What Snacks Go With Red Wine? The Best Pairings
The best snacks to serve with red wine are savoury, full of flavour and matched to the weight and character of the wine.
A fresh, fruity Beaujolais calls for a very different snack from a powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. Pinot Noir enjoys earthy, aromatic flavours, while Malbec, Shiraz and Zinfandel can handle mature cheese, smoke and gentle spice.
Our favourite solution is Drinks Biscuits from The Drinks Bakery: rich, crumbly savoury biscuits flavour-profiled to complement particular wines and make every sip taste even better.
For a quick answer, use The Drinks Bakery drinks pairing guide.
Why different biscuits for different red wines? Because red wine can be light and juicy, savoury and earthy, soft and plummy, or dark and powerfully tannic.
The right snack should respond to those characteristics—not simply involve the strongest cheese within reach.
Why do savoury snacks work so well with red wine?
Red wine often contains tannins: compounds that can create a dry or grippy sensation in the mouth. Foods containing salt, fat and protein can soften that sensation, which is one reason cheese and red wine have enjoyed such a long friendship.
Acidity is equally important. Fresh red wines can cut through buttery or creamy foods, refreshing the palate between bites.
Fruit, herbs, smoke and spice create further opportunities:
•Fruity cheese can echo berry and plum flavours.
•Herbs can complement earthy or aromatic wines.
•Salt can make fruit flavours feel fuller.
•Smoke can connect with oak and toasted notes.
•Gentle chilli can suit a ripe, powerful wine.
•A crisp texture contrasts with the wine’s smoothness.
A successful pairing creates balance. Neither the wine nor the snack should disappear when they meet.
What are Drinks Biscuits?
Drinks Biscuits are award-winning savoury biscuits thoughtly crafted to pair with drinks.
They are not sweet biscuits containing wine. Nor are they plain crackers requiring an emergency cheeseboard. Each flavour is a complete snack combining carefully selected cheese, herbs and spices.
Every Drinks Biscuit is flavour-profiled to complement particular wines, beers, spirits and alcohol-free drinks.
Hand-baked in the Highlands of Scotland using outstanding natural ingredients, they bring cheese, seasoning and satisfying crunch together in one properly considered bite.
For red wine, we recommend five distinctive flavours:
•Lancashire Cheese & Spring Onion Drinks Biscuits
•Pecorino Cheese & Rosemary Drinks Biscuits
•Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits
•Gruyère Cheese & Tarragon Drinks Biscuits
•Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits
Lancashire Cheese & Spring Onion Drinks Biscuits
Lancashire Cheese & Spring Onion Drinks Biscuits combine rich, fruity cheese with fresh spring onion and a gently spicy finish from English mustard.
The flavour is a little like a ploughman’s lunch with a kick.
Pair Lancashire Cheese & Spring Onion Drinks Biscuits with:
•Grenache
Why the pairing works
Grenache is commonly generous and fruit-forward, with flavours that may suggest ripe strawberry, raspberry, cherry, herbs or gentle spice.
The fruity tang of Lancashire cheese complements the wine’s red-fruit character. Spring onion provides a fresh savoury contrast, while English mustard connects with Grenache’s warmer, spicier side.
The biscuit has enough flavour to stand beside a ripe Grenache without overwhelming its softer fruit. Meanwhile, the wine refreshes the palate after the rich, buttery cheese.
This pairing is especially good with a juicy, medium-bodied Grenache rather than an extremely concentrated or heavily oaked example.
Pecorino Cheese & Rosemary Drinks Biscuits
Pecorino Cheese & Rosemary Drinks Biscuits are sharp, aromatic and deeply savoury.
Genuine Pecorino brings tangy, salty flavour. Rosemary adds fragrant citrus and pine-like notes, while Scottish seaweed contributes a distinctive briny edge and additional umami.
Pair Pecorino Cheese & Rosemary Drinks Biscuits with:
•Grenache
•Sangiovese
Why the pairing works
With Grenache, rosemary connects with the herbal quality found in many examples of the wine. Pecorino’s salt and richness balance its ripe fruit, while the biscuit’s briny savouriness offers an intriguing contrast.
