Wine and Food Pairing
For most of our history, wine has been an accompaniment to meals.
Winemaking and culinary traditions have often evolved together, creating natural pairings between local wine and local cuisine.
Wine and food pairing is the process of pairing food and wine to enhance the dining experience.
Red Wines
Red wines pair best with meat:
- Light red wines pair best with light meat
- Bold red wines pair best with bold meat
White Wines
White wines pair best with light food, fish and seafood:
- Acidic white wines pair best with acidic food
- Malolactic white wines pair best with creamy food
The right wine can enhance a dish to perfection.
Food and Wine Chemistry
The main concept behind wine and food pairing, is that some elements in food and wine interact with each other. Finding the right combination of these elements, can make the entire dining experience more enjoyable.
- The wine should have the same intensity as the food
- The wine should be more acidic than the food
- The wine should be sweeter than the food
- The wine should be paired with the sauce (not the meat)
Sweet Food
The food is Sweet
The wine tastes dry, bitter and acidic.
The wine tastes less sweet and fruity.
Choose a sweeter wine.
Umami Food
The food is Umami
The wine tastes dry and acidic.
The wine tastes less sweet and fruity.
Choose a fruity red or a mineral white.
Salty food
The food is Salty
The wine tastes fruity and bodied.
The wine tastes less dry and acidic.
Choose an acidic white wine.
Acidic Food
The food is Acidic
The wine tastes sweet and fruity.
The wine tastes less dry and acidic.
Choose a wine with more acidity.
Oily Food
The food is Oily
The wine tastes less acidic.
Choose a more acidic wine.
Spicy Food
The food is Spicy
The wine tastes hot and alcoholic.
Choose an off-dry wine.
Savory Food
The food is Savory
The wine can be overwhelmed.
Choose a bolder wine.
World Wide Fantastic Pairs
| Wine | Food |
| Albariño | Shellfish |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Juicy Beef |
| Champagne | Almost Everything |
| Chablis (Unoaked) | Oysters |
| Chardonnay (Oaked) | Creamy Fish Dishes |
| Chianti | Tomato based Spaghetti |
| Barolo | Entrecôte (Rib Eye Steak) |
| Malbec | BBQ. |
| Moscato d'Asti | Spicy Mexican |
| Pinot Grigio | Grilled White Fish |
| Pinot Noir | Mushrooms |
| Port | Stilton |
| Prosecco | Prosciutto and Melon |
| Sancerre | Roquefort |
| Sangiovese | Tomato based Pizza |
| Syrah | Spicy Dishes |
| Tempranillo | Fatty Lamb |
| Zinfandel | Chips and Salty Snacks |