Wine pairing can be tricky, regardless of the wine or food involved. When it comes to something as powerfully aromatic and rich in flavour as fruitcake, it can be even trickier. If you plan to entertain this holiday season and want to serve wine with your fruitcake, you should keep the following tips in mind. Likewise, if you want to send a gift basket for Christmas and are looking for the best fruitcake and wine pairing, it’s good to know what to look for.

Perfect with port

One of the more traditional wine options would be a glass of Port to accompany the fruitcake. A bottle of Tawny-style Port has the right kind of flavour to complement the sweet flavours of a rich fruit cake. It has some nutty and brown sugar elements and since it is quite sweet, it will match the sweetness of the cake. This type of Port is also good because it resists the characteristic alcoholic flavour of fruit cakes made with brandy as an ingredient. It is important to note that there are different types of Tawny Port on the market and not all of them are expensive. Some have higher prices than others, so look for one that fits your budget and personal tastes when pairing fruitcake and wine of this variety.

Brilliant bubbles

If you don’t really like Port, you have other fruitcake and wine pairing options. A good semi-dry rosé wine or a semi-dry white sparkling wine also pairs quite well with a fruit cake. Semi-dry sparkling wines have just the right amount of sweetness, acidity and bubbles to pair properly. White Merlot or white Zinfandel also work well if that’s more to your taste.

Fruity wines

The fruity flavours of the Moscato, Gewürztraminer and Riesline will blend with the fruity elements of the cake, so that these wines will complement each other. Some late harvest wines can also work well as they are more intense in terms of fruit flavours and sweetness.

Wines can be much more versatile than most people realize. There are some rules and guidelines, but there’s nothing wrong with experimenting! So if you’re not sure which bottle will work best for you, enjoy a little taste test and try a few. You are bound to find a few fruitcake and wine pairings that will appeal to your preferences.