Sangiovese is naturally at home with Italian cheese and herbs. The wine’s cherry fruit and lively acidity cut through the Pecorino, while rosemary complements its savoury, earthy and sometimes herbaceous character.
The result feels pleasingly Mediterranean: sharp cheese, aromatic herbs and bright red wine, without anyone having to assemble an antipasti platter.
Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits
Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits suit red wines with generous fruit, moderate body or refreshing acidity.
The Italian cheese has tangy, nutty and caramel flavours with a long savoury finish. Sweet basil supplies fragrant herbal freshness.
Pair Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits with:
•Gamay
•Merlot
•Nebbiolo
•Sangiovese
•Valpolicella
Why the pairing works
Gamay is typically light, juicy and full of fresh red-fruit flavour. The basil preserves that sense of freshness, while the cheese adds savoury depth without overpowering the wine.
Merlot is often softer and rounder, with plum, cherry or chocolate-like notes. Nutty, caramel flavours in the Italian cheese complement that richness, while basil keeps the pairing lively.
Nebbiolo may be pale in appearance but can possess considerable acidity and tannin. The cheese provides the salt, fat and umami needed to soften its structure, while basil complements the wine’s floral and savoury complexity.
Sangiovese has bright acidity and characteristic red-fruit flavour. Italian cheese is a natural partner, and sweet basil creates a familiar aromatic connection.
Valpolicella is often fresh and cherry-led. The biscuit adds enough richness to make the pairing satisfying without concealing the wine’s lighter, more refreshing character.
Gruyère Cheese & Tarragon Drinks Biscuits
Gruyère Cheese & Tarragon Drinks Biscuits bring together sweet, creamy and earthy cheese with fragrant herbs and gentle mustard warmth.
Tarragon contributes delicate aniseed notes, creating an irresistible Béarnaise-like quality.
Pair Gruyère Cheese & Tarragon Drinks Biscuits with:
•Beaujolais
•Pinot Noir
Why the pairing works
Beaujolais is made from Gamay and is usually light, lively and fruit-forward. Creamy Gruyère adds savoury richness, while tarragon preserves the pairing’s freshness and aromatic character.
Pinot Noir often displays red fruit alongside earthy, floral or herbal notes. Gruyère complements its softer texture, while the earthy cheese and fragrant tarragon connect with the wine’s more savoury qualities.
This combination is especially effective with an elegant Pinot Noir. A more forceful snack might dominate the wine, but Gruyère and tarragon provide richness without excessive smoke or heat.
Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits
Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits are our choice for the biggest red wines.
Powerful mature cheddar provides a sharp, fruity and tangy flavour with a long finish. Smoked chilli adds warmth and savoury depth without overwhelming the palate.
Pair Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits with:
Bordeaux blends
•Cabernet Sauvignon
•Carménère
•Malbec
•Rioja
•Tempranillo
•Shiraz
•Zinfandel
Why the pairing works
These wines generally have enough body, fruit or tannic structure to accommodate mature cheese and smoke.
The cheddar’s salt, fat and umami can soften the perception of tannin. Its intensity keeps the snack present beside a full-bodied wine, while smoked chilli connects with oak, dark fruit, pepper and toasted flavours.
The chilli is about warmth rather than aggressive heat. Too much heat can exaggerate the alcohol in a powerful red wine; a measured smoky warmth creates a much more balanced result.
What snacks go with Pinot Noir?
Pinot Noir is generally lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec, with red-fruit, floral, earthy and sometimes herbal flavours.
Our principal match is Gruyère Cheese & Tarragon Drinks Biscuits.
Gruyère provides creamy, nutty depth, while tarragon connects with the wine’s aromatic and earthy side without overpowering its delicate fruit.
Other snacks to serve with Pinot Noir include:
•Mushroom tartlets
•Brie or Camembert
•Duck canapés
•Truffle-flavoured popcorn
•Light charcuterie
•Roasted almonds
•Herbed cheese straws
Avoid extremely hot or smoky snacks with a delicate Pinot Noir. Save those for a wine with broader shoulders.
What snacks go with Merlot?
Merlot is often smooth and medium to full bodied, with plum, cherry, chocolate and soft spice flavours.
