Gewürztraminer

Almond biscotti is a crisp, twice-baked Italian cookie with pronounced almond flavor and a subtle sweetness that pairs beautifully with dessert wines that offer complementary nutty, dried fruit notes. The crunchy texture also works wonderfully with malty beers that have caramel, nut, or coffee notes to echo the toasted almond qualities.

Almond cookies feature nutty, buttery flavors with light sweetness that pairs beautifully with dessert wines offering complementary honeyed notes or contrasting acidity. The nutty qualities in the cookies find harmony with malty, nut-forward beers that echo the almond character while providing enough complexity to enhance the pairing.

Alsatian tarte flambée (flammekueche) is a thin, crisp flatbread topped with crème fraîche, thinly sliced onions, and lardons (bacon). The savory, smoky flavors from the pork and the creamy base call for wines with bright acidity and subtle fruit notes to cleanse the palate between bites.

Apple desserts feature a delightful combination of sweet, tart, and often warming spice notes that pair beautifully with dessert wines offering complementary or contrasting sweetness. The fruity character and moderate acidity in apple desserts create a natural bridge to wines with honeyed characteristics and beers with malty sweetness or fruit-forward profiles.

Apple tart offers a beautiful balance of sweet, buttery pastry and slightly tart, caramelized apple flavors that pair wonderfully with dessert wines that echo its fruit notes while providing complementary sweetness. The caramelization in the tart harmonizes with the honey and dried fruit notes in Sauternes and Tawny Port, while the refreshing acidity in Riesling and Moscato cuts through the richness of the pastry.

Apricot desserts combine the fruit's natural tartness with added sweetness, creating a balance that pairs beautifully with honeyed, aromatic wines that echo the fruit's character. The delicate stone fruit flavors benefit from wines with complementary stone fruit notes and sufficient sweetness to match the dessert, while beers with subtle spice notes and effervescence can cut through richness while complementing the fruit.

Asian stir-fries typically feature a complex balance of umami, sweet, salty and sometimes spicy flavors with varying textures. Aromatic white wines with a touch of sweetness like Riesling help balance any heat while cutting through rich sauces, while crisp beers with moderate hop character cleanse the palate between bites.

Asian-inspired dishes often feature a harmonious balance of umami, sweet, sour, and sometimes spicy elements that benefit from beverages with bright acidity and subtle sweetness. The aromatic qualities of Riesling and Gewürztraminer complement the complex spices, while the crisp effervescence and citrus notes of Witbier and Saison cut through rich sauces while enhancing delicate flavors.

Blue cheese's bold, pungent, and salty character requires beverages with sufficient sweetness and body to balance its intensity. Sweet wines create a pleasing contrast to the cheese's saltiness, while rich, complex beers with caramel notes or fruity flavors complement its earthy, tangy qualities.

Brie cheese's creamy, buttery texture and subtle earthy notes call for beverages that can both complement and cut through its richness. Sparkling wines like Champagne provide refreshing acidity and effervescence, while fruity reds like Pinot Noir offer just enough structure without overwhelming the delicate cheese.

The vibrant spices and complex seafood flavors of a Cajun boil demand beverages that can both complement the heat and cleanse the palate between bites. Off-dry white wines provide a touch of sweetness to balance the spice, while beers with high carbonation and lighter bodies help cut through the richness while cooling the palate.

Comté cheese, with its complex nutty, fruity and sometimes caramel-like flavor profile, pairs beautifully with wines from its native Jura region that offer complementary nuttiness and acidity. The cheese's crystalline texture and savory depth also works wonderfully with Belgian-style beers that offer fruity esters and carbonation to cleanse the palate.

Teutonic Wine Company has made it their mission to prove that Oregon can produce German-style wines that rival the originals, and their Gewürztraminer makes a compelling case. This isn't your grandmother's sweet, heavy Gewürz – it's a modern, balanced expression that showcases the grape's aromatic intensity while maintaining freshness. Founded by Barnaby and Olga Tuttle (who are slightly obsessed with all things German, including Kraftwerk), Teutonic focuses on cooler sites that allow for longer hang time and flavor development without excessive sugar. The result is a Gewürztraminer that captures all the exotic spice and floral notes the variety is known for, but with a restraint and elegance that makes it incredibly food-friendly. It's basically the wine equivalent of that friend who's both wildly interesting and surprisingly easy to get along with.