Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert

I love Champagne.

And as much as I love Champagne, I love dessert even more!

Though I am using the word “Champagne” here, you can apply the same dessert pairing concepts with Sparkling Wine or bubbly from many regions.

This is as long as the signature “Champagne grapes” Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are included.

The Differences Between Champagne and Sparkling Wine Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the “Traditional Method”

In trying to think about what dessert goes with Champagne, you have to think about what you will be serving.

There are many differences between sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from regions outside Champagne, and within Champagne.

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Sometimes the differences are very subtle, others more dramatic.

It may surprise you that some sparkling wine from England, Australia, New Zealand, and California may be several times the price of the most popular branded Champagne houses.

Mostly, the differences are subtle, and should not affect the result if you replace your sparkling wine with genuine Champagne from the Champagne region from France.

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert – Champagne?

I have many (perhaps too many) diplomas in gastronomy.

One of the “fanciest” is the Heg Diplome from the University of Reims.

While we did not spend the entire 14 days drinking Champagne with dessert, we had many lectures and tutored tasting events with Champagne.

Historical manuscripts point out that historically in France, Champagne was always served with dessert in palaces and at state dinners.

This makes perfect sense.

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Champagne is crisp, refreshing, and (for me) has an energizing effect.

This is especially true after a long dinner.

It revives.

So then, what are the best Champagne and Wine Pairing Choices?

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Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert : What Dessert goes with Champagne?

The primary consideration when pairing dessert with Champagne or Sparkling Wine (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) is that you will ideally want to contrast the texture of the dessert with the wine, or match the texture.

Champagne and Chocolate Pairing

You may be curious to discover this very personal thing about me, but I NEVER consume chocolate unless I am having it with Champagne.

Unlike many people, I really do not crave chocolate all that much.

Yet when I am at a party or event when Champagne is being served, I’m always on the lookout for a delicious piece of chocolate.

And when I am entertaining at home, I make sure that I have a great selection of the finest chocolate I can find in New York–or whatever city I happen to be in.

What Dessert Goes with Champagne?

Chocolate, of course.

The Reason why Chocolate is a Great Match for Champagne

By definition, chocolate has a silky smooth mouthfeel.

It is also VERY RICH.

And it takes Champagne, with all that intense minerality and high levels of refreshing acidity, to contrast with that rich, creamy, smooth texture and intense flavor.

And interestingly, both Champagne and chocolate have a very long aftertaste.

So pairing Champagne with chocolate uses the principle of “contrast.”

Pairing Champagne with Macarons

To be very honest with you, I have always loved pairing Champagne with macarons.

Yet strangely, I never really thought about the “why” of why I enjoyed the pairing so much.

Now that I am thinking about it, the principle to be applied is the principle of “matching.”

When you think about it, macarons are light … and also crisp!

This is the VERY DEFINITION of a good Champagne!

Pairing Sparkling Wine With Dessert : What an Event at the French Institute Alliance Française Taught Me

I was invited to attend a Champagne (and what I thought to be a Champagne and chocolate pairing at the FIAF here in NYC.)

It turned out to be a pairing of Champagne and macarons!

And even more exciting, it wasn’t just any “generic” Champagne paired with a macaron one would pick up from their local supermarket.

It was ultra-premium Champagne, with many of the brand managers and producers present to explain the story of their Champagne!

And the macarons were not generic either!

They were hand-baked by Thierry Atlan.

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Pairing Sparkling Wine With Dessert : Contrasting the Flavor of Macarons with Champagne

They presented the macaroons in a variety of flavors (i.e. Foie Gras, etc) and the idea was for each Champagne to accompany the flavor of a specific macaroon.

List of the Champagnes

• Champagne  Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut
• Champagne  Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut Rosé
• Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur
• Champagne Ayala Rosé Majeur
• Champagne  Besserat de Bellefon Special Cuvée
• Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Rosé 

Arriving at my seat, it surprised me to see six beautiful macarons.

The emcee for the evening was the beautiful and talented Susan Kostrzewa, Executive Editor of the popular magazine Wine Enthusiast.

Susan had the job of helping the various presenters explain why each differently flavored macaron, prepared by Thierry Atlan, paired with a specific Champagne.

Presenters

Maude Austrian, Besserat de Bellefon Champagne
Rafaela Fonte, Ayala Champagne
Cedric Lecendre, Laurent-Perrier
Fréderic Goossens, Managing Director at Baron François

 Pairing Sparking Wine with Dessert: The Champagne and Macaron Tasting

For two hours, the presenters explained the history of their Champagne House and their individual philosophy.

During each of the presentations, attendees could taste the macaron intended to match that specific Champagne.

Though we did not receive encouragement to do so, some of us (yes, me!) also took advantage of the opportunity to taste each macaron with all the Champagnes.

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert : Result of the Champagne and Macaron Comparative Tasting 

The concept of pairing a macaron with a specific flavor (notably the inside filling) was fresh, and fun!

Though the attendees by necessity were all over the age of 21, the exercise of contrasting this flakey chewy desert with French bubbly was so much fun it was like being in a room with children.

As it might be difficult for you to recreate this exact Champagne and macaron experience, it encourages you to visit your favorite bakery, choose one or macarons of each flavor, and then buy some Chardonnay or Pinot Noir based sparkling wines.

Invite some friends over and have fun biting into these delicious French cookies and seeing which pairing you like best.

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert: Strawberries and Raspberries

When I was very young, I remember placing a beautiful long-stemmed strawberry into my glass of Champagne.

Looking back now, it was a “cute” romantic gesture, but messy (the strawberry made the Champagne too frothy).

That said, I still like strawberries with Champagne.

Especially if they have a long stem!

And EVEN better if that strawberry had some melted chocolate to dip it in!

Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dessert : Other Ideas

It’s easy to say that “any” dessert can go with Champagne.

Yet I really would stick with dessert ideas involving macarons or chocolate.If you are up for it, you might even want to pair Champagne with this Italian desert called zabaglione. This one involves strawberries

It is like macarons in the sense eggs are involved (though here it is the yolk, not the whites).

Like a macaron (or a Meringue) the egg yolks are whisked until it is light and frothy … so lots of air.

Here is a recipe I found for a zabaglione with strawberries!

Happy dessert and Champagne pairing and be sure to let me know which pairing you like best! **Click Here For the BEST wine resources**

About Author Marisa D’Vari

D’Vari contributes to Forbes.com, Financial Times, World of Fine Wine, Quarterly Review of Wine, Decanter Robb Report, San Francisco Chronicle, South China Morning Post, and more.

She holds the (WSET) diploma, Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Wine Educator  through the Society of Wine Educators … to see it all, please click on bio

A Visit to Dominus

Chappellet Winery

P.S. … I wanted to show you this video. It’s not about pairing sparkling wine with dessert, but two of my favorite people are acting as host and guest, Brian Freedman and Charles Curtis MW

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