Chipotle Cheddar Dip & Garnacha

A creamy, slightly spicy chip dip with an unexpectedly delicious wine pairing.

Jul 09, 2025

We’re back with more Wine & Dip, and HOLY CHIPOTLE this one is good. Easy, creamy, smoky, slightly spicy chipotle cheddar dip paired with a lightly chilled, bold, and juicy Spanish Garnacha.

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Fun fact: I actually made this a year ago. I was reminded of it by good old Google photos memories, and allll the memories came back. I filmed this about a month before Josie was born. I thought I had way more time to edit the ridiculous amount of content I was filming while 8 months pregnant, but baby girl came 3 weeks early! This ended up being the first video I posted postpartum. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, puffy, and just overall a mess. But I missed creating, and absolutely loved this pairing, so I had to share it! Side note: This also means that Josie is almost 1!! What in the world.

Back to it: Let’s talk about this PAIRING though

I went with the Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha - a lovely Garnacha that’s rich, juicy, absolutely packed with flavour, and just perfect with this dip! Especially with a bit of a chill on it. This specific Garnacha has 15% ABV (super high alcohol), and while I usually steer clear of high alcohol wines with spicier foods, sometimes it’s fun to break the rules!

By chilling the wine, the alcohol is slightly tempered (so it doesn’t set your mouth on fire with the chipotle), and the wine seems overall fresher, which makes it that much better of a palate cleanser between bites! Why not just go with a lighter red with lower alcohol? You could, and I’m sure it would still be awesome. BUT this dip is rich in flavour and texture, so it could overwhelm a lighter wine. A bold Garnacha like this one has both the flavour complexity and the rich mouthfeel (which is in big part due to the alcohol content) to match all the rich deliciousness that this dip has to offer.

To bring it home, the smoky chipotle flavour matches the wine’s smokey oak flavours, and the fat from the sour cream and cheddar helps to soften the wines tannins for a smooth and beautiful finish. Perfection? YUP.

RECIPE: Chipotle Cheddar Dip

Tools

Ingredients

For the dip

1 can (186ml) of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped (I used La Costena) *NOTE: Set aside a tablespoon or two of peppers for the garnish if desired.
1 cup full fat sour cream
1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated (reserve ~ 1/4 cup for topping)
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tsp maple syrup

Garnish

Reserved chopped chipotle peppers
Reserved grated cheddar cheese
Fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl, then transfer to your dip dish of choice.
Garnish with reserved chipotle peppers, cheddar cheese, and fresh cilantro leaves.
Serve with salted tortilla chips and a lightly chilled Garnacha! *To chill it perfectly, refrigerate it for 30 minutes before serving! If it’s already in the fridge, let it warm up for 30-45 minutes).