Our recommendation is Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits.
The cheese’s nutty and caramel character complements the wine’s round fruit, while basil supplies a fresh aromatic contrast.
Other good Merlot snacks include:
•Gouda
•Prosciutto
•Mushroom pâté
•Meatballs
•Roast chicken
•Sausage rolls
•Salted walnuts
•Dark chocolate
What snacks go with Malbec?
Malbec is usually rich and full-bodied, with dark-fruit flavours and enough structure for powerful food.
Our recommendation is Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits.
Tangy cheddar stands up to the wine, while smoked chilli complements its darker fruit, oak and spice.
Other snacks with Malbec include:
•Mature cheddar
•Chorizo
•Beef empanadas
•Smoked almonds
•Barbecued meat
•Mushroom pastries
•Dark chocolate
What snacks go with Cabernet Sauvignon?
Cabernet Sauvignon can be full-bodied and tannic, with blackcurrant, dark fruit, cedar, herbs or oak-derived spice.
Our recommendation is Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits.
Rich cheddar helps soften the wine’s tannins, while the smoke and gentle warmth complement its powerful structure.
Other suitable snacks include:
•Aged cheddar
•Salami
Roast beef crostini
•Smoked nuts
•Beef sliders
•Hard cheese
•Dark chocolate
This is not the moment for an apologetic water biscuit.
What snacks go with Grenache?
Grenache is often warm, generous and full of ripe red fruit, sometimes with herbs and gentle spice.
Our Drinks Biscuit recommendations are:
•Lancashire Cheese & Spring Onion
Choose Lancashire Cheese & Spring Onion to emphasise fruit and spice. Choose Pecorino Cheese & Rosemary to explore Grenache’s savoury, herbal character.
Other snacks include:
•Manchego
•Tapenade
•Chorizo
•Rosemary-roasted nuts
•Lamb skewers
•Roasted peppers
•Tomato-based tartlets
What snacks go with Sangiovese?
Sangiovese usually combines lively acidity with cherry fruit and savoury herbal or earthy characteristics.
Our recommendations are:
Both create a natural Italian flavour connection. Pecorino & Rosemary offers the sharper and more savoury pairing; Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil is rounder and more aromatic.
Other good options include:
•Parmesan
•Prosciutto
•Tomato bruschetta
•Salami
•Marinated olives
•Mushroom crostini
•Focaccia
•Meatballs
Sangiovese’s acidity is particularly good with tomato-based snacks.
What snacks go with Rioja and Tempranillo?
Rioja is commonly made primarily from Tempranillo. Depending on its age and style, it may combine red or dark fruit with vanilla, leather, spice and oak.
Our recommendation for both is Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits.
The biscuit’s mature cheese balances the wine’s structure, while smoked chilli connects with oak and spice.
Other snacks include:
•Manchego
•Jamón
•Chorizo
•Patatas bravas
•Roasted almonds
•Lamb skewers
•Mushroom croquettes
What snacks go with Shiraz?
Shiraz can be rich, dark and peppery, often with blackberry, plum, smoke or spice.
Our recommendation is Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits.
The cheddar has enough intensity for the wine, while the smoked chilli complements its pepper and dark fruit.
Other options include:
•Smoked cheese
•Spiced sausages
•Barbecued meat
•Black-pepper nuts
•Beef pies
•Dark chocolate
•Mature cheddar
What snacks go with Zinfandel?
Zinfandel is commonly ripe and fruit-forward, with flavours of blackberry, plum, spice and sometimes a touch of sweetness.
Our recommendation is Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits.
Sharp cheddar balances the ripe fruit, while smoky warmth complements the wine’s spice.
Other suitable snacks include:
•Barbecue chicken
•Mature Gouda
•Pulled-pork bites
•Spiced meatballs
•Smoked almonds
•Chorizo
•Dark chocolate
What snacks go with Beaujolais and Gamay?
Beaujolais is made from Gamay, although the wine can range from extremely light and juicy to more structured and complex.
For Beaujolais, choose Gruyère Cheese & Tarragon Drinks Biscuits.
For Gamay more broadly, choose Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits.
Gruyère & Tarragon emphasises the wine’s earthy and aromatic side. Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil creates a fresher pairing focused on bright fruit.
