The Best Wine to Pair with Iceland's Famous Hot Dogs
Some foods are indelibly linked with beer. Pizza, burgers, barbecue. Of course, you can come up with other matches, some of which are probably better than beer. And, yes, good pairings are in the mouth of the beholder. But there’s probably no beverage more closely associated with hotdogs than beer.
Why Iceland's Hot Dogs Are Unlike Any Other
When in Iceland, as I was with my family recently, do as the Icelanders do: Eat their famous hotdogs, and lots of them. The primary ingredient in Icelandic hotdogs is lamb. (Fun fact: There are nearly twice as many sheep living on this pile of volcanic rocks than humans.) This makes their dog distinct from beef or pork versions.
Beer is indeed a nice match, but I thought about what wine style(s) might complement this must-have food item when visiting this starkly beautiful place. If you have no idea what Iceland looks like and are too uninterested or lazy to Google it, imagine some combination of middle-earth and Mars. There is a great deal of lush, rolling pastureland, which, ironically, isn’t particularly conducive to growing anything other than grasses, lots of craggy, impossibly steep mountains, rock formations that seemingly tell stories, jagged coastlines, waterfalls great and small, swamplands that breed swarms of annoyingly ubiquitous midges, and on and on.
Beer Isn't the Only Answer
This isn’t to say that wine has been an afterthought to those who consume various forms of tubular meat. Germans, Austrians, Alsatians, Italians from Trentino-Alto Adige are not just beer drinkers, after all. But here in the United States, I’d bet the house that 90% (or more) of the alcohol used to wash down a bunned or unbunned dog, dressed or otherwise (more on that below), is beer.
Taking a cue from our Teutonic friends, who have longed matched wine with fatty links, Riesling is an obvious choice. (For a look into Riesling’s various styles, check out Riesling Explained: A Guide to Styles, Regions and What Makes This White Wine So Unique) More than one style of Riesling works with hotdogs (and other sausage styles) for different reasons.
The Best Wines to Pair with Icelandic Hot Dogs
Dry Riesling works because of the grape’s inherent acidity resulting in a palate cleanser and refresher with each luscious bite. Off-dry works as well because the sweetness mimics the sweetness of the dog, especially if you order “one with everything.” The “everything” consists of shots of remoulade, sweet brown mustard, ketchup, and raw and crispy white onions. That’s a mouthful! And these lovelies can literally be had everywhere from gas stations (don’t judge) to stand-alone stands. Yes, some are better than others—perhaps more snap in the skin or a better version of the remoulade—but just as there are truly no bad dogs (only malfeasant owners) there are no bad Icelandic hotdogs.
When to Choose Dry, Off-Dry or Sparkling Wines
If you choose to go bare, as I do from time to time (though I’m actually happiest with a heaping amount of raw onions and no other distractions), I would pair a dry white (no oak, thank you very much) with some body, such as Vouvray, Southern Rhône (though some are oaked, but that oak is often much used and essentially inert), or maybe a sparkler.
Skip the Reds (Most of the Time)
As for reds, yes, you can, but perhaps in this case, discretion is the better part of valor. Reds, even the meekest, are, I think, just too themselves to be anything but the dominant partner in the relationship. While that may work for some in their amorous lives, it most certainly does not when it comes to food and wine marriages.
Also, 88 the Sauvignon Blancs, regardless of where they’re from. Too grassy or too citric or too Kiwi (no offense to my friends from the other land down under!).
So, let the general guidelines be if your condiment skews sweet, try to match that level of sweetness with the wine. And remember, that doesn’t have to mean on a strict residual sugar basis. Fruit-forward ripeness acts the same way. It’s just a different, more subtle type of sweetness. If somewhat unadorned, go dry with a bit of body or maybe a bit of that perceived sweetness to match the richness of the dog. Keep in mind that your mustard of choice can be a game changer because mustard styles are all over the place, from dry and tangy to rich and sweet to fiery hot (in that case give an Alsace Gewürztraminer a try; these wines love heat).
Hotdog!