The answer is always yes. Here’s what to sip while you slurp.

Love soup? We’re with you. Tucking into a steaming bowl of goodness is one of life’s simple pleasures, whether it’s a spicy laksa, fragrant pho or some invention to use up all the sad, forgotten veggies at the bottom of the crisper. Whatever the soup, this is a nourishing and comforting meal that somehow always feels like it’s doing you good. We’re big fans. And to go with it? Wine might not be the first drink you reach for when soup is on the menu, but the right vino can really complete the experience.

There’s no one-wine-fits-all here, with a few considerations to nail the pairing. One of the big ones is a soup’s texture, which can determine the type of body, or weight, of the wine to go with it. If a soup is rich and creamy, a fuller-bodied wine should be called in for the job. Same goes for lighter soups and broths – they need lighter, more delicate wines that won’t get in the way of the dish. Of course, flavour will always play a major role in any pairing, whether that’s a like-for-like match or a contrasting one. And if your go-to soup is packed with spice, especially chilli, then steer clear of bone-dry wine styles.

The best way to nail a food and wine pairing is to first mix and match your preferred styles to see what you like best. But we can’t help getting involved, so we’ve listed some of our favourite soup and wine combinations below so you can pick and choose.

Creamy pumpkin soup on the stovetop with a glass of white wine

1. Creamy pumpkin soup with grüner veltliner

If you ask us (we’re gonna tell you anyway), the key to a great pumpkin soup lies in its consistency. Whether it’s big on onion, extra sweet from roasted pumpkin, or has a bunch of spices thrown in, this classic soup is versatile and super satisfying. If you like your pumpkin soup so thick that the spoon almost stands up in it, look for a weighty, textural white like fiano. But for your everyday creamy pumpkin soup, grüner veltliner is a great pick. If you can find the Billy Button Grüner Veltliner, it will play off the taste and texture of this dish perfectly. Otherwise, seek out the Longview Grüner, which is dry and lightly spiced with excellent acidity to match the soup nicely.

2. Laksa with rosé

Creamy and spicy, this Malaysian specialty is full of all sorts of tasty treats, like crispy fried tofu and, depending on your preference, prawns, chicken or veggies, plus two types of noodles. It’s all so beautifully aromatic and spicy, this is no boring old soup. With so much going on in this bowl of tricks, we love it with that over-achieving all-rounder, rosé. Pink wines that are fresh and vibrant with ripe berry flavours are right at home next to laksa, and that’s what you’ll get in the Jim Barry Rosé. Those traits will help to lift the chilli and creamy factor, creating a refreshing match.

3. French onion soup with chardonnay

No shade to the humble packet of French onion soup (we love it in dips and old-school chicken casseroles), but here, we’re talking about le real deal. Traditionally, this is a rich soup of caramelised brown onion that gets topped with bread covered in creamy melted cheese – usually Gruyere. It’s a soup with a big personality, and various reds could fit well (gamay or an earthy pinot noir are just two), but we especially love it with chardy. One with bright flavours, freshness and a touch of oak is bang on, like the Yering Station Yarra Chardonnay. This will complement the soup nicely while cutting through all that richness.

4. Beef pho with pinot noir

You might not often take a bottle of wine to your local pho joint, but we think it’s time you start. If you’re team beef when it comes to pho, you’ll be all about those rich star anise aromas and that moreish savoury broth. Whether you pile your bowl high with bean shoots and herbs or keep it simple with a dollop of hoisin and fresh chilli, this dish is crying out for a pinot noir. A soft, delicate, bright-fruited style works a treat here as it will counter those deep, layered flavours. Head to your local Vietnamese with the Nepenthe Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir tucked under your arm, and you’ll be glad you did.

A bowl of beef pho with a glass of pinot noir

5. Tom yum with riesling

Another contender for best spicy Asian soup, tom yum is one of Thailand’s greatest dishes. This hot and sour dish is often served as a starter, so one of the best things about serving it with riesling is that this wine will shine with the dishes that follow. That’s because chilli and riesling – especially those with a lick of sweetness – are a perfect pair; the wine offsets the spicy kick and lightens the load. Whether you like your tom yum with chicken, prawns or veg, you can’t go wrong with the Dr Loosen Bernkasteler Lay Kabinett Riesling. It’s one of the great off-dry styles but with a steely acidity that stops it from tasting like a sweet wine.

6. Minestrone with sangiovese

Thick and dense, traditional minestrone is seriously hearty, with a tomato base that’s loaded with bacon, veg, kidney beans and pasta. It’s the best dish to serve anyone who claims soup never fills them up, ideally with a doorstop of good bread to mop it up. For this pairing, we’re going with a sangiovese, which will meet all those flavours in the best way. With acidity a feature of both the tomato and sangiovese, the two make a classic match, and this medium-bodied red’s herbal, sour cherry and savoury notes will bring the combo home. Pour a glass of the Pizzini Nonna Gisella Sangiovese with your next bowl of minestrone and see for yourself.

7. Ramen with pinot gris

There are various ways to go with a wine for ramen, mostly because there are so many styles of this Japanese noodle soup, not to mention endless regional twists. But when we think ramen, we think tonkotsu – the deliciously cloudy pork-based broth, served simply with noodles, a jammy boiled egg, a couple of slices of pork and some spring onion on top. To complement all of that, a pinot gris is our pick. A little richer than pinot grigio, gris often has a little fruit sweetness on the finish. You can find that in the Squealing Pig Pinot Gris, which will balance out the intensity of this savoury soup.