As is the case with many festivals of religious origin, St. Patrick's Day is not only an occasion to celebrate Ireland's patron saint and enhance one's cultural identity, but it also creates the perfect context for spending time with loved ones, between events and good food. During this festival, there is no shortage of Irish beer, but there are also many wine options to pair with traditional recipes.
Here are the best wines to pair with Irish dishes on St. Patrick's Day, great for meat, fish and vegetarian dishes!
St. Patrick's Day, a joyous and colourful celebration!
To those who are unfamiliar with this holiday, St. Patrick's Day might seem like just a riot of dancing, beer mugs and green decorations, but behind this celebration on 17 March - there is a strong identity component that unites Irish communities and is now celebrated at home and abroad.
It is not easy to trace the real origins of St Patrick (whose real name was Maewyin Succat), but it is said that he lived between the 4th and 5th centuries and that he was kidnapped, enslaved and taken to Ireland. After his escape, he returned in priestly garb and, under the new name of Patritius, evangelised the local populations, still bound to Druidism. Legend has it that the man explained the theory of the Trinity with the help of a shamrock, which later became the symbol of the island.
With his death in the 5th century, his deeds were not forgotten, but rather began to be officially celebrated by the Church a few centuries later. The celebrations took on a more defined character in the United States, especially by Irish immigrants. It was thus that the festival became an important occasion, now celebrated both in Ireland and abroad with parades, concerts, cultural events and the inevitable food and beer stalls. However, Guinness is not the only pairing possibility: equally interesting is the pairing of wines and Irish food!
Irish meat dishes and wine
In Ireland, meat dishes dominate the entire gastronomic tradition, giving the palate full-bodied flavours and a spicy undertone that leaves its mark. So here are the best wines to pair with these typical Irish dishes!
Irish stew and Merlot
Among the most common preparations are stews, which can be made from a variety of ingredients, although meat is the most frequently used.
An Irish stew of meat, potatoes and carrots can therefore be an excellent dish for celebrating St Patrick's Day with the family, being enveloped in the smooth texture of this preparation, flavoured with various aromas such as juniper, pepper, cloves, bay leaves or parsley.
The perfect candidate for the occasion is a Merlot, specifically a Merlot DOC Friuli Isonzo 2022, refined and satisfying, an excellent wine for Irish stew.
The naturalness with which it complements this dish is due to the sustained tannins that counterbalance the fattier components of the meat. The aromas are no less impressive, characterised by hints of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry from the 12 months of barrique maturation.
Corned beef and Syrah
International red wines seem to go well with Irish meat dishes, such as corned beef, which consists of beef brisket marinated in brine, then boiled and traditionally served with cabbage, or potatoes or other mixed vegetables.
The savouriness imparted by the brine is precisely the most complex element to match, but the world of red wines offers the best option: a Syrah, a full-bodied wine with powerful traits, which is not afraid of the harshness of this dish.
A good wine for corned beef is a Syrah Toscana IGT 2021, characterised by a deep ruby red colour and enveloping scents of red fruit and flowers, with a balsamic touch of mint and eucalyptus obtained after a long resting period in oak barrels.
The sweetness of the tannins is just what is needed to balance the savouriness of the dish and to complement the softer hints of cabbage.
Black pudding and Barolo
In Ireland, it is even more exciting to wake up on St Patrick's Day knowing that the festivities can be anticipated by a hearty breakfast of eggs, bread, bacon and the traditional black pudding, not a pudding in the strict sense but a soft sausage made from pork or beef blood, fat and cereal.
Often eaten in the morning, it can also be served during an aperitif, in a sandwich or cooked together with vegetables, accompanied by beer or a good red wine. Ideally, a label should be able to degrease the unctuous component of the sausage, support its intense, ferrous hints and give balance to the tasting. An excellent candidate is the ‘Caviot’ Barolo DOCG 2021.
