Let me start this Moussaka Wine Pairing Guide with a confession. I love moussaka but have only made it a handful of times UNTIL I finally caved in and bought instant bechamel. Please, no one tell my yiayia I no longer make it from scratch. But honestly, it’s a game changer. The bechamel is ready in literally 1 minute. So since this discovery, I’ve made moussaka 3 times this month…and pastitsio twice. I might have a problem.
What is Moussaka?
Moussaka is a traditional Greek dish with 4 layers (bottom to top): potatoes, eggplant, ground beef or lamb, and bechamel. It’s a bit of a pain in the butt to make because each layer needs to be cooked separately and then compiled into the pan. You’ll have a mountain of dishes in your sink when all is said and done. However, I always make a large pan of moussaka so it feeds us for a few days, especially since it reheats easily and is even tastier as leftovers.
Moussaka Recipe
I’m not a food blogger so I’m not going to try and create a recipe for you especially since I don’t measure a thing and go by my eye. What I can do is recommend the best wines that go with moussaka! But here are a few recipes that I looked through and like. Personally, I bake the eggplant and the potato slices instead of frying them. It’s way too heavy for me when they’re fried. But you can do as you wish.
My Cretan Recipe
My Greek Dish
Akis Petritzikis
Moussaka Wine Pairing
Moussaka is a rather heavy dish. It’s the perfect comfort food for cold winter nights but an essential food when the eggplants are ready in my summer garden. I gravitate towards red wines with moussaka in order to match the weight of the dish. You can learn all my tips and tricks for food and wine pairing in my eBook. During the summer months though, a fruity red, a nicely chilled rosé, or an oak aged white wine work perfectly with moussaka as well. So start frying up the eggplant and dive into this moussaka wine pairing guide.
Best Red Wines with Moussaka
The best red wines with Moussaka are:
Moussaka with Greek Red Wine
If it grows together, it goes together. Of course, the best wine pairing with moussaka is a Greek wine. I know Greek wines are super easy to find in all markets but if you’re going through all the effort of making moussaka, you might as well take the next step and pick up a bottle of Xinomavro or Kotsifali and make it a full blown Greek night. Honorable mention goes to Agiorgitiko, another great red grape variety from Greece that is commonly paired with moussaka.
Xinomavro & Moussaka
Xinomavro is the best Greek red grape. It’s my favorite as you might be able to tell. It’s like if Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo had a baby. It’s a high acid wine which is great with the tomato sauce used for the minced meat. It’s a full-bodied wine which matches the weight of the dish. AND it has tomato leaf flavors which complements the sauce.
Cretan Kotsifali with Moussaka
Kotsifali is a Cretan grape variety. This is my go-to moussaka wine pairing in the summer months. Kotsifali is lighter-bodied but can still hold up to moussaka. It’s also higher in acid which pairs well with the acidity in the tomato sauce. Best thing about Kotsifali is that it’s lower in tannins so can be served slightly chilled which is great for a red wine for summer.
Here’s a full guide to all your favorite Greek dishes with wine pairings.
Red Wines with Moussaka
Moussaka is a meat dish, after all, so naturally red wines are obvious choice for a great moussaka wine pairing.
Rounding out the list of wines that pair with Moussaka are wines you can find in every wine shop. Zinfandel and Malbec are great red wine choices in the summer months because they’re lighter in tannins. Sangiovese and Cab Franc match well with the vegetable ingredients of moussaka. Sangiovese with its high acid is great with the tomato sauce and Cab Franc goes beautifully with eggplant.
Cote du Rhone is an all-around great wine with comfort foods like moussaka. It’s fruity, medium-bodied, and will pick up the spices used in the dish.
White Wines with Moussaka
Pairing white wine with moussaka is tricky but not impossible. The key is to be sure the white wine has enough guts to withstand such a hearty dish. If you choose a white wine that’s too light, you’ll hardly taste it. Your best bet is to choose a white wine that’s been aged in oak barrels.
Oak aged white wines work with moussaka for a few reasons. One, oak gives white wine more body. Two, oak gives wine some spice and moussaka has both cinnamon and nutmeg as ingredients. And three, white wine that’s aged in oak will have a creamy texture just like the bechamel.
List of White Wines with Moussaka
- Oak Aged Assyrtiko
- Oak Aged Chardonnay
- Oak Aged Sauvignon Blanc
Moussaka Wine Pairing: Assyrtiko
Like I said, if you’re going through the effort of making moussaka, might as well try a Greek wine with it. If you’re looking for a Greek moussaka wine pairing, look no further than Assyrtiko. An oak-aged Assyrtiko is my top choice for a white wine to pair with moussaka. However, I would suggest an Assyrtiko not from Santorini (this will also save you a pretty penny, Santorini wines are quite expensive). Northern Greece makes some amazing oak-aged Assyrtiko.
Chardonnay and Moussaka
The easiest and most widely available oak aged white wine on the market is Chardonnay. Oaked Chardonnay is an easy choice to pair with moussaka but I’d look for one that’s in the medium range versus super oaky. Chardonnay has a buttery texture which will pair particularly well with the bechamel topping.
Moussaka with Sauvignon Blanc
My favorite non-Greek wine to pair with moussaka is oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc. The oak adds just enough body to the wine to make it full enough to compete with moussaka’s heartiness. Sauvignon Blanc is always a good match with vegetables and will complement those aspects of the dish.
Bonus! Moussaka Wine Pairing: Rosé
The last moussaka wine pairing suggestion I’ll make is to opt for a darker rosé wine. While light rosés will work, one with a little more skin contact would be a better pairing with moussaka. Rosé works for this dish because it’s generally a summer dish and sometimes red wines are too darn heavy in the heat. When scouring the wine aisle, grab a rosé with a more cherry color versus light pink or peach.
FAQ About Moussaka Wine Pairing
Do you serve red or white wine with moussaka?
Both red and white wine make for a great moussaka wine pairing. Greek red wine like Xinomavro or Kotsifali are great with moussaka or Assyrtiko for a Greek white wine for moussaka. Red wines like Zinfandel, Malbec, and Sangiovese are great choice to pair with moussaka as well. If you can’t decide if you want red or white wine with moussaka, grab a rosé!
What wine goes with vegetarian moussaka?
Vegetarian moussaka obviously doesn’t have the ground meat in the dish. This doesn’t make vegetarian moussaka that much lighter though. I’d still pair a fuller bodied white wine or a medium-bodied red wine with vegetarian moussaka.
What is a good white wine with moussaka?
Three great white wines with moussaka are oak-aged Assyrtikko, oak-aged Chardonnay, and oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc.
What’s your favorite Moussaka Wine Pairing?
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