Literally the day after Valentine’s Day, one aisle of my local pharmacy was transformed from a magical land of heart-shaped balloons and boxed chocolates to an equally magical land of stuffed bunnies and packages of Peeps.
I have to admit that I have gone entire Easter seasons without uttering a peep about Peeps. However, with daughters and grandkids, I’m still highly aware of the marshmallow treat.
I even was relieved to learn a few years ago that I’m a “normal” Peeps consumer. In a 2013 survey of Peeps eaters, nearly two-thirds admitted to chomping off the head of a Peep first.
Of course, one Peep leads to another, and before you know it, I’ve consumed enough of the sweet treats to begin thinking about what kind of wine I should be drinking with them. (That’s just how my brain is wired.)
For me, there are three basic choices — including one that may surprise you. I’ll save the surprise for last.
When it comes to pairing wine with desserts or other sweet dishes, the long-standing rule is to make sure that the wine is sweeter than the dish. With that in mind, my go-wine to sip while chomping on a couple of Peeps would be pretty much anything from the Muscat family — including sparkling Moscato di Asti.
Another strategy when eating a sweet treat, as long as it’s not chocolate-based, is to drink what you’d have with spicy fare such as some types of sushi. My sushi suggestion is almost always sparkling wine, such as Prosecco.
Okay, are you ready for my surprise pairing partner for Peeps? I happen to think Chardonnay — especially when made in a rich, buttery style — works very well. Honest!
And if you try it and don’t agree, just put the Peeps away for later and enjoy the Chardonnay with something else… or solo. It’s a no-lose proposition.
One final Easter treat note: If that dressed-in-gold Lindt dark chocolate bunny has been staring you down and wearing you down wherever you go, there are wine-pairing partners for him (her?) as well.
If you love sweet wine, a nice vintage Port makes an excellent companion. If you prefer dry wines, a not-too-oaky Cabernet Sauvignon works quite nicely.
