Taste may be everything here, but food and wine pairing need not be rocket science. Use these simple guidelines to pair confidently!
Similar food and wine flavors complement each other.
Example: Sole with lemon sauce and Sauvignon Blanc both have citrus flavors.
Similarly weighted food and wine complement each other. Food and wine can be light, medium or heavy-bodied.
Example: Lobster and Chardonnay are both medium-weight and rich so they complement each other.
Wine should be equal to or higher in sugar than the dish.
Example: Roasted pork with apple glaze pairs beautifully with Sauvignon Blanc.
Crisp wines balance salty flavors.
Example: A crisp Sauvignon Blanc balances salty olives and feta cheese.
Pair the wine to the sauce served.
Example: Light citrus sauces pair with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Example: Heavy cream and mushroom sauces are ideal with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Example: Red and meat sauces match Merlot, Cabernet and Petit Verdot.
Match wine to meat, fish or poultry when serving without a sauce.
Example: Pinot Noir tastes great with duck.
Sweeter wines offer relief from spicy foods.
Example: Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with Asian cuisines.
Tannic wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon cut through the coating that fat leaves in the mouth.
Example: Cabernet pairs great with steak.
Nature has color-coded fruit and vegetables with the wine best suited to their flavors. Light wines – light foods; deeply colored wines – rich foods.
Example: Sauvignon Blanc is pale yellow and pairs well with citrus.
Like sweetness, wine should be equal to, or higher, in acid than the dish.
Example: Pinot Noir matches well with tomato tapenade.
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