This Piedmontese wine, with its bewitching red hues tending towards garnet, captivates the senses thanks to a mature and balanced organoleptic bouquet composed of notes of roses, violets and red fruits, enriched by a balsamic undertone. The palate is equally elegant, thanks to a silky texture and graceful tannins.
What to drink with Irish fish dishes
Although meat recipes are the most common choice for celebrating St. Patrick's Day at home, in pubs or on the street, local gastronomy also offers excellent seafood options. Among the best combinations of Irish fish dishes and wine are white wines, ideal to complement the briny notes of these dishes!
Seafood chowder and Sauvignon Blanc
With spring timidly approaching, 17 March celebrations are often characterised by cool weather, tempting consumers to put something warm in their stomachs. Seafood soup is a preparation that meets this need perfectly. Whether it is for a family meal before going out to celebrate, or for refreshment in a pub after the St Patrick's Day parade, this recipe - made with various kinds of fish, potatoes, milk (or cream) and flavourings such as onion, garlic, celery, thyme, spices) - is the ideal, fragrant and tasty solution.
Pairing it with a white wine is an excellent idea, provided it carries a fresh, acidic organoleptic texture, such as a Sauvignon Blanc.
In a glass of ‘Schliff’ Sauvignon Alto Adige DOC 2021, you can find all this and more. Maturation of at least 9 months on the lees gives this little masterpiece from northern Italy a complex character, which is expressed through notes of grapefruit, mango, elderflower, gooseberry, herbs and flint. The sip is mineral and persistent, a trait that nicely counterbalances the brackish and slightly sweetish hints of this dish.
Salmon with champ and Chardonnay
Not to be confused with colcannon, a dish made with mashed potatoes and cabbage, champ is a rustic side dish that mixes potatoes with spring onion instead, followed by milk and melted butter, which add a touch of softness to the whole.
A great way to serve it on St. Patrick's Day is alongside full-bodied meat dishes or fish recipes, such as a simple and tasty piece of seared salmon served with a butter and herb sauce. What to uncork in this case?
An excellent wine for traditional Irish fish dishes is a Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020. Elegant and mineral, this wine has a bold straw yellow colour and a bouquet of white-fleshed fruit, flowers and citrus fruits, with a pleasant nutty note on the finish. The taste is fresh and savoury, with almost fatty hints that go well with this garnish.
Irish vegetarian dishes and wine
For those who do not like meat and fish or follow a vegetarian diet, St Patrick's Day celebrations need not be a problem. On the contrary, local cuisine offers various options to break the appetite.
Boxty and Franciacorta
Often used as a side dish with meat dishes, boxty also lend themselves well to a quick snack, or can be accompanied by other vegetarian recipes. These savoury ‘pancakes’ are made by grating raw potatoes, mixing them with butter and milk, and cooking them in a pan.
This pancake can be paired well with an equally soft, yet refreshing white wine. In this case, a Metodo Classico bubbly, such as a ‘Berlucchi “61” Franciacorta Saten DOCG, which is ideal for fairly delicate dishes, can be discomfited. With its bright straw yellow colour, it already reveals elegance and vivacity, but it is above all the olfactory examination that conquers the senses, thanks to an inviting bouquet of tropical fruit and candied citrus fruits. The taste is savoury but balanced by an acidic note.
Leek and potato soup
At the end of the evening, when the celebrations are over and tiredness sets in, there is nothing better than a soup to refresh oneself, such as a creamy and slightly sweet potato and leek soup. Sustaining these flavours may not be easy, but the feat can be entrusted to a Pinot Grigio Collio DOC ‘Locatelli’ 2022.
Excellent with both fish dishes and delicate meats, this wine goes well with this recipe, thanks to an aromatic profile that mixes scents of flowers and pear. Taking a sip means experiencing a refreshing citrus note and an almondy aftertaste. The good minerality finally cleanses the palate of lingering leek flavours.
Now that you know which are the best wines for St. Patrick's Day, explore the Svinando catalogue to find the perfect bottle to pair with your favourite Irish dishes!