Wake up and smell… wine? Yes! Fino breakfast is really something. While coffee provides the necessary morning dose of energy Monday through Friday, on the weekend or holiday, it’s nice to indulge in a pre-noon sip and savor a beverage that inspires rest and relaxation. Forget the breakfast cocktails you know, like mimosas, bellinis, and Bloody Marys. Breakfast wine shines on its own.
First things first, this category does not include new varieties or specific wines. Instead it refers to those that pair well with your morning meal. So what makes wine suitable for breakfast? Sally Nightingale, Senior Winemaker at balance He first recommends choosing a lighter approach because “it tends to be more appealing not only to the types of dishes eaten for breakfast but also the time of day.”
osmosis Winery and Vineyard owner Patricia Ortiz chimes in with praise for the idea, adding that these lightweight wines “(help) make your day easier.” Another key to choosing a breakfast wine, she says, is paying attention to the alcohol content. “You don’t want to start your day with a wine that’s too high in alcohol, or you could risk starting your day dehydrated.”
On that note, Nightingale suggests avoiding “big, tannic, high-alcohol red wine” because it can send you into a wine-induced nap later in the day. But that doesn’t mean your options are limited. “The list of ‘lighter’ wines is long and varied, Nightingale insists, so there’s something for everyone.”
According to Ortiz, there are two styles best suited for breakfast. The first is light pink. Not to revive the “all-day Rosé” trope, but it’s best for an empty stomach because it doesn’t have any sharp acidity. Her second recommendation is sauvignon blanc, especially for those who intend to pair their glass of wine with a plate of food. “With its sour and citrus flavors, Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with many breakfast favorites,” she says. For example, it goes well with avocado toast. “[It]adds the needed acidity, compared to lemon juice to your taste buds; you’ll reduce the creaminess of the avocado,[achieving]the perfect balance for your savory breakfast,” she explains. Ortiz adds that sauvignon blanc also pairs well with herbal-infused omelets (because of the herbal notes in the wine), and the acidity makes it an ideal drink to accompany dishes like eggs benedict, lemon ricotta crepes, and breakfast burritos.
As for Nightingale, she’s siding with another AM white wine, chenin blanc, because it’s “bright and lively” and can “handle with a cheese soufflé or smoked salmon bread.”
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the benefits of a bottle of champagne for breakfast. Whether you’re looking for champagne, sparkling wine, prosecco, or cava, the light, sparkling, aromatic fizzy treat is a fizzy treat to add to your morning feast. It’s also a luxurious way to start the day for any special occasion, and its versatility allows it to be paired with everything from pastries to quiche.
Breakfast wine rules of thumb
When choosing a wine to serve with breakfast, our experts have a few more tips to help make sure your drink comes alive. While it’s best not to judge a book by its cover, it’s okay to judge a wine by its label. “A label can tell you a lot,” says Nightingale. “The alcohol content can help indicate how ‘volume’ a wine is. Also, make a reference to the tasting notes on the back label that might indicate something about the wine’s flavor profile and winemaking input. For example, if it is oak, not oak, or sweet or dry.” In some classifications, these indicator words may also appear as “Brut” or “Extra Brut.”
The label also provides helpful information to Ortiz’s earlier point about avoiding wine-induced headaches. “Look for labels that are low in alcohol and sugar when choosing a breakfast wine,” she points out. Low-alcohol wine is also a great option if you don’t set a menu plan for breakfast. “Light rosé can be very versatile for whatever you end up cooking for breakfast,” Ortiz shares. “If you take the time to plan your menu, you can do some research and choose based on what you’re going to serve.”
Nightingale shares this tip about rosé’s versatility, adding, “It can match lighter dishes but can also hold its own when the flavors are bolder,” she says. But the most important thing is not to be afraid to experiment and enjoy your morning. “Don’t overcomplicate it,” says the Nightingale. “Enjoy different pairings and think outside the box for new flavor sensations that may just become your new taste buds.”
Kick off an enchanting morning and toast to the day with this expert-approved breakfast wine.
