How to Pair Wine With Food

If you drink, a bottle of wine is always a nice way to accompany or end a meal. Wine cleanses the palate, stimulates the appetite, and brings out the unique flavors in many dishes. Wine can also make your dining experience more classy and sophisticated, and brings a whole new dimension to eating and enjoying food.

Some diners and hosts have a problem choosing which wine goes best with which food. The wine that accompanies a meal gives that subtle difference that turns an ordinary meal into a great meal. If you’re not sure what wine to pair along with a drink, here are tips to help you choose the right wine for the right meal.

Why Pair Wine With Food?

Wine has long been used as an accompaniment to meals for centuries. While wine can be taken at any time of the day, it is best enjoyed during a meal like lunch or dinner. Not all people consume alcohol, but wine is taken during meals for many reasons:

• Tradition. For many cuisines all over the world, wine is an important part of many meals. People consider meals to be a way of gathering and spending time with friends, family members, or even the community. Wine is a very symbolic gesture of grace, generosity, and hospitality.
• Flavor and refreshment. People drink wine with their meals because it imparts a great flavor and cleanses the palate. Wine is often served in between courses because it cleans the taste buds. The alcohol also numbs and tingles the palate to be more receptive to flavors and textures of food. For rich dishes, alcohol also cuts down excess sugars and fats, which makes the diner eat more.
• Personal preference. There are conventions for which wine should be consumed with which type of food, although it all boils down to personal preference. A person may prefer white wine or red wine, and may not pay so much attention to particular wines paired with particular dishes.

Red Wine

Red wines are usually served with heavy dishes that are full of flavor, have a savory taste, or contain a high amount of fat. Red wines are made with whole grapes, with the skins and stems included. The extracted juice is then aged in oak barrels to give the wine that distinct dark color. There are many types of red wines you can choose from, but here are four of the most popular:

• Cabernet Sauvignon is the basis for blended wines like Bourdeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon is often served with red meats, especially steaks and roast beef.
• Pinot Noir is a very fruity wine that has become popular among many wine aficionados and chefs. Pinot Noir is a full-bodied wine that is best enjoyed with lamb, duck, or mushroom dishes.
• Merlot has the same fruity flavors as Pinot Noir and the richness of Cabernet Sauvignon. The herb-like perfume and taste of Merlot is very popular. It is often served with poultry.
• Zinfandel is a light red wine that has a fruity, zesty, almost spicy flavor. Zinfandel reminds many people of licorice. Grilled meats are often served with Zinfandel to cut the fat content.

White Wine

White wines are good accompaniments to light dishes like salads, chicken, seafood, and cheeses. White wine is often served to boost and improve the subtle flavors found in many dishes. White wine is made the same way as red wine, although the stems and seeds are removed from the grapes before fermentation. Here are four popular white wine varieties you can choose from:

• Chardonnay is a full-bodied dry white wine, and is one of the most popular and common white wine varieties available on the market. Chardonnay is almost always served with seafood and fish.
• Riesling has a very sweet and flowery taste, and the sweetness varies based on where it’s made. California Riesling is very sweet, and German Riesling is quite acidic. Riesling is often served with pork dishes.
• Sauvignon Blanc is a light white wine with a smoky perfume and a crisp taste. Sauvignon Blanc has a characteristic sour finish. It is often served with salads, and as an accompaniment to fondue.
• Gewurztraminer is a very fruity wine that can have a spicy, pungent finish. Gewurtztraminer is a favorite wine for international cuisine and fusion cuisine, especially for Asian dishes.

Remember that pairing a particular wine with a particular dish is not a rule set in stone. You can experiment with various types of wines and dishes and find a pairing that’s great for you. As a rule of thumb, your favorite wine should go well with whatever dish you have paired with it. With these tips on wine pairing, a meal will always be a very extraordinary culinary and eating experience.