Wine with Soup

http://seriouslysoupy.com/soup-and-wine-pairings/

Summer is just ahead, but we still have time to make some of our favorite soups for these last few cold nights. Soup and wine pairings may seem very tricky, but it doesn't have to be. Soup has many elements to it which actually makes it very easy to find wine for a pairing.

What you have to do is think of the soup in terms of it's base ingredients (i.e. the meat or vegetables), and the spices in the soup. If you think of soup in that way, it will be the same wine pairing theory with other foods I've blogged about before. Is it acidic, creamy, or sweet? Does it have red meat or fish in it? All of these elements are your keys to finding the right wine for your soup. Below are some examples to help you:

Clam Chowder with an oaked Chardonnay: The creaminess of the chowder needs a big, bold, buttery Chardonnay to stand up to it.

Short Rib Stew with a Red Zinfandel: The heartiness of the stew needs a wines to cut the fat with tannins and stand up to the spices. A Zinfandel's smoky flavor and medium tannins will be a nice pair with this meal.

Tomato Soup or Gazpacho with a Sauvignon Blanc:  The acidity of these soups will pair nicely with the crisp, earthy, and tropical fruit tastes of a Sauvignon Blanc.