The Beer Drinker’s Wine Guide

If you know a pilsner from a pale ale but not much about their viticultural equivalents, train your palate by choosing a wine that is similar to your favourite beer – and become a connoisseur.

The Beer: Pilsner

This pale lager is refreshing, crisp, easy to drink, pairs well with a variety of foods and usually holds plenty of spicy, herbal, and floral aromas.

The Wine Swap: Brut Methode Cap Classique

Bubbly, dry, and refreshing, it’s also a good match for a diverse range of foods.

Try: Ken Forrester’s Sparklehorse MCC

The Beer: Pale Ale

Pale ales are balanced, with the slight bitterness of the hops contrasting with the sweetness of the malt.

The Wine Swap: Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is on the lighter end of the red wine spectrum. It’s low in tannins, which can bring bitterness to a wine.

Try: Haute Cabriere Pinot Noir

The Beer: India Pale Ale

IPAs can be fruity and bitter at the same time. They’re more hoppy than pale ales (and therefore more bitter) and have more earthy, grassy, woody flavours.

The Wine Swap: Cabernet Franc

A great balance between savoury and fruity, Cab Francs often have strong wood spice and berry fruit flavours. IPA lovers will enjoy the savouriness of the wine.

Try: Raats Granite Blocks Cabernet Franc

The Beer: Weissbier

Wheat beers are smooth, creamy, rich and sometimes even a bit sweet. They tend to feature bright fruit flavours, from apple to orange and apricot.

The Wine Swap: Gewurztraminer

This light-bodied, aromatic wine will give refreshing notes of litchi, grapefruit, and pineapple, among other fruity flavours.

Try: Paul Cluver Ferricrete Gewurztraminer

The Beer: Porter

Dark and earthy yet medium-bodied, it can feature flavours of dark fruit, cherries, raspberries, espresso, chocolate, and hazelnut.

The Wine Swap: Syrah or Shiraz

The spice, herbs, smoke and fruit of the wine should keep Porter drinkers happy.

Try: Radford Dale Syrah

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