What wine for aperitifs? Our pairings for nibbles and boards
296 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.
Torelli - Canelli Moscato d'Asti "San Gròd" 2025
A fresh, delicious Moscato d'Asti from organically grown vineyards
Undurraga - Lazo Chardonnay 2025
An exotic, charming and easy-drinking Chardonnay!
Cousiño Macul - Chardonnay 2025
A Chardonnay from one of the oldest estates in Chile combining roundness, freshness and expression.
Barone di Villagrande - Etna Bianco 2024
An organic white wine from the volcanic soils of Etna, of rare elegance!
Álvaro Palacios - Gratallops Vi de Vila 2023
A fresh, intense and mineral Grenache-Carignan duo from the slopes of Priorat.
Alheit Vineyards - Cartology 2023
A high-class, elegant and distinguished white wine.
Fantini - Pinot Grigio 2024
A fresh and delicious Pinot Grigio that will delight your aperitifs!
Palacios Remondo - La Montesa 2022
A magnificently ripe Grenache, a round, juicy and pulpy mouthfeel with supple and delicate tannins.
Ziereisen - Tschuppen 2023
A beautiful expression of Pinot Noir full of elegance and flavors!
Bresolin - Vino Frizzante Col Fondo
A lively, authentic natural sparkling wine, where freshness, fine bubbles and ageing on the lees reveal the true character of Glera from the Colli Asolani.
Duckhorn - Chardonnay 2021
A rich and suave Chardonnay from the cool corners of Napa Valley
Vineka - Verdeca 2024
A white wine that embodies the sunny and vibrant character of Puglia
Tarapacá - Carménère Reserva 2024
The emblematic grape variety of Chile in a vintage that is both fleshy and intense.
Domaine Bonnardot - Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Coup de Foudre Rouge 2024
A generous Pinot to drink young, all fruit and roundness.
Lantides - Little Ark White 2019
A fine and refreshing wine from southern Greece, with exotic and mineral notes
Bodegas Tobia - Daimon White Seleccion 2018
A complex, round and delicious Rioja white that offers you a journey full of flavors.
Schieferkopf - Silvaner Trocken 2018
A wine from the Franken region, birthplace of the Sylvaner grape variety
Giribaldi - Barbera Alma 2019
A delicious and juicy red wine made from Barbera, an astonishing grape variety!
Groot Constantia - Methode Cap Classique Brut
A sparkling wine from the Cape using the Champagne method, with exotic and brioche notes
Joostenberg - Family Red 2018
A vintage made with finesse, with smoky and spicy nuances
Cullen - Moon Opposite Saturn Harvest - Sauvignon Blanc 2018
A complex and tense Sauvignon Blanc, made from biodynamic farming
La Famille K - Le Père Blanc 2018
Riebeek Cellars & Ryno Booysen - Percheron Blanc 2021
A vibrant and aromatic white wine for immediate pleasure
Stellenrust - Kleine Rust White 2020
A white full of freshness with intense notes of tropical fruits.
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.