Mushrooms and Wine

First of all, we are not talking about psychedelic mushrooms. We are referring to edible mushrooms found in grocery stores and at farmers’ markets. Wine lovers often miss out on the connection mushrooms have with food and wine.

When it comes to mushrooms, get ready for a flavor explosion! Whether you’re whipping up a creamy mushroom pasta or throwing some sautéed mushrooms on a juicy steak, the right wine can enhance those earthy, umami-packed flavors like you wouldn’t believe. Umami and Mushrooms.

Mushrooms are like the chameleons of the culinary world. They have this incredible ability to adapt and complement a wide range of dishes. Their earthy, savory, and sometimes nutty flavors, can be subtly enhanced or transformed by the right wine. It’s like a beautiful dance of flavors on your palate. We love experimenting with wines to determine which ones pair well with mushroom dishes. Here are some delicious mushroom delights and wine matches.

Mushroom Pizza and Zinfandel

Mushrooms are standard fare on any pizza joint menu. There are many ways to top a pizza with mushrooms. A mushroom pizza is much healthier than a sausage or pepperoni pizza. We love the mushroom pizza we have adapted from the Green’s cookbook. The leeks and herbs on this pizza, and the sauteed cremini mushrooms, bring a burst of flavor with each bite. Add a delicious Zinfandel, and you are in pizza paradise. We love to match pizza with the Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel or the Rocky Top Sobon Zinfandel However, any good Zinfandel will work.

Steak with Mushrooms and Red Wine

Sautéed mushrooms on a steak = Delight plus wine — Sautéed mushrooms on a steak = Delight

If you’re going all-in with a juicy steak topped with sautéed mushrooms, you’ll want to go red. A robust red wine, like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot, can stand up to the bold flavors of the steak and complement the earthy, umami goodness of the mushrooms. Add a reduction red wine sauce with mushrooms and you will have a gourmet dish. We like the J Lohr Cabernet or the Bonterra Cabernet with a juicy steak topped with mushrooms.

Mushroom Risotto and Pinot Noir

For all you risotto fans out there, a Pinot Noir is a good go-to choice. Its bright acidity and red fruit notes can cut through the creaminess of the risotto, allowing the flavors of the mushrooms to shine. It’s a harmonious pairing that’ll make you appreciate the art of Italian cooking even more. We like the Pinot Noir made by J. Lohr from Monterey County or Costco’s Kirkland Russian River Valley.

Mushroom Pastas

There are many ways to serve mushrooms in pasta dishes. You can make a healthy pasta with sautéed mushrooms. Leave out the heavy creams and let the Umami powers of mushrooms enhance the pasta. Here is a list of 12 comforting mushroom pasta recipes ready in 35 minutes from the folks at Eating Well. Syrah is a great choice with mushroom pasta. Go for the Andrew Murray Tous les Jours.

Enhancing the Experience

The magic of pairing mushrooms and wine lies in how they complement each other’s flavors. Mushrooms have the unique ability to absorb and amplify the characteristics of the wine, while the wine can cut through the richness of mushroom dishes, creating a beautifully-balanced taste sensation.

Mushrooms and Wine – How They Love Each Other