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From sturdy steak pies to mash-topped fish pies and all the veg and vegan versions in between, us Brits are known for our love of a piping hot pie, and what better way to celebrate our potted penchant than British Pie Week, which this year runs from 7 to 13 March 2022.
Started as a marketing campaign by readymade pastry stalwarts Jus-Rol in 2007, British Pie Week has become well-promoted by pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and other pie-purveyors, with the first week of March seeing a host of recipe ideas and promotions on pie purchases across the nation.
Whether you are popping out for a pub pie or hunkering down at home to whip up a chunky creation of your own, we all know pies pair perfectly with mash or chips, but what alcoholic drinks go best with a pie?
It is, of course, a matter of personal preference but also depends on the type of pie you’re talking about, according to Fiona Beckett, award-winning food and wine writer and one of the world’s leading experts on food and drink matching.
Steak pies with gravy
Fiona says: Almost always better with a strong ale or porter.
We suggest: Match the malt notes of a porter with Lyme Bay Blackbeer & Raisin wine – a sweet, full flavoured dark wine with a rich, malty flavour and sherry like character.
Steak pies with red wine sauce
Fiona says: Any full-bodied red.
We suggest: Switch a red wine for our full-bodied Sloe Wine, served at room temperature, for a succulent and smooth taste with a long-lasting, mellow finish.
Chicken pies with a creamy filling
Fiona says: I’d go for an unoaked or subtly oaked Chardonnay, old vine Chenin Blanc or any other smooth dry white. Cider and perry also work well with chicken pies.
We suggest: Our WineGB gold medal-winning 2020 Chardonnay – an elegant English Dry White Wine combining notes of creamy apples and stone fruit with subtle creaminess of oak.
Or how about a smooth-finishing cider? Our Jack Ratt Dry Vintage Cider is still filtered and full-bodied with a rich, apple tannin aroma and a long, smooth finish.
Pies with a tomatoey filling
Fiona says: Whatever the other ingredients I generally find cooked tomato works better with wine than with beer.
We suggest: Lyme Bay Bacchus Block 2020. Its intense and powerful grapefruit freshness, broad tropical-fruit notes and herbal undertones end with a long, citrus-dominated finish.
Cheese and spinach pies
Fiona says: With a light vegetarian pie I generally prefer crisp whites such as Sauvignon Blanc but a light red would be delicious too.
We suggest: Meet in the middle with a rosé. Lyme Bay Shoreline Rosé 2019 is our light, juicy and balanced English Rosé Wine made from pinot noir, pinot précose, and dornfelder grapes.
Fish pies
Fiona says: Pair with the same sort of wines as creamy chicken pies.
We suggest: Lyme Bay Shoreline 2020. Its balanced crisp acidity with a palate of lemon, hints of lime and a background note of nettle make it an excellent match for seafood dishes.
Cold pies
Fiona says: With a classic pork pie I’d always go for an English bitter. A cold game pie however is a great match for a good red burgundy or Pinot Noir.
We suggest: Lyme Bay Winery Pinot Noir 2020. Made from the best fruit available in the UK and aged in 30% new oak, this unique English Red wine displays a complex and intense array of black cherries, raspberries and bramble fruit, underpinned by subtle toasty oak.
For more of Fiona’s expert food and wine pairing suggestions, check out her website at https://www.matchingfoodandwine.com
Order from our friendly team
We are always delighted to see you here at our Winery shop here in Shute, near Axminster in Devon so do pop in if you are passing, or get in touch with our friendly team here at the Winery via email at [email protected] or by calling us on 01297 551355 if you’d like to order by phone. We aim to dispatch orders received before 2pm the next working day – with free delivery for all orders over £45.
In the meantime you can keep in touch with us via our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, and let us know your favourite pie-and-tipple pairings.
