Non-alcoholic drink and food pairings

August 8, 2017
Jussi Tolvi

As with the finest of wines, some foods go exceptionally well together with certain non-alcoholic drinks. This mysterious art and science of food pairings has not yet had time to develop in the same way as it has with drinks containing alcohol, but there are many good suggestions already out there. We have selected some of them to get you started…

Eisberg alcohol-free wines

You will find something in Eisberg’s range of 0% wines to suit every occasion and meal. Here are some of their suggestions.

Sauvignon Blanc is brimming with classic gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours. and goes well with s

Pair with: Shellfish and salads.

Chardonnay is a fruity, white wine with soft vanilla aromas and crisp apple flavours and a hint of honey on the finish. Try it with chicken and salad dishes.

Pair with: Chicken and salad dishes.

Rosé is refreshingly juicy, with succulent aromas of ripe strawberries and a hint of cherries. Pair it with your favourite spicy foods or fresh salads.

Pair with: Your favourite spicy foods or fresh salads.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, alcohol-free red wine with deep ruby colour and aromas of cherries and plums.

Pair with: Lamb and beef dishes

Real Kombucha

The Real Kombucha range of three flavours is based on different types of tea.

Dry Dragon is brewed from Chinese Dragonwell, a pan-roasted green tea. Light and fruity with a delicate vegetal undertone, this is as easy to drink for breakfast as at any other time of the day. The closest of our flavours in feel and taste to a normal soft drink, but much less sweet. Possible food pairings include Smashed avocado on sour dough bread, Eggs on toast, Overnight oats with fresh fruit, Chicken Caesar salad, Rainbow salad.

Pair with: Smashed avocado on sour dough bread, Eggs on toast, Overnight oats with fresh fruit, Chicken Caesar salad, Rainbow salad.

Smokehouse is brewed from Chinese Yunnan black tea. Rich, smokey with apple and caramel undertones. Most would believe that this kombucha is a cider, albeit one with a smokey twist.

Pair with: Spicy or smokey foods and hard cheeses. A word of warning: its strong taste can detract from lighter foods, and we’re not too fond of drinking it alongside soft or blue cheeses. Other food pairings include Thai green curry, Indian curry (daal, masala, bhuna), Sri Lankan spicy dishes, Mixed meat board and fresh bread.

Royal Flush is brewed from Indian First Flush Darjeeling tea, and is richly fragrant and creates a kombucha that is very fresh and floral with notes of rose, vanilla and quince. Serve very cold.

Pair with: We would ideally drink First Flush alone without food, maybe as an aperitif. However, it can also be paired with fresh and light foods, such as BBQ grilled watermelon salad, light summer salads or flat bread and dips.

Pimento

Pimento, the spicy ginger drink, is an ideal accompaniment for many of the world’s cuisines.

Pair with: Asian, Latin American, African, Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern dishes. Leading chefs use Pimento to create marvellous marinades, glazes, sauces and delicious desserts.

Big Drop Brewing Co.

Big Drop’s incredible range of four beers, is the perfect match for craft beer lovers to team up with their favourite foods.

The Milk Chocolate Stout is dark, rich and indulgent with notes of coffee, cocoa nibs and a lingering hint of sweet vanilla.

Pair with: An oyster or two if it’s early, chocolate fondant if it’s later.

The citrusy Pale Ale is deliciously refreshing with hints of pine and honey.

Pair with: Spicy Thai curry or a well-stacked chicken burger.

The Lager has aromas of cracker, light honey and pepper balanced with enough bitterness to ensure it has a dry, refreshing bite.

Pair with: Goes well with any food eaten on a hot summer’s day.

The Spiced Ale has aromas of orange and cinnamon with a mixture of malt, spice and a sweet berry aftertaste.

Pair with: Glorious roast dinner on a chilly day.

Win Wines

Win wines is a great range of authentic wines, which are also suitable for vegans. They’ve teamed their wines up with the perfect accompaniments.

Win Tempranillo is a young Spanish wine from Valbueno de Duero in the Castile-Leon region. It’s fresh on the palate with a rounded mouth feel and intoxicating aromas of summer fruits and a hint of liquorice, vanilla and sweet tannins with a clear cardinal red colour.

Pair with: Pasta dishes and cheese

Win Verdejo is a Spanish wine from Valbueno de Duero in the Castile-Leon region. It retains the original bright, clear pale yellow colour and lemon edging with aromas of green apple, and herbal tones inherent to the Verdejo grape such as aniseed and fennel and a mild acidity and flavours of grapefruit.

Pair with: Salads, fish and seafood dishes and should ideally be served at 4 to 6C.

Win Sparkling has pale straw tones with a nose of fennel, anise and a hint of lavender which are typical of the Verdejo grape. On the palate, it’s clean and crisp with notes of green apple and grapefruit with a medium acidity.

Pair with: Goat’s cheese salads and fish or light white meat dishes or to enjoy in its own right as an invigorating bubbly any time of the day.

Win Pink is a complimentary blend of tempranillo and verdejo grapes, producing a blush with a refreshing acidity, a deep rose colour and flavours of ripe summer fruit.

Pair with: Light dishes, fruit, cakes and desserts or mild cheeses.

Win 12 has been aged for 12 months in American oak barrels to create a deeper richness of flavour, texture and colour. Oak ageing enhances the earthy coffee, liquorice, leather and wood flavours of this lush rounded red. The richness of the cardinal red colour deepens during this resting period which also produces softer tannins.

Pair with: Red meat and cheese.

Romance Wines

Romance en Blanc Organic White is a premium-quality organic dry white. This fruity organic wine is an excellent blend of white grapes from Bordeaux (half and half – Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon) producing a flavour similar to a pinot grigio.

Pair with: Enjoy as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to poultry and desserts. It’s a perfect wine for Christmas dinner.

Romance en Rouge Organic Red is a high-quality organic red wine with a blend of Bordeaux region grapes: 40 percent Merlot, 30 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 percent Cabernet Franc. This savoury wine has a rich bouquet with aromas of blackcurrant and delicate herbs. This dry, tannic red is at its best after being allowed to breathe for up to an hour.

Pair with: It’s best enjoyed as part of a meal and makes a good red-wine sauce. Try it as an accompaniment of salty and spiced food, or tasty tapas-type dishes.

Romance en Rose Organic is a premium quality organic rosé wine from Bordeaux. It consists of 40% Sauvignon blanc and Semillon grapes as well 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is dry with a fresh character.

Pair with: Lighter dishes such as salads.

Botonique

Botonique is a great soft aperitif. Serve straight up in a Champagne flute or wine glass, well chilled, or over ice and garnished with fresh mint, cucumber and lime, or a splash of elderflower cordial, a strawberry – whatever creation takes your fancy.

Pair with: Sushi, many Asian and Oriental dishes, fish, seafood, goats cheese and antipasti.