Our favourite vegan & vegetarian wine pairings
Wine lovers everywhere are seeking more sustainable and health-based eating methods.
Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or just trying to eat more plant-based meals, matching your favourite wine with plant-based dishes can be a new challenge.
We're proud that all The Islander Estate Vineyards grapes are sustainably grown using organic principles. And our entire wine range is 100% vegan. So, we're sharing tips for matching our wines to vegetarian and vegan dishes.
What is vegan wine?
All wine combines grapes and yeast (wild/naturally occurring or added). However, animal-based products derived from eggs, fish, or dairy have traditionally been used to clarify and filter wine to create the clean, bright wines consumers love to drink. Vegan wine producers like us seek alternatives like bentonite clay to achieve the same result without using any animal products.
Some basic guidelines for pairing wine with plant-based dishes.
The fundamentals of wine pairings apply regardless of your diet. Here are some overarching guidelines we like to follow:
- Pair fresh foods like salads with bright wines with acidity or minerality;
- If you're having something fatty or fried, choose a wine with higher acid to help offset the richness & cleanse the palate;
- Spicy foods like curries pair well with lower alcohol, off-dry or sweeter wins (as alcohol highlights spice);
- Off-dry wines with a hint of sweetness can also work with sweet dishes when it comes to desserts;
- Umami-based foods work well with wines with texture;
- Grilled or BBQ dishes. Root vegetables & salty meals call for the tannins of red wine;
- The famous rule of thumb, "What grows together goes together", also works for vegan foods – think Tomatoes & Sangiovese, Pesto & Pinot Grigio.
Our favourite plant-based dishes to pair with The Islander Estate Vineyards range:
Estate Range Petiyante Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Classic champagne acidity & creamy texture. Brioche, pear, white peach & an elegant finish.
Petiyant's texture & acidity complement:
- Sushi with avocado & cucumber
- Spring Rolls with soy dipping sauce
- Crispy fried salt & pepper tofu
Varietal Range Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit, citrus, herbal notes & sea spray with middle palate texture.
Sauv Blanc's fresh citrus flavours & crisp acidity are delicious with:
- Asparagus & pea risotto
- Spring grilled vegetable skewers
- Spinach & feta stuffed mushrooms
Varietal Range The White Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Peach, nectarine, melon, toasted nuts with refreshing acidity & a long finish.
Pair Chardonnay's toasty notes with creamier dishes like:
- Creamy mushroom and garlic pasta
- Vegan Caesar salad with cashew dressing
- Butternut squash and sage pasta
The Enigma Extended Skin Contact Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: Passionfruit, lime zest, ripe citrus, and herbal notes blend with savoury/sour secondary characteristics and tannins.
Skin contact white wine can carry more robust & umami flavours like:
- Vegan Thai green curry with tofu and vegetables
- Zucchini noodles with vegan pesto
- Vegan sushi bowls with marinated tofu and seaweed
Varietal Range Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: Preserved lemon, apricot, citrus & tropical fruit with a textural palate.
More complex whites like Sem Sauv Blanc pair beautifully with:
- Quinoa salad with fresh herbs and citrus dressing
- Grilled corn on the cob with lime and chilli
- Marinated Tofu Poke Bowl
Estate Range Wally White Oaked Semillon
Tasting Notes: Textural & elegant, lemon curd, vanilla custard & a mouth-watering natural acidity.
A sophisticated, textural white like Wally White complements dishes like:
- Cashew Alfredo pasta with roasted vegetables
- Bell peppers stuffed with wild rice
- Truffle-infused polenta
Varietal Range The Rosé
Tasting Notes: Strawberries & cream, peach notes & a light leesy grip add complexity.
Elegant, delicate & fresh, The Rose is delicious with:
- Watermelon and mint salad
- Vegan Caprese salad with tomatoes, basil, and vegan mozzarella
- Strawberry and rocket salad with balsamic glaze
Varietal Range Tempranillo
Tasting Notes: Black fruits, spice, vanilla, mocha, hints of liquorice & tobacco leaf.
Pair our Tempranillo with Spanish-inspired dishes like:
- Vegan paella with assorted vegetables
- Eggplant and chickpea curry
- Vegan Tapas platter
Varietal Range Sangiovese
Tasting Notes: Spicy cherries, vanilla oak & hints of leather. Mid-weight with fine-grained tannins.
Sangiovese's tannins are stunning with tomato based & Italian dishes like:
- Vegan margherita pizza
- Ratatouille with polenta
- Spinach and vegan ricotta-stuffed shells
- Eggplant parmigiana
Estate Range Old Rowley Shiraz/Grenache
Tasting Notes: Plush & elegant with raspberry, boysenberry, lifted florals, vanilla & clove oak.
Rich & elegant Old Rowley deserves dishes to match:
- Dolmade's stuffed with rice and herbs
- Roasted red pepper and walnut dip with pita bread
- Vegan lentil and vegetable curry
- Eggplant & Chickpea Tagine
Varietal Range Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes: Red fruit, cherry, cranberry & raspberry with earthy notes, good acidity & a rounded palate.
Cabernet Sauvignon's tannins & earthy notes go well with:
- Ratatouille
- Vegetable Bolognese
- Mushroom red wine risotto with shaved parmesan
Flagship Range The Investigator Cabernet Franc
Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, plum & mulberry, dried herbs & fennel. Lean with super fine tannins & a composed structure.
Pair elegant, lean Cabernet Franc with umami flavours like:
- Lentil and mushroom burgers
- Grilled portobello mushrooms with a balsamic glaze
- Vegan shepherd's pie with lentils and vegetables
Flagship Range The Cygnet Shiraz
Tasting Notes: Blackberry, liquorice, anise, menthol, cedar & savoury tannins.
The more robust flavours of Shiraz go with:
- Spicy black bean & corn chilli
- Vegan dark chocolate mousse
- Vegan pasta puttanesca
Flagship Range The Independence Malbec
Tasting Notes: Malbec's full-bodied structure & firm tannins with black plum, blackberry, cocoa & sweet tobacco.
Hark back to Malbec's home in South America, pair it with:
Vegan Argentine empanadas with vegetable filling
Black bean and corn salad with cilantro lime dressing
Vegan chilli con carne with kidney beans