Tantalize your taste buds every time with these perfect pairings for food and wine…
Red Wine
Dark Red Wine:
Dark Red Wines like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon/Bordeaux or Port go well with Red Meat, Hard Cheese, Starches and Dessert (in the case of Port).
Syrah is a best match for dishes with strong flavors. Anything with Chervil, Rosemary or Tarragon will be a perfect accompaniment.
Food Pairing Suggestions – anything with cumin, harissa, Chinese five spice, or other heavy spices.
Cabernet Sauvignon/Bordeaux is a best match for Red Meat and for anything with Basil, Parsley or Thyme.
Food Pairing Suggestions – any dish featuring red meat, that is not heavily spiced, sharp white cheddar.
Port is a best match for Desserts.
Food Pairing Suggestions – any kind of chocolate.
Medium Red Wine:
Medium Red Wines like Red Table Wine, Tempranillo, Madeira, Sangiovese (Chianti), Zinfandel, Grenache (Garnacha) or Merlot go well with White Meat, Hard Cheese, Starches and Dessert (in the case of Madeira).
Madeira is a best match for Desserts.
Food Pairing Suggestions – any kind of chocolate.
Grenache (or Garnacha) is a best match for Fall and Winter dishes.
Food Pairing Suggestions – anything with cilantro! It’s a fantastic wine for classic fall and winter dishes like roasted vegetables, prime rib, rack of lamb, and Beef Bourguignon.
Merlot is a best match for Hard Cheese.
Food Pairing Suggestions – gouda, mint,
Chianti is a best match for Red Meat, White Meat, Fish, Sea Fruits, Hard/Soft Cheese, Starches. It goes well with just about any type of food really. Just make sure you match it with savoury dishes and leave the dessert aside.
Food Pairing Suggestions – anything with oregano or basil! Pasta, pizza, steak, stews, etc… the list is long. It’s a versatile wine!
Light Red Wine:
Light Red Wines like St. Laurent, Pinot Noir, Zweigelt or Garnet, go well with White Meat, Sea Fruits and Starches.
Pinot Noir is a best match for earthy or woody flavors. Anything with Chives Dill, Sage or Fennel will be a perfect accompaniment.
Food Pairing Suggestions – mushroom dishes, truffles.
Rose Wine
Dark Rose Wine:
Dark Rose Wines like Winter’s Hill Estate Dry Rose or Ehlers Estate Sylviane Rosé, go well with Cheese, White Meat and Grilled Fruits.
Winter’s Hill Estate Dry Rose is a best match for Hard Cheese.
Food Pairing Suggestions – Cheddar and Gruyère.
Ehlers Estate Sylviane Rosé is a best match for Grilled Dishes and Fruits.
Food Pairing Suggestions – grilled salmon with pineapple, mango and strawberry salsa.
Medium Bodied Rose Wine:
Medium Bodied Rose Wines like Falesco Vitiano Rosato Umbria, Clos Cibonne Tibouren Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes Rose or Mas De Gourgonnier Rose, go well with Savoury Foods, Grilled Foods, White and Red Meat, Indian Cuisine.
Falesco Vitiano Rosato Umbria is a best match for Savoury Foods like Grilled Foods or Salads. White and Red Meat is also a good option when it comes to this wine.
Food Pairing Suggestions – salads, grilled vegetables, salmon or tuna, mussels marinara.
Clos Cibonne Tibouren Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes Rose is a best match for Savoury Foods like Grilled Foods or Buttery Side Dishes.
Food Pairing Suggestions – savoury kebabs, grilled vegetables, buttery rice, tomates provencales (baked tomatoes stuffed with herbs), prosciutto with arugula and asparagus salad with balsamic vinegar dressing, seared duck breast with pomegranate.
Mas De Gourgonnier Rose is a best match for Savoury Food, enjoy it with Spicy Foods, or just about anything really…
Food Pairing Suggestions – Indian cuisine, salads, fish, chicken, pork, BBQ ribs or BBQ chicken.
Pale Pink Rose Wine:
Pale Pink Rose Wines like Wolffer Estate Rosé, Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé, Vrac – Rose 2017, Gran Moraine, Channing Daughters Rosato di Cabernet Franc, Pascal Jolivet Sancerre Rosé, La Chapelle Gordonne go well with White and Red Meat, Sea Fruits, Grilled Vegetables or Meat, Cheese or Cured Meat.
Wolffer Estate Rosé is a best match for White and Red Meat.
Food Pairing Suggestions – fish, chicken and pork.
Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé is a best match for a wide range of Appetizers, Fish, Poultry Dishes and Vegetarian Fare.
Food Pairing Suggestions – slices of roast chicken over a bed of wild greens.
Vrac – Rose 2017 is a best match for Picnics, Cook Outs and Summer Meals.
Food Pairing Suggestions – light sandwiches, salads.
Gran Moraine is a best match for White Meat.
Food Pairing Suggestions – oven-roasted chicken, potato salad and steamed zucchini.
Channing Daughters Rosato di Cabernet Franc is a best match for Sea Fruits, White Meat, Cheese and Fried Food.
