The perfect combination of snacks can take your wine tasting party to the next level. We’re all chasing the perfect bite, washed down by the perfect wine. The secret? Grab a mix of snacks that hit all five flavors—sweet, savory, tangy, bitter, and umami. We compiled our go-to list for the best wine tasting snacks.
Bread
Bread is the foundation for all wine tasting snacks. The more rustic the better. You want a bread that can soak up all the accompanying flavors. Some favorites include sourdough, French baguette, and country bread.
Crackers
Looking for a bread alternative? Crackers are a great vehicle for flavor. They range from fancy to plain, but you can’t go wrong. We prefer neutral crackers that let the flavors of the other snacks really sing.
Cheese
Variety is king when it comes to cheese.
Try to include a mix of hard cheese (Parmesan, cheddar, Comté), semi-hard cheese (Asiago, Manchego, Gruyère) and soft cheese (Brie, Roquefort, goat cheese).
Don't forget both fresh and aged cheese for different flavor profiles.
Nuts
Nuts are the workhorse of wine tasting snacks. They add texture, richness, and flavor. Plus, they’re easy to munch on between sips of wine. Our favorite wine tasting nuts are pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, and pecans.
There’s only one source for European nuts and that’s Pariani. For walnuts from Veneto, hazelnuts in Piemonte, and pistachios from Sicily, Pariani partners closely with local growers to ensure the highest quality supply of nuts. Lucky for you, we import these nuts straight from Europe. Ready to order for your next tasting.
Buy: Pariani Whole Nuts
Fruit
Brighten up your wine tasting snacks with some fresh or dried fruit. Fresh fruit such as apples, pears, peaches, berries and grapes make for a great addition. Dried fruit, such as raisins, apricots, and mango are easy to pack and go well with wine.
Paté
For the more adventurous wine drinkers, paté is a classic pairing with wine. A simple mixture of ground meat and vegetables, paté pairs well with lighter, fresher wines but has the versatility to go with any type of wine.
Olives
Olives are one of the oldest wine tasting snacks. Simple, natural, and loaded with briny flavor, olives are a must-have when it comes to wine tasting. Popular wine tasting olive types include Kalamata, Castelvetrano, and Nicoise.
The "Bella di Cerignola" from Decarlo is one of the most popular table olives in the world. With a hard and tasty pulp and sweet and light flavor, it goes well with a variety of wines.
Buy: Decarlo Cerignola Olives (20.5oz)
Charcuterie
A list of wine tasting snacks that doesn’t include charcuterie is decidedly incomplete. The type of charcuterie is less important than making sure that some tasty meat treats make it onto the board. Some of our favorites include Prosciutto, Salami, Capicola, Calabrese, and Jamón Ibérico.
Conserva
This might be one of the more unexpected snacks for wine tasting, but tinned fish is a favorite in Europe. Conserva are freshly-tinned fish and shellfish, preserved in a liquid (i.e. olive oil, salt water, etc.) and packed for storage and transit. They’re ready to pop and enjoy at a moment’s notice. No prep required, which makes them perfect for wine tasting.
Ramón Peña is one of the premier conserva producers in all of Spain. For over 100 years and three generations, this family business has used artisan-quality techniques to produce top quality conserva that capture the flavors and texture of local, Spanish seafood.
Buy: Ramon Pena Ventresca Yellowfin Tuna Belly in Olive Oil (3.9oz)
Sun Dried Tomatoes
Sun dried tomatoes are a natural pairing with wine. They add mouth-watering flavor to any cheese and meat board.
The sun-dried tomatoes from Decarlo are an exceptional option. These are incredible estate-grown cherry tomatoes picked at peak ripeness and dried in the southern Italian sun. The dried tomatoes are preserved in one of the Decarlos famous olive oils made with one of the oldest olive mills that are still in use today.
Buy: Decarlo Pomodorini Sun Kissed Cherry Tomatoes in Olive Oil (6.7oz)
Tarallini
Tarallini are bite-sized biscuits that are a popular wine tasting snack in Italy. Despite simple ingredients—wheat flour, salt, water, and extra virgin olive oil—these little crackers pack a ton of flavor. They make for a perfect addition to a wine tasting picnic of spread.
If there's one item that is truly can't miss when it comes to wine tasting it would be these delicious treats.
Buy Taralli: Decarlo Organic Tarallini (8.8oz)
Jam
Spread onto a cracker or bread and enjoyed with cheese, fruit jam is the hero of any wine tasting. The balance of sweet, tangy, and savory complements almost any wine. We love the yuzu marmalade from Yakami Orchards. It offers the perfect balance of tangy citrus and subtle sweetness.
Buy Jam: Yakami Orchards Yuzu Marmalade (10oz)
Chocolate
No wine tasting would be complete without chocolate. Make sure to pack a range of chocolate from white to milk, and mild to extra dark. Different types of chocolate go with different types of wine. Darker chocolate tends to pair well with bolder wines.
Artisan chocolates contain interesting floral and fruit notes that make them fun to pair with wine.
Shop Peruvian Chocolate: Cacaosuyo Peruvian Dark Chocolate (2.47oz)
Shop Madagascarian Chocolate: Akessons Single Plantation Chocolate Madagascar (2.12oz)
Snacks for a Wine Tasting Picnic
One of the important parts of packing snacks for a wine tasting picnic is portability. The snacks on this list can be easily packed for the road. They require minimal prep or cooking.
Most wineries will allow you to bring outside food, but it’s worth contacting the location to confirm they permit outside food. At the very least, you can pick up a few bottles from one of your favorite wineries and enjoy your snacks in the great outdoors.
How to Serve Snacks for Wine Tasting
While most wine tasting snacks are “finger foods,” some need a little help. Make sure to pack napkins, serving utensils, and wood boards or platters for serving.
You are ready to go!
Bottom Line
The pairing of wine tasting snacks and wine is a classic example of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. By including snacks that check the flavors boxes, you will be the hero of the wine tasting snack game.
We’ve brought together all the wine tasting snacks you’ll need in one place. Browse our full line-up of artisan food products. Imported straight from the source, to your door.
