If there’s one trend we never pass up, it’s skipping the typical grown-up wine and cheese pairings for something with a little more whimsy: wine and wing pairings for football season, wine and soup pairings for winter, wine and popcorn pairings for movie night, wine and candy pairings for Halloween, and now, our latest pairing obsession: wine and s’mores pairings for bonfire night.
If you’re thinking, “But there’s only one way to make a s’more,” you’d be right (unless you’re one of those people who makes s’mores in the microwave). However, we believe classics are meant to be riffed upon. That’s why we’ve put together nine different s’more recipe variations along with the perfect wines to sip alongside them.
Pull a lawn chair up to the campfire and grab your skewers. Here are the best expert-recommended wine and s’more pairings to try this fall.
First things first, let’s start with the classic campfire s’more: just graham cracker, milk chocolate and roasty, toasty marshmallow. You want something to complement the toasted sugar of the marshmallow and the smooth creaminess of the chocolate, so we’re going with a ruby or tawny port; a classic dessert wine for a classic sweet treat.
Ingredients: Graham cracker, milk chocolate, toasted marshmallow
What to pair with it:
Our first twist on the classic s’more is more of an elevation than a variation, if we’re being honest. Just swap the milk chocolate for dark chocolate and finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt for a mélange of sweet, salty, bitter goodness. Pair it with a robust cabernet sauvignon to balance the dark chocolate’s bitterness but enhance its delicious richness.
Ingredients: Graham cracker, dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow, sprinkle of flaky sea salt
What to pair with it:
American sweets lover rule#1: Wherever chocolate is, include peanut butter too.
Swap the regular square of milk chocolate in your s’more for a Reese’s peanut butter cup to really go nuts. Pair it with a wine that will mirror the peanut butter’s nutty, caramelized notes, like a good cream sherry.
Ingredients: Graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
What to pair with it:
Nothing’s more decadent than a chocolate strawberry...except maybe the s’more version. Sandwich fresh strawberry slices, toasted marshmallow and a drizzle of Nutella spread between graham crackers to recreate this romantic treat in s’more form. Pair it with an effervescent, bubbly rosé to match the fruity flavor and balance the gooey sweetness.
Ingredients: Graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, Nutella, fresh strawberry slices
What to pair with it:
Reject modernity (Dubai chocolate) and embrace tradition (turtle flavor) with this chocolate, caramel and pecan s’more. You could even toast the pecans over the campfire in a skillet alone or with a sprinkle of salt. Pair it with a bold, fruity red blend that can stand up to this s’more’s equally robust flavors.
Ingredients: Chocolate graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, caramel drizzle, chopped pecans
What to pair with it:
If you’re the one at the office party who always claims the maple bacon donut in the dozen, this is your s’more. Add a slice of crispy bacon (the black pepper kind or even candied bacon, if you’re feeling crazy) and a drizzle of maple syrup. There’s a lot of rich, sweet meets umami flavor going on here, so you’ll want to pair it with a wine that can balance it out with a little brightness. Reach for an off-dry Riesling that’s sweet enough to balance the smoky-savory flavors and cut the decadence with a zing of acidity.
Ingredients: Graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, milk chocolate, crispy bacon, maple drizzle
What to pair with it:
The most obvious s’more and beverage pairing is s’more and campfire coffee, but why not combine the two? Drizzle or dunk your s’more in a little espresso or coffee liqueur for a touch of sweet java bitterness. You can even pre-soak your marshmallows before toasting them so the coffee flavor is pre-infused! Pour a glass of sweet red blend that’ll complement the s’more’s mocha flavors without overpowering them.
Ingredients: Chocolate graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, white chocolate, drizzle of espresso or coffee liqueur
What to pair with it:
If the dense, sugary sweet flavors of a traditional s’more never appealed to you, this s’more recipe is specifically for you. Swap the milk chocolate for a lighter white chocolate and add toasted coconut flakes and a grilled pineapple slice. You’ll still get the smoky, caramelized flavors of the campfire with a vibrant, tropical twist. Sip a slightly sparkling Moscato d’Asti with it for a wine that’s just as fun, fruity and bright as the s’more itself.
Ingredients: Graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, white chocolate, toasted coconut flakes, pineapple slice
What to pair with it:
This last one is a bit of a wild card, but hear us out: savory s’more? Yeah, savory s’more. We’re thinking buttery, lightly salted crackers bookending layers of toasted marshmallow, fig jam and a thin slice of creamy, melty brie. You could even get crazy and wrap a sprig of rosemary around your marshmallow while it toasts to add some smoked, herbal flavor.
Pair it with an earthy pinot noir to ground the creamy brie and sweet fig in muted fruity notes. Trust us, this one is about to be the talk of the fire pit.
Ingredients: Graham cracker or butter cracker, toasted marshmallow, brie slice, fig jam
What to pair with it:
