Wine has been a major part of the human culture for centuries. Its expansion began increasing rapidly in the 17th century after the discovery of glassmaking. Distributors had a much better option of wine packaging which was much more convenient for longer travels.
Centuries later, wine is not just a part of our culture, but it’s a science of its own. We often have this beverage during lunch or dinner. Research says that it’s even healthy to drink a glass from time to time. If you’re having wine with food, you must know which food suits it the best. That’s exactly what we’ll discuss here.
White Wine Pairing Food
The origins of white wine can be traced to ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. This type of wine is considered more refreshing and with a lighter taste than red wine. That’s why many casual drinkers prefer white wine over any other.
Its sweet flavor makes it a good fit for numerous types of foods. The general rule concerning white wine is that you should pair it with light-colored food. As such, the two top choices are chicken and fish.
Furthermore, its combinations aren’t limited to meat only. White wine is a perfect match for the following dishes:
- Pasta
- Risotto
- Salads
- Fruit-based desserts
- Cheese
What About Champagne?
Champagne is also worth a mention here. This type of wine is a great fit for appetizers such as almonds, potato chips, and prosciutto-wrapped appetizers. Additionally, you can combine it with pizza and have the time of your life.
Red Wine Pairing Food
Moving on, we go to red wine. This type of wine is made from fermented crushed dark grapes. Red wine has a much sharper flavor compared to white wine, especially if it’s dry. Its ABV ranges between 11-13%.
When it comes to pairing white wine, it all depends on its type. One of the most popular red wine variants is Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a dry red wine and it’s a great match for “heavy” dishes. As such, beef or roast lamb are the perfect partners in crime.
Next, we have Merlot, which is a semi-dry wine. Although its taste is sweet, its ABV is higher than average. Due to its sweetness, it’s better to match it with a counterpart like turkey. Roast chicken is also a decent choice.
If you’re a fan of pasta, but like to pair it with red wine, then there’s one option at your disposal too. Tomato-based pasta with semi-dry wine like Merlot, Riesling, Malbec and Garnacha is a match made in heaven.
Rosé Wine Pairing Food
To this day, many people consider rosé wine as the best summer alcoholic beverage. Even though the best way to enjoy it is during summer, that doesn’t mean that you can’t reap its benefits off-season.
Dry rosé wines are very close to dry white wine, which is why many of the white wine pairings work well with rosé. Hence, you can enjoy this beverage with foods like:
- Rice
- Light pasta
- Salads
- Seafood
- Cheese
If you have an adventurous spirit and want to try something new, then semi-dry rosé is our top pick. Its light taste makes it the perfect drink with spicy food and with desserts that include strawberries.
Sparking rosé wine is also worth a mention. It goes fantastic with grilled food. Usually, people like to combine it with rare roast lamb.
Pairing Wine and Food – A Few Tips and Things to Consider
Last but not least, we’d like to share a few tips that’ll help you find the best combination of food and wine. With that being said, here are a few things you ought to keep in mind.
- Pair wine with the most dominant flavor in the dish
- Red wine always goes with food that has a bold flavor
- Dry wine is a good match with food that has a lot of fat
- Pairing wine with Chinese or Indian food can be challenging due to their strong taste
- Match the wine’s flavor intensity with the food’s flavor intensity
- Acidic wines can be a good balance for salty dishes
- Acidic food is a good fit with dry white wine
When combining food and wine, the main idea is to identify the wine’s characteristics. This includes the body, flavor, acidity, sweetness, tannin and alcohol. The more familiar you are with them, the easier it’ll be to pick your food. If you’re not that informed on these characteristics, you can always ask the server or seller for some information.
