A Guide to Pairing Food and Wine

Adding wine to any meal can add a level of sophisticated tastes. Although the combination of what you drink and eat is a personal choice, certain flavors and complexities of the drink are brought out when combined with specific foods. And, although it is rare, some poor combinations can bring out an unfavorable alcoholic or acidic wine taste. To fully enjoy the flavors you’re consuming, read these suggestions of what to drink with what you eat.

According To Wine Properties
• Try to match the richness and flavors of what you drink and eat, like milder foods with milder wines, etc. Delicate meats and fishes may be overwhelmed by the flavor of a hearty red wine, for example.
• Avoid pairing food and wine that each has a high level of tannins. Aged red wines and dry nuts, for example, would only leave you with an astringent taste in your mouth.
• Highly acidic wines balance oily foods, fried foods, sweet foods and salty foods. They do not go well with meals that involve a cream-based sauce.

According To Food
• Salty foods enhance the fruity aspects of a sweet wine, instead of bringing out the sweetness. Salty foods also emphasize the presence of tannins.
• Spicy foods, like those found in ethnic meals, will taste best with spicy and sweet wines, like a Riesling or gewürztraminer.
• Cheese is easily combined with wine. Taste a red wine with harder cheeses and a white wine with softer cheeses for the ultimate complimentary flavors.
• Desserts are said to pair nicely with dessert or ice wines. Chocolates pair well with a fortified wine, such as a port.

Keep in mind these are generalized tips of how you want food and wine taste and flavors to combine. There is truly no wrong combination of what you drink and eat, as long you are pleased with the pairing. Food and wine are crafted to be enjoyed together, so experiment until you find your perfect combination of tastes!

Try multiple flavors through a tasting flight, where a selection of wines is presented with certain foods, allowing you to experience various flavor pairings together. Most of the fun is found in the experimentation of discovering what to drink with what you eat.