Honey and Wine Pairing: Matching Jars to Glasses
Honey and wine pairing is a fun way to add something unexpected to a cheese board or dinner party. Both honey and wine reflect the plants and places they come from, and both range from light and delicate to dark and bold. With a few simple rules, you can match honeys to wines so each makes the other taste better. This article explains the basics of honey and wine pairing, suggested matches, how to add cheese, and a note on mead, the honey wine. For non-alcoholic pairings, see our honey tasting guide.
For general education only, not medical advice. Our honey is a food and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Why honey and wine pair well
Honey and wine both carry floral, fruity, earthy and spicy notes from their origins. When those notes echo or contrast thoughtfully, the pairing feels richer than either alone. Honey also softens tannins and acidity, making some wines feel rounder.
The trick is to keep honey portions small, a drizzle rather than a spoonful, so it complements rather than overwhelms.
Rule 1: Match intensity
Delicate honeys get lost next to powerful red wines, and bold honeys bulldoze light whites. Pair light with light and bold with bold. This simple rule works most of the time.
Rule 2: Watch the sweetness
Sweet foods can make dry wines taste more sour and bitter. That is why dessert wines pair so well with sweet dishes. With honey, keep the drizzle light, pair it with cheese or nuts, or choose an off-dry or sweet wine.
Rule 3: Echo or contrast flavors
Echo flavors by matching citrusy orange blossom honey with a citrusy Sauvignon Blanc, or contrast by pairing salty blue cheese, dark honey and sweet port. Both approaches can work beautifully.
Honey and wine pairing chart
A starting point:
| Honey | Wine styles to try |
|---|---|
| Orange blossom | Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato d'Asti, Prosecco |
| Clover | Pinot Grigio, unoaked Chardonnay, dry Riesling |
| Wildflower | Off-dry Riesling, Viognier, rosé |
| Blueberry blossom | Pinot Noir, Beaujolais |
| Buckwheat or knotweed | Port, oloroso sherry, Zinfandel |
Adding cheese as a bridge
Cheese is the natural middle ground. A classic trio is blue cheese, buckwheat honey and port. Others include goat cheese, orange blossom honey and Sauvignon Blanc; brie, wildflower honey and sparkling wine; and aged gouda, knotweed honey and Zinfandel.
Our honey and cheese pairing guide has more matches.
Setting up a pairing board
Choose three honeys, three wines and three cheeses. Add crackers, walnuts, fresh pears and figs. Label each honey and let guests build bites. Pour small tastes of wine and provide water.
- 3 honeys, light to dark
- 3 wines, white to red or fortified
- 3 cheeses, fresh to aged
- Crackers, nuts and fruit
- Water for everyone
What about mead?
Mead, sometimes called honey wine, is made by fermenting honey with water, and sometimes fruit, spices or grains. It ranges from dry to very sweet and from still to sparkling. Mead pairs naturally with honey dishes and cheese, and it is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks known. The UC Davis honey flavor wheel offers handy words for describing both honey and mead.
Cooking with honey and wine
Honey and wine also meet in the kitchen. Poach pears in red wine with honey and spices, make a honey and white wine glaze for chicken, or reduce red wine with honey for a sauce over steak. Our article on honey and pears has a poaching recipe.
Non-alcoholic options
If you do not drink alcohol, try pairing honeys with sparkling grape juice, non-alcoholic wine, kombucha or teas. Green tea with orange blossom honey and black tea with buckwheat honey follow the same intensity rule. Our article on honey kombucha covers a fizzy option.
Responsible enjoyment
Wine pairing is for adults of legal drinking age. Offer water and non-alcoholic choices, and never drive after drinking. Keep honey away from babies under 12 months.
Our honeys for a pairing board
Try Raw Orange Blossom Honey from Florida with crisp whites, Raw Wildflower Honey from New York State with rosé and off-dry whites, and Raw Buckwheat Honey from New York State or Raw Knotweed Honey from North Dakota with port and bold reds.
The takeaway
Honey and wine pairing comes down to matching intensity, minding sweetness and using cheese as a bridge. Start with a few classic combinations and let your own taste guide you.
Honey and wine pairing with dessert
For dessert, a honey cake or baklava pairs well with late-harvest Riesling, Sauternes or Moscato, since the wine is sweet enough to match. A drizzle of orange blossom honey over panna cotta works with a glass of sparkling Moscato. Dark chocolate with buckwheat honey suits tawny port. Our article on honey and dark chocolate has more ideas.
Serving temperatures
Serve honey at room temperature so it flows and releases aroma. Chill white and sparkling wines, and serve reds slightly cool. Bring cheeses out of the fridge about 30 minutes before guests arrive so their flavors open up.
Stock your pairing board
Choose honeys for your next gathering, or pick four in the Pure Raw Honey Sampler. Save with a 3 jar or 6 jar pack of any honey, and orders over $50 ship free. Visit our shop.
Sources
Outside health sources we used for this article. They open in a new tab.
- Honey Flavor and Aroma Wheel Complete · UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center
- United States Standards for Grades of Extracted Honey · USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
- Honey as Nutrient and Functional Food · Bee Product Science (Stefan Bogdanov)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the main rule for honey and wine pairing?
- Match intensity: light with light, bold with bold.
- Why does wine taste sour with honey?
- Sweet foods make dry wines taste more acidic. Use a light drizzle or a sweeter wine.
- What wine goes with buckwheat honey?
- Port, oloroso sherry or a bold Zinfandel.
- What wine goes with orange blossom honey?
- Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato d'Asti or Prosecco.
- What is mead?
- An alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey with water.
- What cheese bridges honey and wine?
- Blue cheese, goat cheese, brie and aged gouda are favorites.
- Is there a non-alcoholic option?
- Yes. Pair honeys with teas, sparkling juice or non-alcoholic wine.
Al Safa Honey is a food producer, not a medical provider. Nothing here is medical advice, and these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Talk to your doctor about any health concern. Never give honey of any kind to a baby under 12 months old.
