairing with naturally sweet foods like ham or spicy foods where you want to tone down the heat. You should choose a bone-dry Riesling when eating corned beef.
Easy Corned Beef and Cabbage (Stovetop or Slow Cooker)
FAQ
What drink goes well with corned beef and cabbage?
Red wines that are acidic and fruity, like Beaujolais and Pinot Noir, or medium-bodied red wines like Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel go best with corned beef and cabbage. Corned beef and cabbage pair well with white wines like Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, and Grüner Veltliner.
What wine pairs best with corned beef and cabbage?
Riesling, Fume Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Pinot Blanc (all from Alsace) are some of the best white wines to pair with corned beef and cabbage. These particular white wines have high acids and flavors of tropical fruit, citrus, and pears.
What beer goes with corned beef and cabbage?
Irish Lager and Corned Beef and Cabbage Pair Well With One Another Patrick’s Day dish in the U. S. this dish includes tender braised cabbage leaves and cured beef brisket (also known as “corned” beef because the salt crystals used for curing were the size of corn kernels!).
What pairs well with corned beef?
Asian Cabbage Salad is one of the best sides to serve with corned beef. Potato Gratin. Roasted Red Potatoes. Classic Glazed Carrots. Blanched Green Beans. Soft Dinner Rolls. Sauerkraut. Marinated Artichoke Hearts.