By Becky Hardin
Updated Jul 29, 2025
I love making fondue , especially this easy white wine fondue—it’s cheesy, cozy, and always a hit. I use a blend of Swiss and Gouda (my go-to combo) with a splash of white wine to bring it all together. It’s my favorite kind of appetizer, and honestly, I can never have too much melted cheese in my life!
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Easy White Wine Fondue Recipe
I am a huge cheese lover, and I love that this super easy white wine fondue is made in minutes and checks all the boxes for a simple and delicious appetizer. I just need cheese, garlic, wine, and some seasonings, and I’ve got one yummy treat on my hands. I could honestly chow down on it myself, that’s how much I love cheese!
If gouda and Swiss aren’t your thing, you can swap them out for fontina, gruyère, comté, emmental, raclette, vacherin, or cheddar cheese. Mix multiple kinds of cheese together and play with the proportions to get the perfect mix for your tastes. Just be sure to use 16 ounces total.
Tips for Beginners
- USDA guidelines dictate that any dish containing alcohol should be simmered for at least 2½ hours to remove all of the alcohol. I do not recommend feeding this fondue to children.
- Don’t omit the cornstarch, as it helps to further stabilize the cheese and thickens the fondue as it cooks. Without it, your fondue may turn out runny.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 cup white wine I used Chardonnay, but Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris also work
- ▢ ¼ cup cornstarch
- ▢ 12 oz. shredded or cubed gouda cheese*
- ▢ 4 oz. shredded or cubed Swiss cheese
- ▢ 1 tbsp dry cooking sherry
- ▢ kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ▢ 2 tbsp minced fresh basil
Video
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, sauté the garlic over medium heat until translucent and fragrant, about 2 minutes. 2 cloves garlic
- Add the white wine and stir to combine. 1 cup white wine
- Add in the cornstarch, both cheeses, cooking Sherry, and salt and pepper. Use a whisk to stir and combine fully as the cheese melts. Stir continuously to make sure you don’t burn the cheese. ¼ cup cornstarch, 12 oz. shredded or cubed gouda cheese*, 4 oz. shredded or cubed Swiss cheese, 1 tbsp dry cooking sherry, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Stir in the basil. If the fondue is too thick, add a bit more wine. If too thin, add a bit more cheese. 2 tbsp minced fresh basil
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. Use crostini, bread cubes, apples, veggies, or chips as dippers.
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make White Wine Fondue Step by Step
Cook garlic: In a small saucepan, sauté 2 cloves garlic over medium heat until translucent and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup white wine and stir to combine.
Add cheese: Add in ¼ cup cornstarch, 12 oz. shredded or cubed gouda cheese, 4 oz. shredded or cubed Swiss cheese, 1 tbsp dry cooking sherry, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use a whisk to stir and combine fully as the cheese melts. Stir continuously to make sure you don’t burn the cheese.
Add basil: Stir in 2 tbsp basil. If the fondue is too thick, add a bit more wine. If too thin, add a bit more cheese.
Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately. Use crostini, bread cubes, apples, veggies, or chips as dippers.
How to Store
This white wine fondue needs to be served immediately so the cheese is gooey and easy to dip in. You can keep it warm for a little while, but on a low heat so that the cheese doesn’t burn. Whenever possible, make it as close to serving as you can.
Store leftover white wine fondue in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a saucepan set over medium-low heat until warmed through.
To freeze white wine fondue, let cool to room temperature or chill in the refrigerator until hard. Once hard, cut into chunks and place in an airtight container or Ziplock bag to freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
The hardest part when making this easy white wine fondue is deciding what to use as dippers. There are so many delicious options. I chose to dip crostini and celery sticks, but you could use any number of things, from cubed bread to apples, veggies, or even tortilla chips . For a full meal, I like to dip poached chicken , hearty grilled steak , and even air fryer shrimp .
more cheesy dips we love
Velveeta Queso Recipe (Rotel Dip)
Beer Cheese Dip (Only 4 Ingredients)
Goat Cheese Dip with Tomatoes and Herbs
Smoky Blue Cheese Dip Recipe
White Wine Fondue Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup white wine I used Chardonnay, but Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris also work
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 12 oz. shredded or cubed gouda cheese*
- 4 oz. shredded or cubed Swiss cheese
- 1 tbsp dry cooking sherry
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp minced fresh basil
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, sauté the garlic over medium heat until translucent and fragrant, about 2 minutes. 2 cloves garlic
- Add the white wine and stir to combine. 1 cup white wine
- Add in the cornstarch, both cheeses, cooking Sherry, and salt and pepper. Use a whisk to stir and combine fully as the cheese melts. Stir continuously to make sure you don’t burn the cheese. ¼ cup cornstarch, 12 oz. shredded or cubed gouda cheese*, 4 oz. shredded or cubed Swiss cheese, 1 tbsp dry cooking sherry, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Stir in the basil. If the fondue is too thick, add a bit more wine. If too thin, add a bit more cheese. 2 tbsp minced fresh basil
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. Use crostini, bread cubes, apples, veggies, or chips as dippers.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
