When it comes to a comforting dinner after a long day at work, finding the right wine to enjoy with your meal is key. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish, compliment the flavours of your meal and even enhance the wine as you sip it. 

If you are looking to make the most of your next dinner at home, here are some guidelines to follow when it comes to matching wine with these mealtime favourites.

Carbonara

This classic Italian favourite has a combination of ingredients that can include cream, ham or bacon, egg yolk, butter, olive oil, and plenty of cheese. If you add bacon, the dish is particularly high in fat and thus could benefit from a wine that is high in tannin. The acid will cut thru the sauce but yet, the wine should not be overpowering so the pork shows through. An appropriate red would be light-to-medium bodied with high acidity, such as a vibrant Gamay.

Lasagne

The creamy white sauce of lasagne makes it tricky to partner perfectly, but as with pasta sauces, your wine choice should reflect the other ingredients in the dish. It’s probably the meaty version that comes to mind but these days there are many variations.

Classic Meat Lasagne

You can go for the same type of wines as you would for a spaghetti bolognese, however, as the cheese sauce tends to make the dish richer, you might want to look at a slightly more full-bodied red, like Shiraz. Barbera is a good pairing too as are Italian grape varieties such as Sangiovese.

Vegetable lasagna

It’s important to choose a wine pairing for vegetable lasagna that suits the veggies that are in it. Mediterranean vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and courgettes work well with a light red, such as Pinot Noir or Grenache. If it includes spinach and butternut, pick a dry white with a rich finish, like an oaked Chardonnay. Mushroom lasagna works well with either white or red wines, so you can decide if you are in the mood for a glass of Champagne or Pinotage.

Macaroni Cheese

The entire reason mac and cheese exist in the first place is because it’s a big bowl of creamy comfort, so why not opt for a soft, creamy wine, too? With a homely old-fashioned recipe, go for a simple glass of white whereas with one made with a fine strong artisan cheddar or with lashings of cream and lobster you might go for something more extravagant like a posh white Burgundy or a Chenin Blanc from South Africa.

Chilli Con Carne

Like lasagne, chilli con carne has many different versions. Some are mild and child-friendly while others are much spicier and often a little smokey. Beer in many ways seems the best option but a big hearty red will also do. Keep the American vibe going with a Zinfandel or opt for a Malbec, which is always a good solution for beef. Vegetarian chillis suit similar wines but possibly slightly less full-bodied versions.

Shepard’s or Cottage Pie

The difference between shepherd’s and cottage pies is that the former refers to a dish made with lamb and the latter with beef. Both dishes are hearty and therefore calls for an equally hearty red wine to provide satisfying companionship. The key is to choose a red that has a spicy, somewhat rustic character. You’re looking for comfort and warmth, not elegance or sophistication, with this match. After all, cottage pie is itself a down-home sort of dish. The wine you open should be as well.

Chicken Pot Pie

With rich, tender crust and thick, creamy filling, chicken pot pie begs for a refreshing white wine. Try a full-bodied, floral Viognier, which tends to have a sweet nose but tastes quite dry. A wine with a similarly creamy texture, like a Semillon, will stand up to the fat in the pastry. 

Chinese Stir-fry

When it comes to Asian dishes with wine the key is more the type of sauce the stir fry is finished with – quite often sweet and sour – rather than the main ingredient. Stir-fries tend to be quite fresh and crunchy, so think in terms of light to medium-bodied wines with a touch of sweetness, like an off-dry Riesling or a Gewurztraminer.