Selecting wine is not as simple as choosing between red and white. There is a heap of terms to navigate, from bitterness and sweetness to aroma and body. And on top, wine names could be tongue twisters. Naturally, the world of wines could be overwhelming for a beginner. And when it comes to pairing with food, things could get even more intimidating.
If you’re planning on hosting a dinner party at home or lunch at a high-end restaurant, then you need to understand the basics of wine and food pairing. But it’s not just about looking savvy and sophisticated. The right pairing could help your guests enjoy their meal even more by enhancing flavors to create that perfect balance.
Congruent and complementary pairing
There are two main approaches to pairing wine with food.
1. Congruent pairing
This is when you select wines and dishes with similar tastes and flavors. For example, you can pair a sweet wine with a sweet fruit tart. Likewise, full-bodied red wine will go well with red meat.
Red wines are the easiest to use for congruent pairing because of their wide range of flavors. But ensure that one doesn’t overwhelm the other when matching food with wine. And if the dish comes with a heavy sauce, then pair the wine with the sauce and not the food.
2. Complementary pairing
Now, there are moments when congruent pairing doesn’t work. A bitter wine with a bitter flavored dish might be too much for your guests to indulge in. Besides, certain flavors, like spiciness, saltiness, and fattiness, are not found in wines. So, in instances like these, you can opt for a complementary pairing.
For example, you can pair a sweet wine with a spicy dish to tame the heat of all the spices. Crisp, acidic wines could do well with a salty dish. White wines typically excel in this type of complementary pairings.
Your guide to pairing wine with food
Now, let’s take a look at 7 popular wines and how you can pair them best to bring out the flavors of both the dish and wine.
1. Cabernet Sauvignon with red meat dishes
This is an excellent red wine to pair with juicy lamb chops or a steak dish. It’s got some bold fruity flavors with plenty of tannin for a bitter aftertaste.
2. Pinot Noir with earthy dishes
Pinot Noir is a great wine for both meat and vegetarian meals. Its light-body, earthy tones match perfectly with earthy flavored dishes like mushrooms and truffles. With much less tannin than most reds, it’ll also match well with fatty fish like salmon.
3. Dry Rosé with cheese
This is another wine with less tannin, but it also has some unique characteristics that make it perfect with cheese. Similar to white wines, it’s more acidic, but it also has wonderful fruity tones that go well with cheesy dishes.
4. Chardonnay with seafood
This is a versatile white wine with a creamy, silky body, less acidity, and more fruity flavors. It’s a fantastic option to pair with salmon, lobster, shrimp, or a shellfish dish with a delicious creamy sauce.
5. Sauvignon Blanc with tart dressings and herbs
Sauvignon Blanc is a lovely light-bodied, dry white that’s typically high in acidity. So, it can do wonders paired with a tart dressing or sauce, fresh herbs, and cheese.
6. Off-dry Riesling with spicy dishes
This white has a semi-sweetness that makes it an excellent choice to match with spicy dishes. It’s got less bitterness, which makes it great with salads with bitter vinaigrettes.
7. Dry Sparkling Wine with salty food
The dry acidity and hint of sweetness of these wines will go perfectly with salty dishes by balancing flavors with fizzy carbonation. It’ll even do well with fried food.
