By John Bruno Turiano
The fall pie season is in full swing, so we enlisted Harrison Wine Vault’s founder and owner, Anthony D’Aprino, to suggest the best complementary dessert wines. It’s that time of year to slice and sip!
​D’Aprino: Granted apple pie comes in so many different styles, but when pairing an apple pie—which emphasizes fruit rather than heavy spices—the Boundry Break Late Harvest Riesling is a winner. It starts with a wonderful intensity of stone fruits and honey that play well with the fresh apples found in the pie. A second sip reveals how the acidity enhances the pie’s fruit.
​D’Aprino: Sauternes have a beautiful sweetness to them that pairs well with the soft richness of pumpkin pie. I chose the 1997 Suideriut because it is a Sauterne with age; it’s full-bodied with a light honeyed sweetness and good acidity. The richness of this Sauterne was able to compete with the many flavors and spices in traditional pumpkin pie.
D’Aprino: Pecan is a serious pie and needs to be paired with something substantial. The New York Malmsey demonstrates why Madeira should be included on everyone’s table at dessert. The Malmsey explodes from the glass with unbelievable aromatics of coffee and toffee. The Malmsey’s pure power stands up to all the nutty, gooey richness that a pecan pie can throw at it.
D’Aprino: I have to admit this pairing is almost like cheating, but I needed to include it because it’s so exceptional. Velenosi Visciole or cherry wine is made with 30 percent cherries. The sour cherries soak in sugar and go through fermentation before being added to the fresh wine. Fresh cherry and blueberry notes jump from the glass. The underlying acidity in this wine makes this a pairing that is just too good not to recommend.
D’Aprino: Drinking Port with any sweet dessert is a no-brainer, especially desserts with chocolate in them. The bright rich fruit of this Ruby Port matches well with the creamy pudding-like texture of the pie. This full-bodied Ruby Port has flavors of black-cherry and chocolate, which enhance the flavors of the pie as well as the overall dessert experience.
To purchase any of these wines, Harrison Wine Vault is located at 289 Halstead Ave, Harrison (914) 835-0125; www.harrisonwinevault.com
Looking for more dessert ideas? Check out our fall desserts guide.
