Shavuot Wine Pairings for Every Meal: Dairy, Fish, & Meat

The holiday of Shavuot arrives in late springtime and it’s the perfect opportunity to get back into the wine game, tasting new wines and pairing them with different dishes. It’s a wonderful time for wine as people across the Jewish world have various food traditions; some have the custom to have all dairy meals, some have all meat meals, and some have a few dairy and a few meat. With four holiday meals (and with the three-day holiday this year, six meals!), there’s room to test a variety of proteins and wines.

The classic rule for pairing wine and cheese is that soft cheese goes with creamier wines, and hard cheeses pair with more crisp wines. Personally, I find that there are many super rich and bold cheeses that pair well with a large selection of red wines.

Gito Lavan - This wine is crisp, clean, and refreshing, and will turn any ABC (anything but chardonnay) person into an instant chard lover! Pair this wine with parmesan as the bright acidity will cut through the richness of the cheese. 

Borgo Reale Pinot Grigio - A true, varietally correct, Italian Pinot Grigio, this neutral flavored wine will work well with most flavors that aren’t overpowering, such as eggplant parmesan, tomato gazpacho, or a good pizza. 

Herzog Selection Les Lauriers des Rothschild - Do you favor funky cheeses such as blue cheese, or asiago? I certainly do, and I can already imagine these cheeses together with a good Bordeaux, such as this Herzog pick. Pair this wine and flavor rich cheeses together to truly bring out the flavors of both! 

Casa de Cielo Chardonnay - This chardonnay has slim to no oak, yet it's bold, fruity scent naturally complements a creamier cheese such as a camembert. If you like a bit oak but do not want something too over the top, enjoy this glass with some creamy cheese, and you’ll start to notice the creaminess in the wine as well.

Shavuot is a perfect time to try some new wine and fish pairings! Depending on how they are prepared, options like sea bass, flounder, or branzino, can be enjoyed with either a red, white, or rose wine.

Flam Rose- Enjoy this rose with a touch of heavier fish, flounder or salmon, and the acidity will match beautifully to make this a complete wine pairing. 

Ramon Cardova Rose - Here’s your light white fish rose. It has a crisp, mineral taste, with less powerful fruit up front. Pair this with food that is a touch lighter, such as tilapia. 

Shiloh Rose - This rosé is bursting with a fruity bouquet of strawberries and cherries. Take a sea bass, with a soy sauce glaze, pair it with this rose, and be prepared for a magical tasting experience!

Contessa Annalisa Collection Gavi di Gavi- Enjoy a meal with a fish that you’ve never tried before, perhaps a bronzino, or sardines, and pair with this wine. It’s a light, crisp Italian wine made from the Cortese grape, with stone fruit and melon flavors.

Yes, many people do in fact partake of glorious, wondrous meat on Shavuot! Take the time, this holiday, to try some reds that you haven’t tried before, or a region, or grape that is new to you.

Terra Di Seta Special Reserve Chianti Classico- Have you ever tried a Tuscan wine, such as the Chianti Classico produced with the Sangiovese grape? Now is the time! This wine is fantastic, and can match with a multitude of foods, such as spaghetti and meatballs, burgers, and even a skirt steak. 

Tabor Adama Merlot- Don't fall into the ‘I don't like merlot’ trap. This Merlot has silky, coating tannins, and a wonderful red to black fruit flavor. This Tabor would pair well with a roast on Yom Tov night. 

Elvi Herenza Rioja Crianza- Let's have some tacos, pepper steak, meat ravioli, and enjoy this wine! It is made from the Tempranillo grape. This wine has a dark fruit taste, with a mouth coating, highly acidic effect that is both layered and complex.

Pacifica Pinot Noir - This Pinot is on the lighter side, but once you spend some time with it, the complexities and subtleties will win you over. Enjoy this wine with chicken, turkey, or duck.