We've all heard the rules: red wine with meat, white with fish or fowl. But just as with all rules, this one was made to be broken. There's a growing recognition that there's both more and less to choosing how to pair foods and wine.

The most important factor, of course, is to choose a wine you enjoy. Spumante with Chinese take-out may make the so-called experts shudder, but if that combination works for you, that's all that matters. After all, you're the one eating the meal. However, personal tastes aside, there are some guidelines and suggestions for combining wines and foods that can enhance your enjoyment of each.

Start by thinking of wine as a condiment. You're choosing one that will interact with the foods, just the way a spice does. In fact, wine does affect the taste of food, similar to the effect of spices. Wine contains acids, tannins and sugars, all of which work with the food to create different tastes. Your goal is to find the proper combination that will allow you to enjoy the flavors and characteristics of both the food and the wine.

Wines, like food, can taste sweet, tart or bitter. Food can also be salty (not a property of wine, but salty foods affect its flavor). It's that sweet/tart/acidic interaction that determines the way different food/wine combinations will affect each other.

Sweet Foods

Foods that are somewhat sweet, such as a honey-mustard glaze on chicken will make the wine taste drier (less sweet) than it really is. A slightly sweet wine such as a White Zinfandel or Riesling could work well.

Acidic Foods

Choose wines that are higher in acid when serving acidic foods. Try pairing salad with a balsamic vinaigrette or a lemony-kissed fish dish with a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

Bitter Foods

When serving food with a bitter twist-say, bitter greens in a salad-enjoy it more with a fruity, full-flavored wine such as Merlot or Chardonnay. If you're grilling a steak, try a wine such as red Zinfandel or Shiraz. The tannins in these wines can sometimes give them a slightly bitter taste, but the fat in the meat can tone down this tendency.

In addition to the basic tastes, consider pairing foods and wines that have the same feel to them - light with light and full with hearty. A full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon could overwhelm a light fish, and the taste of a delicate white Zinfandel would be lost when accompanying beef stew.

And what about sparkling wines? Only those produced in the Champagne region of France may be called Champagne, but all sparkling wines, no matter their name, are suited to festive occasions. They make an excellent start or finish to any meal.

At times, pairing opposite foods and wines can be surprisingly effective. Hot and spicy foods such as fiery curries or Chinese hot pot can work well with sweet dessert wines. The contrast in flavors can create new nuances in taste and act to cleanse the palate.

A fun way to pair wines and food is to match them by their geographic source. Doesn't it make sense that a French wine would be the best accompaniment for coq au vin?

And for those times when you aren't serving a full meal, don't forget the natural pairings of wine and cheese. There's a reason these two are so often combined. Wine and cheese complement each other exquisitely. Mild to sharp cheeses work well with red wines, as do soft cheeses such as Camembert or Brie. Dry whites are excellent with goat cheese. Sweet wines call for a more intense cheese.

But no matter what combination of food and wine you choose, remember that the most important ingredients for a memorable occasion are the friends and loved ones you invite to share the experience with you.

About the Author

Morgan Slater demonstrates a detailed knowledge of wine industries through his writing for Ecef. Find more articles by Morgan Slater at ECEF

A Short Wine Cassis Summary

What Wine Goes With What Food?


We've all heard the rules: red wine with meat, white with fish or fowl. But just as with all rules, this one was made to be broken. There's a growing ...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Recommended Wine Cassis Items

The FTD Greater Glory Arrangement - Premium


An artistic display of garden blooms to convey your warm wishes. This arrangement in a planter includes yellow roses, yellow chrysanthemums, pink gladiolus, heather and more. Appropriate to send to a home or to a funeral. S5-3496P


Price: 145.99 USD



News about Wine Cassis

How to Make Beaded Wine Glass Charms

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:32:50 -0800
A great gift for friends and family for the holiday season!

Pairing wine with people / Buying for a math geek?

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:44:51 -0800
How to make an educated guess on buying wine gifts for the folks in your life.

How to Make Wine Glass Coasters

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:56:37 -0800
Fun idea and quick for last minute hostess gifts this holiday season. Wine glass baubles beware, your day in the sun might be over.

Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets Make Great House Warming Gifts

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:14:47 -0800
Are you going to a house warming party? A great gift to bring would be a wine and cheese gift basket. The host or hostess may open and use it at that party or save it for an intimate dinner.

Personalized Wine...A great gift for the holidays!

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:49:11 -0800
Personalized Wine is a great gift for any occassion but since the holidays are here now is the time to check out this unique collection of Personalized Wine Gift ideas.

Wine Gifts from Everything But Flowers: Australian Gift Retailer Launches Wine Gifts Product Range

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:01 -0800
Sydney, NSW (PRWEB) November 25, 2008 -- Everything But Flowers has recently launched their exclusive range of wine gift baskets, gift wrapped wine and wine hampers to compliment their large range of...

A Holiday Gift Basket with Salsa

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:10:36 -0800
There are many occasions over the holidays where we are invited to a gathering where we either want to bring something to contribute to the evening or as a hostess gift. Everyone brings wine it seems, and after years of being one of those couples we found a great quick easy recipe for salsa that has always been a hit.


K&L Wines
Wine Terminology
Wine Bottle

Labels: California Wine

&type=page">