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Food and Wine Pairing

The number one rule about pairing food with wine is: any wine that you enjoy with your food is right for you. There are no hard rules, only guidelines and recommendations from people that may have more experience with experimentation. As you become acquainted with wines, you may taste a wine in which a particular food comes to mind. "Hey, this wine would go great with barbecue ribs." So now you know the secret that the experts use, except that you've tailored it to your own palate.

I've looked at the recommended food and wine pairings from many critics, and I can say that my own recommendations differ from every one of them in some way. The trick in a good food/wine pairing is to balance the flavors, the intensities, and the weights of the foods and the wines. When selecting wines, keep in mind that each dish may contain three components: the food type, the preparation, and the sauces. Try to balance the flavors of the food and pick a wine with a similar balance. A good balance will provide you with a harmonious, enjoyable dining experience. A light-bodied food like sole will go best with a light-bodied wine like Sauvignon Blanc. Conversely, a heavy, flavorful ribeye steak would go best with a heavy, flavorful wine like Cabernet Sauvignon.

Also, you do not need to pick a wine to complement your food, it is just as effective to start with a wine and then find a complimentary food dish.

Below are some general guidelines that may help you decide on the best wine for your dish. Keep in mind that I don't neceessarily agree on each recommendation for every occasion, nor should you. I may drink Chardonnay with salmon during the summer and Pinot Noir during the winter. Discover what you like, but be open to an experiment now and then.

Food Type

Recommended Wine

Cheese

Brie

Pinot Noir, Zinfandel

Cheddar

Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Syrah

Feta

Sauvignon Blanc

Jack & Gouda

Riesling, Chardonnay

Smoked Cheeses

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Swiss

Cabernet, Pinot Noir

Meat & Poultry

Beef Stew

Cabernet

Chicken

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

Chicken (Fried)

Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling, Zinfandel

Cold Cuts

Sparkling, Riesling

Duck

Riesling, Syrah, Zinfandel

Filet Mignon

Pinot Noir

Game (Roasted)

Syrah

Grilled Meats & Steak

Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfandel

Ground Beef

Merlot, Zinfandel

Lamb

Pinot Noir, Syrah

Pork (Ham)

Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Noir

Pork Ribs

Riesling

Rib Eye Steak

Cabernet, Zinfandel

Sausage (Smoked)

Riesling

Sausage (Spicy)

Syrah, Zinfandel

Turkey

Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Gewurtztraminer

Veal Roast

Pinot Noir

Venison

Cabernet, Syrah

Seafood

Blackened Fish

Zinfandel

Caviar

Sparkling

Cioppino

Zinfandel

Crab

Chardonnay, Viognier

Halibut

Chardonnay

Lobster

Chardonnay, Viognier

Orange Roughy

Pinot Noir

Oysters

Sauvignon Blanc

Seabass

Riesling

Salmon

Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay

Salmon (Smoked)

Sparkling, Riesling (Dry)

Scallops

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

Shrimp

Chardonnay, Viognier

Sole

Sauvignon Blanc

Swordfish

Merlot, Chardonnay

Trout

Riesling

Tuna

Merlot, Pinot Noir

Ethnic & Other Foods

Asian

Gewurtztraminer, Riesling

Cajun/Creole

Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay

Canapes

Sparkling

Chinese

Riesling, Gewurtztraminer

Egg Dishes

Sparkling

Indian

Chardonnay, Riesling

Japanese

Chenin Blanc

Middle Eastern

Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah

Pizza (Cheese)

Chardonnay, Zinfandel

Pizza (Meat)

Barbera, Zinfandel

Sushi

Sparkling

Sauces

Barbecue

Syrah, Zinfandel

Bearnaise Sauce

Merlot

Brown Sauce

Cabernet

Cajun

Zinfandel

Cream Sauce

Chardonnay

Lobster Sauce

Chardonnay

Mushroom Sauce

Pinot Noir

Pesto

Chardonnay

Tomato Sauce

Cabernet, Zinfandel

Spices

Basil

Chardonnay

Cajun Spices

Zinfandel

Ginger

Riesling

Mint

Merlot

Pepper

Zinfandel

Rosemary

Riesling, Merlot

Fruits

Apples (Green)

Sauvignon Blanc

Apples (Red)

Chardonnay

Apricots

Riesling, Viognier

Cherries

Merlot, Cabernet

Citrus

Sauvignon Blanc

Dried Fruits

Pinot Noir

Figs

Pinot Noir

Pears

Riesling

Plums

Merlot

Strawberries

Pinot Noir

Desserts

Apple Pie

Riesling, Late Harvest Riesling

Carrot Cake

Zinfandel

Cheesecake

Orange Muscat

Chocolate

Cabernet, Vintage Port, Black Muscat

Creme Brulee

Pinot Noir

Lemon/Lime Pie

Sauvignon Blanc

Sorbet

Sauvignon Blanc

Spice Cake

Zinfandel

Vanilla Ice Ceam

Late Harvest Riesling

Vanilla Pudding

Chardonnay


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