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.
Juan Carlos Sancha - Peña El Gato 2022
An old-vine Garnacha, fresh and deep, born in the hills of the Najerilla.
Matías Riccitelli - Old Vine From Patagonia Sémillon 2024
A great Sémillon from Patagonia!
Veramonte - Chardonnay 2025
Vinified naturally, this is an exotic, smooth and fresh Chardonnay.
Fuerza Natural - Cinsault 2021
A fresh and vibrant Cinsault, from century-old vines in southern Chile
Vineka - Negroamaro 2023
An elegant and delicious red, symbol of Guglielmo Zito wines
Primus - Carménère 2023
A complex and harmonious Carménère with notes of spices and very ripe fruit.
Bodegas Cenicero Viticola - Finca Cienvacas 2025
A drinkable vintage to enjoy with friends!
Niepoort - DÃO Red 2019
A fresh wine with a beautiful complexity based on spices and black fruits.
False Bay - Crystalline Chardonnay 2023
A vintage full of life made Biodynamically!
Greywacke - Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2021
A Sauvignon Blanc out of the ordinary, complex and tasty
San Marzano - Amai Susumaniello Rosato 2025
An elegant and refreshing rosé made from Susumaniello, a rare grape variety from Puglia.
Fenech - Perciato 2021
A red made from Perricone, a rare grape variety from the island of Salina
Château Sainte Michelle - Dry Riesling 2020
A Riesling with intense flavors from Washington State
Moric Project Villa Tolnay - Hidden Treasures n°3 2022
A high-end partnership between a Hungarian estate and a talented Austrian winemaker.
Zeni - Valpolicella Classico 2024
A fresh, elegant expression of Valpolicella, revealing crisp fruit, fine tannins and great drinkability.
Balassa - Tokaji Furmint Betsek 2024
A wine with a volcanic character from Betsek, bringing tension, complexity and finesse
Quinta do Crasto - Flor de Crasto Rouge 2021
A beautiful blend from the Douro Valley, with intense flavors of black fruits
Alheit Vineyards - Cartology 2019
A high-class, elegant and distinguished white wine.
Valenciso - Tinto Reserva 2014
A dense, deep and complex Rioja crafted with elegance
Winzer von Erbach - Erbacher Michelmark Riesling Spätlese 2015
A dry and distinguished Riesling from the Rheingau, made from grapes picked at a late harvest
Alamos - Bonarda 2020
The expression of the Bonarda grape variety which demonstrates all its potential
Catena - Alta Chardonnay 2020
A generous and complex Chardonnay, from high vineyards in Argentina
Nik Weis - Urban Riesling 2019
A pure and crisp Riesling from the Moselle Valley
Pittacum - Petit Pittacum 2020
A seductive and juicy expression of the Mencía grape
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.