Food and Wine Pairing Basics
There are some basic rules to successfully matching food and wine. The first being, always drink what you love and the second being that you don't want the wine to overwhelm the flavors of the food nor do you want the food to take over the subtle flavor nuances of the wine. Here are some very basic guidelines to pairing your food perfectly with wine:
Matching Weights
This sounds complicated, but it's really very simple. When pairing up food and wine, start by matching the weight of the wine to the weight of the food. Heavier wines like Cabernet and Bordeaux should be paired with heavier (heartier) dishes. Light wines like Pinot Grigio and Riesling should be matched with lighter fare.
Matching Textures
Sweet and spicy dishes accentuate the acidity, astringency and tannic qualities, often referred to as texture of any given wine. Foods high in acids or salt content, tend to dull the textures of wine, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. What you're looking for when pairing food and wine is a delicate balance between the flavors of the wine and the flavors of the food.
When matching textures of food with wine, think about what you want the wine to do to the food and vice versa. For example, if you want to bring out the tannins in a Cabernet, serve it with a sweeter or spicier dish. If you think the tannins in the Cab you plan on serving are too "big", cut them down a bit by serving it with a dish that is a bit salty and bitter.
When matching textures of food with wine, think about what you want the wine to do to the food and vice versa. For example, if you want to bring out the tannins in a Cabernet, serve it with a sweeter or spicier dish. If you think the tannins in the Cab you plan on serving are too "big", cut them down a bit by serving it with a dish that is a bit salty and bitter.
Easy Food Wine Pairing Chart
The following food wine pairing charts are by no means comprehensive, there are just so many great pairings! Think of them more as a jumping off point to help you plan your wine and food menu for your next get together.
The Reds
Consider the following match ups for red wines:
Red Varietal
|
Appetizers
|
Main Course
|
Dessert
|
|---|---|---|---|
Cabernet Sauvignon
|
Carpacio, pungent cheeses
|
Beef, duck, lamb, lentils
|
Dark and bittersweet chocolate
|
Merlot
|
Antipasto, aged cheeses
|
Veal, sausage, salmon, tuna, eggplant
|
Raspberry, cherry or other dark berry desserts
|
Zinfandel
|
Seared Ahi tuna, spicy chicken or beef satay
|
Barbeque, tomato sauce, spicy sausage, duck and beef
|
Dark berry desserts, carrot cake
|
Pinot Noir
|
Creamy cheeses, pate's, roasted vegetables
|
Veal, chicken, turkey, lean cuts of beef, lamb
|
Berry tart, flourless chocolate cake, crème brulee
|
Syrah
|
Bruschetta, stuffed mushrooms, tampenade
|
Ham, lamb, pasta with tomato sauce, pizza, barbeque
|
Cherry pie, chocolate mousse
|
The Whites
Here are some pairing suggestions for white wines:
White Varietal
|
Appetizers
|
Main Course
|
Dessert
|
|---|---|---|---|
Chardonnay
|
Scallops, crudite, hummus, mild cheeses
|
Chicken, cream based sauces, pork and seafood
|
Cheesecake, poached light fruit
|
Sauvignon Blanc
|
Oysters, crab cakes, wild mushroom and goat cheese bruschetta
|
Sea bass, lobster, langoustines, chicken, shrimp
|
Sorbet, key lime pie, lemon meringue pie
|
Pinot Grigio
|
Ceviche, ahi tuna tartare, antipasto
|
Risotto, grilled chicken, lobster, white sauces, crab
|
Petit fours, apple tart
|
Riesling
|
Calamari, steamed clams, creamy cheeses
|
Roasted chicken, grilled pork, baked ham
|
Light cakes, cream based pie, baked apples
|
Drink The Wine You Love
The old fashioned rule of red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat is so restrictive and there is really no reason to follow it. The whole idea of pairing wine with food is for the two to compliment one another. Want to drink your bottle of Caymus with a grilled burger, go for it! How about a bottle of Fish Eye Chard with Pad Thai? Why not?
Great wine always compliments great food so don't be afraid to throw all the guidelines out the window and experiment with what wine and food you think pair well together. As always, you will never go wrong by drinking the wine you love, because if you love it, it's more than likely that your guests will love it as well.
Great wine always compliments great food so don't be afraid to throw all the guidelines out the window and experiment with what wine and food you think pair well together. As always, you will never go wrong by drinking the wine you love, because if you love it, it's more than likely that your guests will love it as well.