What wine for aperitifs? Our pairings for nibbles and boards
331 wines to serve as an aperitifFor an aperitif, serve a fresh, light wine: bubbles such as a Prosecco, a lively white (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Furmint) or a fruity red served chilled, such as a Grenache or a young Tempranillo. The aperitif opens the meal: the wine awakens the palate and goes with the nibbles.
Match it with what you serve: bubbles for gougères and crisps, a mineral white for oysters and fresh cheese, a red from Spain or Italy for charcuterie and tapas. Find our ideas in the guide wine and apéro dînatoire.
Vigneti del Vulture - Pipoli Rosato Basilicata 2025
A rosé made from Aglianico, elegant, fruity and delicious
Cantina Cellaro - Lumà Grillo 2025
A Sicilian wine with delicate flavors of Grillo, a local white grape variety
460 Casina Bric - Mesdì Rosso
A beautiful expression of Nebbiolo, the flagship grape variety of Piedmont
Niepoort - Vinho Verde Dócil 2025
A devilishly refreshing white wine from the North of Portugal with a beautiful minerality!
Gaia - Notios White 2025
The sun of Greece united in this vintage full of freshness!
Zoumberakis - Vidiano Nature 2025
A fresh and tasty wine made from Vidiano, a great white grape variety from Crete
Niepoort - Drink Me 2022
A typical vintage from the Douro Valley by Dirk Niepoort!
Bruno Landauer - Gewürztraminer Ruster Spätlese 2024
A sublime Austrian late harvest!
Castellucci Miano - Nero d'Avola 2024
Magnificent Nero d'Avola, all round and full of fruit. Buonissimo!
San Marzano - Primitivo Puglia 2024
An intense and generous Primitivo with flavors of black fruits
D'Arenberg - The Stump Jump White Blend 2025
A superb blend of 4 white grape varieties which results in an aromatic vintage full of freshness
Bondar - Violet Hour Shiraz 2021
A beautiful interpretation of Syrah that expresses finesse and freshness.
460 Casina Bric - Nebbiolo d'Alba Spumante "Cuvée 970" Brut Rosé 2021
A fine and elegant sparkling wine based on Nebbiolo
J.Bouchon Family Wines - Block Series Carmenère 2020
An authentic, complex and elegant Carmenère
L.A. Cetto - Zinfandel 2023
A supple and fleshy red wine with flavors of jammy red fruits.
Bresolin - Asolo Prosecco Extra Brut
An organic Prosecco from the smallest regional appellation
San Marzano - Edda Bianco 2024
A Chardonnay from Puglia with surprising flavors
Sutto - Prosecco Spumante Millesimé Extra Dry
A perfect companion for summer aperitifs or for making Spritz!
Vigneti del Vulture - Pipoli Aglianico del Vulture 2024
A 100% Aglianico wine: an ancient grape variety from the Basilicata region
Fantini - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2024
A dense, fruity and balanced wine, with a marked typicality of Abruzzo
D'Arenberg - The Olive Grove 2023
A beautiful chardonnay with a balanced and intense structure that delights and seduces the taste buds!
Wildeberg & JD Rossouw - The Capeography Sauvignon Blanc 2025
A clean and refreshing Sauvignon from the Elgin region
Which wine for which appetiser?
What is on the board guides the pairing. Here are our pointers for the most popular nibbles.
