Matching the Right Foods with the Right Wines
Because of a lack of experience and/or knowledge, many people think that red wines only go with red foods, while
white wines
only go with white foods. However, they may also think that if they like the taste, then they’ve chosen correctly. Even though ther
e are simple guides, most people are unsure of how to correctly match the right food with the right wine due to the fact they also don’t know what actually tastes good. This article will hopefully shed some light on how to actually choose the correct wines that will compliment the foods that you are eating.
The main thing that people have to keep in their minds when trying to match the right foods with the right wine is that the food and wine should each have equal chance at capturing your attention when in your mouth. This simply means that neither should dominate over the other. When you bite into whatever food you are eating, you should be able to savour the tastes and the pleasure that comes with that. However, when you sip the wine, the same thing should also occur. Whichever you are doing, either eating food or drinking wine, it should be the star of the moment and not adversely affect the tastes of the other.
To put it another way, the food you are eating should be able to gently take over from the wine you have just had in your mouth. On the other
hand, the wine you are sipping should be able to do the same with the food you have just swallowed. If the combination is bad, one will overpower the other, and this is definitely not what you want!
If you want to make this happen properly, you need to examine what the dominate tastes are in the food you’ll be eating as well as the potential wine you are thinking about drinking with the meal. Foods that are sweet, such most desserts, go well with sweet wines. If the food has any hints of bitterness (such as BBQ meats) go well with bitter wines. Acidic foods, or simply foods that use a bit of vinegar or lemon as an enhancement are best matched up with wines that are acidic as well. Are you beginning to see a trend here?
Classification of Popular wines
If you need a wine with a bit of bitterness to go with steaks or even a big roast, try a Merlot, Red Bordeaux, Red Zinfandel or the ever-popular Cabernet Sauvignon
If you are looking for an acidic white wine, you could choose a Riesling, White Bordeaux of a Sauvignon Blanc. If you are after an acidic red, consider choosing a Pinot Noir, Gamay, Sangiovese or a Red Burgundy. The acidic whites are best paired with seafood due to its delicate flavours and textures, whereas acidic reds are best paired with grilled seafood or any tomato-based dishes (ie pasta)
If you require a wine to go with dessert, you’ll find sweet varieties in both red and white kinds. The sweet white wines you might consider are Chenin Blanc, Vovray, Asti Spumante or most German wines. The sweet reds can include Port, Lambrusco, Sherry and Vermouth.
Picking the right wine to compliment the meal you are eating doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow the rules as outlined above, and you can be assured of success at your next dinner meal.