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Which wine goes well with asparagus?
In principle, wines that fulfil three requirements go well with asparagus: firstly, a rather floral and/or vegetal aroma that harmonises well with the vegetable; secondly, a relatively moderate acidity that must not be too strong so as not to additionally emphasise the bitterness of the asparagus; thirdly, as little tannin as possible, which would also unpleasantly intensify the bitterness of the vegetable. In this respect, the focus here is clearly on white wines.
Two grape varieties that are characterised by the aforementioned properties are Silvaner and Grüner Veltliner - both classics with asparagus: one in Germany, the other in Austria. But there are many more good asparagus companions: first and foremost the whites Pinot varieties(Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Auxerrois etc.), which, with their yellow-fruity and nutty flavours and mild acidity, are ideal partners for asparagus dishes. Müller-Thurgau (aka Rivaner), Neuburger, white Pinot No ir(Blanc de Noirs) and bouquet varieties such as Muscat or Scheurebe are also suitable.
Ultimately, however, the wine recommendation always depends on the type of asparagus and the preparation: white asparagus, green asparagus, boiled, roasted, as a salad with vinaigrette, with melted (light or brown) butter, with hollandaise or béarnaise sauce, with green sauce, with ham, egg and parsley butter sauce, with raw or boiled ham, with veal or pork schnitzel, with beef steak, with roasted or grilled salmon fillet and, and, and... With this in mind, both the German Wine Institute(DWI) and Österreich Wein Marketing (ÖWM) have designed their own websites on the subject of asparagus: