Cooking For Engineers

es · Guest

i've googled this topic, and surprisingly, i haven't found much detailed info. most recipes call for dry, so i've used chardonnay, but i saw riesling and sauvignon blanc mentioned as well. i typically use the cheapest chardonnay i can get, usually 3.99 a bottle. but my last batch didn't taste very good, definitely due to the wine i used. i'd love to hear from others who can recommend which wine to use that is relatively inexpensive yet yields a good taste.

GaryProtein · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 535

If you want your fondue to taste good, you have to use a wine you would be satisfied to drink. I think only high school kids drink $3.99 wine. Teasing

If you are going to the trouble of making a cheese fondue, the wine is only a small part of the time, cost and effort. Any of the types of wine you mentioned would be good. I have a sweet tooth when it comes to fondue, so the Riesling would be good for me.

iBeer · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 1

I've tried a few different cheese fondues, and I've never been able to find one that I like that invovles wine - it always comes out too 'puckering'. But that is only my tastes though.
My favourite cheese fondue recipe however is an Italian Cheese Fondue, and it SOOOOO good:

1 lbs of Mozorella Cheese
1 cup diced tomatoes (spiced if possible)
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp tobasco

Put the diced tomatoes through a food processor. In a double boiler, mix and melt all the ingredients

Keep the temp low in the fondue pot, and dip 1 inch slices of french bread ...

My mouth is watering already, I think I'll have to make some up in the next few days!

Taamar · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 52

I wouldn't use chardonnay, just because of the oakiness. An unoaked chard sounds pretty good, though. I generally use white port because it can be stored indefinately.

cloud_swift · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Northern California

I prefer to use a dry Riesling. Dry chardonay is fine but I like the flavor better with riesling. Also, that style of wine would be more what is traditional in fondue.

For a more specific recommendation, we have been using Trefethen Estate Riesling for fondue.

It is important to use a wine you like drinking because a lot of the flavor comes through in the fondue.