| Dish | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Charcuterie board saucisson, cured ham, chorizo | Light, fruity red: Tempranillo, Grenache, Montepulciano | Fruit and supple tannins answer the fat and salt of the charcuterie. |
| Cheese board young Comté, tomme, fresh goat's cheese | Dry white: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc | The acidity of the white refreshes the palate between bites of cheese. |
| Gougères, puff pastries and crisps gougères, cheese straws, artisan crisps | Bubbles: Prosecco, brut sparkling wine | Fine bubbles cleanse the palate of butter and salt. |
| Spanish tapas pan con tomate, croquetas, olives, pimientos de padrón | Spanish red or southern white: Tempranillo, Verdeca | These sun-drenched wines keep pace with olive oil, tomato and paprika. |
| Oysters and seafood oysters, prawns, fish rillettes | Mineral white: taut Chardonnay, dry Riesling, Furmint | The briny tension of the wine extends the taste of the sea. |
| Plant-based nibbles and dips hummus, tapenade, crunchy vegetables, guacamole | Fresh rosé or aromatic white: rosato from Puglia, Sauvignon Blanc | Freshness and herbaceous notes answer raw vegetables and sweet spices. |
| Sweet and savoury nibbles foie gras toasts, figs with goat's cheese, bacon-wrapped dates | Sweet wine: Tokaji, Moscato d'Asti, late harvest | The sweetness of the wine balances the salt and highlights the dried fruit notes. |
For an apéro dînatoire, choose the wine according to the main nibble: bubbles for puff pastries, a light red for charcuterie.
Freshness above all
At aperitif time, the palate is still fresh: our approach is to favour wines that are fresh, lively and light on the palate. Italy dominates our selection for good reason: the Prosecco from Sutto or Bresolin, the delicately sweet Moscato d'Asti "San Gròd" from Torelli, or the Verdeca from Vineka, a white from Puglia with citrus notes. These wines go lightly with the nibbles.
From Spain, a young Tempranillo served chilled is a wonderful match for ham, chorizo and croquetas. To surprise your guests, try a Furmint from Tokaj, such as the Tokaji Furmint Duck from Balassa: its liveliness and pear notes answer goat's cheeses and smoked fish bites. Finally, a rosato from Puglia, such as the Amai Susumaniello Rosato from San Marzano, adds a lovely touch of colour to a summer board.
Three pairings for your sharing boards
Pairing 1. Warm gougères and brut Prosecco, for bubbles that answer the cheese.
Pairing 2. Ibérico ham and Tempranillo served chilled, a Spanish duo all about fruit.
Pairing 3. Goat's cheese with figs and Moscato d'Asti, a delicate sweet and savoury contrast.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and aperitifs
What white wine for an aperitif?
A dry, fresh, lively white is ideal for an aperitif: taut Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, dry Riesling or Furmint. These wines go with fresh cheeses, seafood and savoury nibbles. For a rounder touch, a white from Puglia such as Verdeca brings notes of citrus and white fruit. Serve it between 8 and 10 °C.
What red wine for an aperitif?
Choose a light, fruity red with supple tannins, served slightly chilled: young Tempranillo, Grenache, Pinot Noir or Montepulciano. It goes perfectly with charcuterie, tapas and olives. Explore our selection of light red wines to find the style you like.
Champagne, Prosecco or white wine as an aperitif?
The choice depends on the nibbles: bubbles excel with puff pastries, crisps and gougères, white wine with cheeses and seafood. Prosecco offers a fruity, floral style, Champagne more finesse and brioche notes. Both give the meal a festive start.
What wine for an apéro dînatoire?
For an apéro dînatoire, choose a versatile wine that can keep up with a variety of nibbles: a light red such as a Grenache or a Pinot Noir, or a dry, fruity white such as a Chardonnay. A rosé with character also makes an excellent compromise between charcuterie, vegetables and cheeses.
What wine goes with a charcuterie and cheese board?
A fruity, supple red, such as a Tempranillo or a Montepulciano, is an ideal match for a mixed board of charcuterie and cheese. Its light tannins respect the fat of the saucisson and the texture of hard cheeses. If the board features plenty of goat's cheese, prefer a lively white such as a Sauvignon Blanc.
At what temperature should wine be served as an aperitif?
Serve bubbles and whites between 6 and 10 °C, and light reds at around 14 °C. At aperitif time, a cool temperature brings out the fruit and liveliness of the wine. Take the red out of the fridge a quarter of an hour before serving so that it reaches the right temperature.