Other snacks include:
•Brie
•Light charcuterie
•Mushroom tartlets
•Roast chicken
•Salted almonds
•Pâté
•Mild cheese
Lightly chilling a fresh Beaujolais can make the pairing especially refreshing.
What snacks go with Nebbiolo?
Nebbiolo is known for its acidity, tannin and complex aromatic character. It can combine red fruit and flowers with herbs, earth, leather or spice.
Our recommendation is Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits.
The cheese helps soften the wine’s structure, while basil connects with its floral and savoury qualities.
Other snacks include:
•Parmesan
•Truffle-flavoured dishes
•Mushroom crostini
•Cured meat
•Braised-beef bites
•Roasted hazelnuts
•Mature cheese
What snacks go with Valpolicella?
Valpolicella is often light to medium-bodied, fresh and cherry-led, although richer styles are also produced.
Our recommendation is Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits.
The biscuit’s Italian cheese adds savoury depth, while basil complements the wine’s freshness without covering its fruit.
Other options include:
•Prosciutto
•Parmesan
•Marinated olives
•Focaccia
•Tomato crostini
•Mild salami
•Roast vegetables
What snacks go with Bordeaux blends and Carménère?
Bordeaux blends can be structured and complex, with dark fruit, tannin, herbs, cedar and oak. Carménère is similarly well suited to bold savoury flavours and may display dark fruit, herbs and spice.
Our recommendation for both is Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits.
The mature cheddar matches their weight, while smoked chilli complements darker, greener and more savoury notes.
Other snacks include:
•Aged hard cheese
•Beef crostini
•Pâté
•Smoked nuts
•Charcuterie
•Mushroom tartlets
•Lamb skewers
How to create a red-wine-and-biscuit tasting
Choose wines with clearly contrasting styles:
1. Beaujolais or Gamay
2. Pinot Noir
3. Sangiovese or Grenache
4. Merlot
5. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz
Serve the Drinks Biscuits in a similar progression:
1. Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil
4. Lancashire Cheese & Spring Onion
5. Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli
Begin with the lightest wine and finish with the fullest-bodied. This prevents a powerful Cabernet or smoky biscuit from overwhelming the more delicate opening pairings.
For each match:
1. Smell and taste the wine on its own.
2. Take a bite of the recommended biscuit.
3. Allow the cheese, herbs or spice to develop.
4. Taste the wine again.
5. Notice how its fruit, tannin and savoury flavours change.
Provide water for palate-cleansing and something for guests who are not drinking. Spittoons are optional; sensible measures are not.
What should you avoid serving with red wine?
Red wine can handle bold flavours, but it is not invincible.
Be cautious with:
•Very hot chilli, which may exaggerate alcohol
•Strong vinegar, which can make wine taste flat or harsh
•Extremely salty food with highly tannic wine
Delicate fish with a powerful red
•Very sweet desserts with dry wine
•Heavy smoke beside a light Pinot Noir or Gamay
•Strong blue cheese with delicate reds
Match the intensity of the snack to the wine. Light reds prefer a gentler touch; full-bodied wines welcome mature cheese, smoke and spice.
So, what are the best snacks with red wine?
The best snack depends on the red wine in your glass.
Choose Lancashire Cheese & Spring Onion Drinks Biscuits for Grenache.
Choose Pecorino Cheese & Rosemary Drinks Biscuits for Grenache and Sangiovese.
Choose Italian Cheese & Sweet Basil Drinks Biscuits for Gamay, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Valpolicella.
Choose Gruyère Cheese & Tarragon Drinks Biscuits for Beaujolais and Pinot Noir.
Choose Mature Cheddar Cheese & Smoked Chilli Drinks Biscuits for Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Malbec, Rioja, Tempranillo, Shiraz and Zinfandel.
Charcuterie, nuts, olives and other cheeses can all play supporting roles. But Drinks Biscuits bring cheese, herbs, seasoning and crunch together in a snack flavour-profiled specifically for what you are drinking.
No chopping. No toppings. No cheeseboard-related structural engineering.
Just open the wine, open the biscuits and raise your glass to proper flavour.
