Wine Peeps is an independent wine blog dedicated to helping you get the most bang for your buck in wine. We do this through blind tastings of wine from around the world and calculations of 
Challenging Wine Pairing: Peach Cobbler
By LaGayle ~ August 7th, 2013.
August is the month to think about peaches!!! The fresh peaches available at this time of year are absolutely unbelievable. And, there are so many ways to enjoy them.
A favorite in our family, and I’m sure it goes back to our Texas roots, is peach cobbler. Peach cobbler is a dessert staple in the south. Whether it is peach cobbler, peach slump, or just peaches and cream, I imagine that there is a peach dessert in most everyone’s life that is a favorite.
To celebrate peaches in August, we decided to do a challenging wine pairing with peach cobbler topped with ice cream. As always, I referred to my favorite book, What to Drink with What You Eat, and decided to have a Late Harvest Riesling and a sparkling wine. We selected the 2010 Forgeron Late Harvest Riesling and the NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry Sparkling Wine. Both wines are very good on their own, and the consensus between the four of us as to the best pairing with the cobbler was an even split, two of us chose the Late Harvest Riesling and two of us chose the sparkling wine. The ideal complement to the cobbler and ice cream might have been a wine whose sweetness is between these two wines.
What would you have paired with this dessert? Your suggestions for future challenging pairings are always welcome.
Bon Appétit!
2010 Forgeron Cellars Late Harvest Riesling (Dionysus Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Riesling. Golden yellow in color. Very aromatic with honey and dried apricot on both the nose and palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with lively acidity. Well-balanced with a long finish. Residual Sugar: 13%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $19 [375ml]; Available elsewhere, $18 to $19
NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry Sparkling Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): Small, fairly fast bead of bubbles. Pale, straw yellow in color. Nice nose with apple and yeast aromas. More apple and pear come through on the palate. Off-dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 2.3%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer, $8.99; Available elsewhere, $8 to $15
Filed under: American Wine, Challenging Wine Pairing, Dessert Wine, Five-Bangs For Your Buck Wines, Food & Wine, Riesling, Sparkling Wine, Washington State Wine, Wines Under $10, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25
Great choices. I would try Pacific Rim’s sparkling Riesling — I think they call it White Flowers and I think the white peach flavors and nice acidity would be great with this dish.
Great suggestion, Mike! I think that White Flowers would work well too. We’ll have to try it next time with our cobbler. Cheers!
Saviah Cellars in Walla Walla has a wonderful Late Harvest Gewurztraminer that pairs perfectly with peaches and ice cream! Only 8% residual sugar and a nice acid profile, so not overly sweet. Cheers!
Denise,
Thanks for the recommendation! Sounds like it would be a wonderful pairing. Cheers!
Thanks for your advice. We are having peach cobbler for dessert for our wine pairing dinner on Sept 1. We are going to try a Schramsberg Crement Sparkling from CA. Flavors of apricot, peach and nectrine…and a little sweeter than the Domaine St Michelle, as well as a Pacific Rim Reisling. We couldn’t get the one mentioned above. I will let you know which one we like best.
Our wine group is in its 24th year. We have enjoyed lots of great wine and great food!