On sultry summer days, one of the favourite remedies against exhaustion is a nice bowl of ice cream. An invaluable ally when the temperatures rise, an effortless end to a meal, but also an Italian pride envied (and replicated) all over the world, this seemingly simple dessert deserves to be consumed in the best possible way, in complete relaxation and - why not? - with the accompaniment of a good glass.

But which one? Choosing which wine to pair with ice cream is not such a difficult task if you follow a few simple tasting rules.

Matching wine and ice cream: can it be done?

That between wine and ice cream might seem to many a difficult marriage to pursue, whether because of the enormous variety of flavours available or the cold temperature, which is complex to enhance without creating contrasts.

But even this dessert can find an excellent companion in the right glass for a tasting, provided you know and respect three basic rules:

Temperature

Just as wine needs a specific serving temperature in order to best release its organoleptic characteristics, ice cream must also be consumed under ideal conditions: it must not be too cold, so as not to impair the functionality of the taste buds, nor too hot, so as to maintain the consistency of the favourite summer dessert.

As a general rule, one should keep it at 12°-15°C. The wine to go with it, on the other hand, should be served at a slightly higher temperature than recommended.

Concordance

In the oenological world, there are various techniques for successfully matching a wine to a dish, depending on the desired result. Among the most important are the principle of contrast and the principle of concordance. 

In the first case a wine is chosen with flavour and aroma characteristics opposite to those of the dish (e.g. a soft wine is chosen to accompany acidic, bitter or very tasty food), while concordance involves choosing a wine with similar characteristics to the dish.

In the case of matching wine and ice cream, opposites do not attract, on the contrary: to get along, the two should have something in common. The perfect wine is sweet and capable of adapting to the different flavours of the dessert, as well as characterised by a low alcohol content, so as not to dampen the peculiarities of the ice cream.

Order

Underestimated by many, the order of tasting is crucial if we want to combine wine and ice cream. Priority should be given to the wine: you take a small sip, savour it, and then you can devote yourself to the dessert.

To do the opposite would be to jeopardise the experience of tasting ice cream and wine, as the low temperature of the ice cream on the tongue could attenuate the flavours without allowing the palate to gradually adapt to the different temperatures.

Which wines go with cream-flavoured ice creams?

Cream ice cream is an irresistible pampering, perfect for when you want a refreshing dessert, but without renouncing the softer, more enveloping flavours. The Italian tradition - with its gastronomic excellence - offers a vast choice of creams, from pistachio to hazelnut, from chocolate to stracciatella, without forgetting products inspired by the great traditional desserts, such as tiramisu and cassata.

Although it is true that the stomach knows no rules, it is also important to know which bottle to uncork to best accompany these delights.

Among the best sweet wines for Bronte pistachio ice cream are those that help it release all its natural sweetness, as well as its enveloping aroma of dried fruit. An excellent example is a glass of Passito di Pantelleria, with its honey and dried fruit aromas, which are reconfirmed on the palate.

Alternatively, a Vin Santo Chianti also goes well with this taste, which conquers with its irresistible aromas of candied fruit, with a pleasant and distinctive spicy undertone.

Equally timeless is chocolate ice cream, a must-have for cream lovers and beverage lovers alike. Its aromatic characteristics - where sweetness and bitter aftertaste intertwine perfectly - make it an excellent ingredient to pair with rum and other spirits, but there are also many dessert wines that know how to accompany it worthily.

An excellent example is Moscato Giallo Trentino DOC 2021, a still white wine with notes of aromatic herbs and citrus fruits, and a smooth and persistent taste.

Finally, it is highly recommended to uncork a bottle of Malvasia delle Lipari in front of a cup of cassata ice cream, for a tasting that smells of Sicily.

This enveloping wine enhances the flavours of cassata thanks to an aromatic bouquet reminiscent of apricots and figs, with a slight aftertaste of almonds and lavender. A real treat for those who can't say no to dessert!

Fruit ice cream: which bottle to open

The world of ice cream offers its lovers endless possibilities. Here, then, those who wish to combat the summer heat with more refreshing flavours can do so with fruit ice creams of all kinds: peach, melon, lemon, strawberry and many more.

Generally speaking, for most of these varieties, the rule for a correct pairing is that the choice should fall on low-alcohol wines capable of recalling as much as possible the aromas of the ice cream itself.

A strawberry ice cream - a classic loved by young and old - can be paired with excellent results with a bottle of Brachetto d'Acqui 'Gatiè' DOCG 2021, a noble and aromatic wine with a pleasant sugar component, fascinating in its rosy appearance and its floral and musky aromas.

Sweetness and effervescence tickle the palate, creating an interesting combination with this ice cream variety and many other fruity flavours!

The apotheosis of freshness can be had by tasting a cup of lemon ice cream, a summer dessert par excellence. The citrus flavour of this dessert can also be paired with a Moscato di Pantelleria, evoking memories of Sicilian lands.

A good accompaniment for this citrusy taste is also a glass of Recioto di Soave DOCG 'Vernus' 2020 - an excellent example among the end-of-meal wines - enveloping on the nose, delicate and lovable on the palate.

You too don't know how to get relief from the heat? Try a bowl of ice cream paired with one of Svinando's recommended wines!