Pair Food with Wine

Wine and food were meant for each other and have been consumed together since the dawn of civilization. The right match can be a blissful marriage in which the sum of the pairing is greater than that of its parts. In other words, while the food may taste great on its own, and so may the wine, when you put them together, both the food and the wine will taste even better! Alternatively, if it is not quite right, both the wine and the food will taste worse!

While there really is no strict right or wrong (if you like it, it works), there are a few simple guidelines that are used to achieve that ‘perfect match.’  The ‘weight’ and ‘flavor intensity’ of the dish (or meal) being served are two of the most important considerations. In most cases, you should be aiming to balance the weight or intensity of the food with that of the wine, so that one does not overwhelm the other. Light food should be paired with light wine, medium food with medium wine and so on. If serving rich, buttery foods, try an oaked Chardonnay with that meal. Yet there are exceptions: rich or fatty foods can also be partnered with light-bodied wines in order provide a sharp contrast. A crisp, light wine cuts through any rich food, such as German Riesling paired with roast duck or goose, and is a great refresher for the palate.

The kinds of flavors are also a factor, and typically it is the old saying: opposites attract. This is the area of food pairing where creativity reigns. Common themes include fruity with savory, sweet with sour, sweet with spicy, bitter with sweet, etc. If you are serving delicious spicy food such as Thai, Indian or Middle Eastern, try a wine with some residual sugar (Riesling or Chenin Blanc). Serving paté or fois gras?  Try that with a dessert wine, such as Sauternes or a Vendange Tardive from Alsace. Off-dry or sweet wines typically have a lot more versatility than many people realize!

When the pairing is not a complete success, the wine can taste overly acidic, metallic, bitter, sweet, tannic, and any number of other, negative things, and the food will suffer as well.  Ultimately, when it works, you will know, as both the wine and the food will be enhanced.