Grandmother Josephine's Irish Soda Bread + the Pairings That Honor Every Humble, Heartfelt Slice

A Shades of Vino Club Recipe | Submitted by Kathleen, in honor of her grandmother Josephine

Some recipes are more than recipes. They are acts of remembrance.

Kathleen is a proud member of our Shades of Vino Club — and the recipe she brought to our 2026 Summer Shades of Vino Collection belongs to her grandmother Josephine. A classic Irish Soda Bread — dense and tender, fragrant with caraway seeds, studded with raisins, brushed with egg yolk until golden — with a cross scored into the top to let the devil out. It is a bread that has been made in Irish kitchens for generations, and in Josephine's kitchen for a lifetime.

Served with freshly whipped butter, it is truly comforting. And we found two wines that honor every humble, heartfelt slice.

The Recipe: Grandmother Josephine's Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread is one of the great quick breads of the world — leavened not with yeast but with the chemical reaction between buttermilk and baking soda, which gives it a tender, slightly tangy crumb and a dense, satisfying texture. The caraway seeds add an earthy, anise-like warmth. The raisins add sweetness and chew. And the cross scored into the top — a tradition as old as the bread itself — lets the heat penetrate the center and, as Josephine would say, lets the devil out.

Ingredients

• 4 cups sifted flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons caraway seeds
• ¼ cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• A little milk, if needed
• 1 egg yolk, slightly beaten (for brushing)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 1-quart casserole dish.
2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in caraway seeds.
3. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
4. Stir in raisins.
5. In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk, egg, and baking soda. Let stand for 1–2 minutes.
6. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just moistened. If the batter is too dry, add a little milk.
7. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board. Knead lightly until smooth. Shape into a ball.
8. With a sharp knife, make a four-inch cross, ¼ inch deep, on top of the dough — to let the devil out.
9. Place in the prepared casserole. Brush the top with the slightly beaten egg yolk.
10. Bake for 1 hour, or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
11. Cool in the casserole for 5 minutes. Remove to a rack and cool well before slicing.
12. Serve with freshly whipped butter.

Makes: 1 round loaf | Total Time: ~1.5 hours | Difficulty: Easy

The Wine Pairing: What Do You Drink with Irish Soda Bread?

Irish Soda Bread is a beautifully humble pairing opportunity — and one that rewards thoughtful choices. The bread is earthy, slightly tangy, gently sweet from the raisins, and warmly spiced from the caraway seeds. You want pairings that complement those flavors without overwhelming the bread's quiet, comforting character.

We chose two pairings that approach this bread from completely different angles — one that brings celebratory bubbles and fruit-forward warmth, one that brings flinty minerality and earthy depth. Both are extraordinary companions for a bread this steeped in tradition.

🍾 Primary Pairing: NV Browne Family "Do Epic Sh*t" Sparkling

A sparkling wine with Irish Soda Bread? When that bread is fragrant with caraway, studded with raisins, and brushed with golden egg yolk — absolutely yes. The NV Browne Family "Do Epic Sh*t" Sparkling American Méthode Champenoise from New Mexico is a wine that brings joy to every table it lands on — and this table is no exception.

• Fruit and nutty flavors in the sparkling complement the savory, earthy character of the soda bread — the raisins, the caraway, the golden crust — creating a pairing that feels both surprising and inevitable.
• Lively bubbles cut through the density of the bread, refreshing the palate between bites and making the whole experience feel lighter and more celebratory.
• Clean, bright finish balances the subtle sweetness of the raisins and the tang of the buttermilk crumb, leaving you ready for another slice — with more butter.

At $24.99, this is a sparkling wine that delivers genuine celebration at an accessible price. Made in the traditional Champagne method from New Mexico — one of America's most underappreciated wine regions — it's a bottle that honors the spirit of this recipe: humble ingredients, extraordinary results.