Food Pairing Suggestions – raw bar, shellfish, local fluke and flounder, sushi, ceviches, fresh cheeses and fried foods.
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre Rosé is a best match for White and Red Meat.
Food Pairing Suggestions – it is very pleasant as an aperitif, but also as an accompaniment to pork dishes or poultry.
La Chapelle Gordonne is a best match for White Meat, Cheese and Cured Meat.
Food Pairing Suggestions – fish dishes, Gouda, salami.
White Wine
Rich White Wine:
Rich White Wines like Chardonnay, Roussanne, Marsanne or Viognier go well with White Meat, Sea Fruits, Fish, Starches and Soft Cheese.
Chardonnay is a best match for Fatty Fish, Sauced Fish and almost anything with Dill, Rosemary, Tarragon or Lemongrass.
Food Pairing Suggestions – seafood in butter or cream-based sauces, tuna or salmon, Brie.
Medium Bodied White Wine:
Medium – Bodied White Wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Unoaked Chardonnay, Riesling or Chenin Blanc go well with White Meat, Sea Fruits, Fish and Soft/String Cheese.
Sauvignon Blanc is a best match for Tangy and Tart Foods and for anything with Bay Leaf, Chives, Garlic, Marjoram, Oregano or Chervil.
Food Pairing Suggestions – salads with vinaigrettes, fish or chicken dishes with citrus sauces, Mozzarella.
Riesling is a best match for Spicy Foods, Barbecue, Asian Cuisines, Cheese, White Meat, Red Meat, Sea Fruits, Cured Meats, Eggs, Fruits, Vegetables, and for anything with Mint or Sage.
Food Pairing Suggestions – almost all Asian cuisines (Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese/Japanese/Indian), barbecued ribs and chicken, cheese (especially Asiago, Cheddar, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Gruyère), chicken satay, corned beef, crab, salami of all kinds, dolmas, eggplant, egg dishes (like devilled eggs, frittatas, omelets, quiches), chicken or seafood enchiladas, fried chicken, green vegetables, grilled fruits (like apricots, peaches, pineapple), guacamole, ham, Indian chicken or seafood curries, onion rings, plantains, pulled pork, root vegetables (like rutabagas, turnips, yams), salads, sausages (especially pork and poultry), shellfish of all kinds (lobster, prawns, scallops), sushi (especially with pickled ginger), Tandoori chicken, tomato chutney, veal.
Chenin Blanc is a best match for White and Red Meat, a large variety of Spices and Herbs, Soft to Semi-Firm Cow’s Milk Cheeses and a wide range of Vegetables and Vegetarian Fare.
Food Pairing Suggestions – veal, trout, chicken, turkey, pork chop, guinea foul, halibut, smoked salmon, terrine, pate, cilantro, parsley, cinnamon, dill, tarragon, turmeric, ginger, fenugreek, fennel, clove, marjoram, allspice, red pepper flakes, cumin, coriander, fennel, macadamia nut, peanut, cashew, sesame seed, Brie, Gruyere, cream cheese, yogurt, Cheddar, herb-crusted goat cheeses, squash, jicama, guava, shallot, chives, savoy cabbage, yam, carrot, cauliflower, oyster mushroom, corn, red bell pepper, apple, quince, pear and potato.
Light Bodied White Wine:
Light – Bodied White Wine like Pinot Grigio, Albarino, Vinho Verde, Moscato d’Asti or Muscadet go well with White Meat, Sea Fruits, Fish and Hard Cheese.
Pinot Grigio is a best match for Light Dishes, particularly Seafood. Anything with Thyme or Basil will be a perfect accompaniment.
Food Pairing Suggestions – white-flesh fishes (halibut, flounder) with no or light sauces, scallops or shrimps.
Moscato d’Asti is a best match for Fruit Desserts.
Food Pairing Suggestions – hot fruit compotes, cobblers, pies.
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling Wines like Champagne, Prosecco, Cava and Regular Sparkling Wine go well with Fish, Starches and Hard Cheese.
Champagne is a best match for Salty Foods.
Food Pairing Suggestions – cheese straws, nuts, chips.
Prosecco is a best match for Seafood, Spicy Dishes, Salty Snacks, White and Red Meat.
Food Pairing Suggestions – prosciutto, stuffed mushrooms, creamy sauces, almonds, seafood, fried fare, spicy Asian entrées and even potato chips or buttered popcorn. This is a very forgiving, food-friendly sparkling wine option.
Cava is a best match for Cheese, Salads, Seafood.
Food Pairing Suggestions – artichokes and asparagus, notoriously tricky vegetables to pair with wine, but no problem for Cava (though I’d go for white rather than green asparagus). Especially sheep milk cheeses, creamy sauces, fried foods, rice, salads, seafood.
Our advice is to always inquire what type of food goes with the wine you are about to enjoy or that you wish to buy! Like this the culinary experience will be all the more special… Enjoy!!!
Sources: Leibman’s; Pinterest; www.foodandwine.com; www.wineintro.com; VINEPAIR Delightful Drops Of Drinking Knowledge @ VinePair.com