Drinks with Healthy Soups
Spicy chicken, bok choy and noodle soup
Olly’s wine pairing: Casa Benasal Gewurztraminer Moscatel Valencia 2021 (12.5%) £8.95, thewinesociety.com
I love everything about this wine, including the price. Tropical, exotic and fragrant, it has all the aromatics to embrace the spiciness of this soup, and the taste is spectacular. This is a Spanish blend from a vineyard putting biodiversity first – so grab it for your fridge.
Beetroot, apple and parsnip soup with blue cheese
Olly’s wine pairing: Lucky Saint Lager (0.5%, 330ml) £1.50, Waitrose
A lager works a treat with beetroot soup and this very low alcohol option is a regular in my fridge. It has that classic lager taste, but minus the booze – a difference barely noticeable. With just 53 kcals, this is a remarkable find, and at the introductory price of £1.50, I’d buy a stash before it goes up to the regular price of £1.80.
Chunky minestrone with wild rice
Olly’s wine pairing: Piccini Memoro NV (14%) £8, reduced to £6.50, Sainsbury’s
Clever stuff this, it’s a red wine made with partially dried grapes, delivering lots of fruity and indeed fruitcake intensity with sensational silkiness. It’s also bafflingly good value for money. Pair with chunky minestrone for a delightfully magical match.
Creamy lentil soup with sweet potatoes and sprouts
Olly’s wine pairing: Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fruits Sauvages’ Chardonnay (13.5%) £9.99, Majestic
With a textural creaminess, this wine tastes like fine white Burgundy on a budget. A lovely pairing with creamy lentil soup, it’s a taste sensation.