This wine is part of our 2026 Summer Shades of Vino Collection →

➡️ Shop the NV Browne Family "Do Epic Sh*t" Sparkling →

🥂 Secondary Pairing: 2024 L’Ecole Old Vines Chenin

For a pairing that leans into the bread's earthiness and quiet depth, the L’Ecole Old Vines Chenin is a revelation.

The 2024 L’Ecole Old Vines Chenin from Yakima Valley, Washington is a Chenin Blanc from one of the Pacific Northwest's most exciting wine regions — and it's a natural companion for a bread built on earthy, mineral flavors.

• Flinty minerality echoes the earthiness of the caraway seeds and the dense, rustic crumb of the soda bread — creating a connection between the glass and the loaf that feels deeply satisfying.
• Bright acidity cuts through the richness of the whipped butter, keeping every bite feeling clean and fresh rather than heavy.
• Stone fruit and honeyed notes complement the sweetness of the raisins, adding a layer of aromatic complexity that makes the pairing more interesting with every sip.

At $23, this is a Chenin Blanc that delivers extraordinary value — and it comes with a story worth telling: L’Ecole is female co-owned, a Washington State producer whose work on the Yakima Valley AVA is a testament to what women bring to the world of fine wine. Every bottle is a celebration of that legacy.

This wine is part of our 2026 Summer Shades of Vino Collection →

➡️ Shop the 2024 L’Ecole Old Vines Chenin →

The Bigger Picture: The Tradition of Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread is one of the most democratic breads in the world. It requires no yeast, no long rise, no special equipment. It was born of necessity — developed in Ireland in the 19th century when baking soda became widely available and provided a fast, reliable way to leaven bread without the time or resources required for yeast-based loaves.

But what began as a bread of necessity became a bread of tradition. Every Irish family has their version — with or without raisins, with or without caraway seeds, round or rectangular, scored with a cross or not. And every version carries the memory of the hands that made it.

Josephine's version — with caraway seeds, raisins, buttermilk, and that four-inch cross scored into the top — is a bread that has been made with love for generations. Kathleen brought it to our table, and we are honored to share it with yours.

At The Wine Concierge, we believe that a bread this steeped in heritage deserves pairings that are just as thoughtful. A New Mexico sparkling wine and a female co-owned Washington Chenin Blanc — two bottles that bring their own stories to a table already rich with history.

Wine Pairing Tips for Breads & Savory Baked Goods

Breads are one of the most underrated wine pairing opportunities. Here's how to think about it:

• Bubbles love bread: Sparkling wines have a natural affinity for baked goods — the acidity and effervescence cut through the density and complement the yeasty, toasty flavors.
• Minerality echoes earthiness: Wines with a flinty, mineral character — like the L’Ecole Chenin — create a beautiful connection with earthy, rustic breads like Irish Soda Bread.
• Match the occasion: A quiet afternoon with tea calls for the Chenin — contemplative, mineral, and deeply satisfying. A celebration calls for the sparkling — joyful and effervescent.
• Don’t forget the butter: Whipped butter adds richness that benefits from wines with good acidity. Both of these pairings deliver.
• Serve at the right temperature: The Chenin is best well chilled (around 46–50°F). The sparkling is best very cold (around 42–46°F).

For more pairing inspiration, explore our Essential Food & Wine Pairing Guide and our David's Sour Cream Coffee Cake + the Pairings That Turn Every Slice into a Moment for more baked good pairing ideas from this series.

Join the Club That Inspired This Recipe

Grandmother Josephine's Irish Soda Bread came to us through Kathleen — a Shades of Vino Club member who honored her grandmother's memory by sharing this recipe with our community. The Shades of Vino Club is a community of home cooks and wine lovers who bring their whole stories to the table. Members receive curated bottles, exclusive recipes like this one, and a community that makes wine feel like it was always meant for them.

Ready to explore what's in the glass this season? Browse the 2026 Summer Shades of Vino Collection — every bottle curated for the season and ready to ship.

➡️ Explore The Wine Concierge Club →

And remember: Free shipping on 6 bottles or more. Grab both pairings and make it a proper occasion. 🍷