I’m not a wine snob, however, I do enjoy having the odd glass of wine. Now that it’s winter I am sipping on red, but in the summer you’ll find me with a glass of white. My mom used to be a liquor inspector and had to take many wine courses, and being her daughter I happen to know a lot about the good ol’ vino.
There are four main types of wine: red, white, rose, and champagne and for every wine, there is a food pairing. Certain wines taste better with certain foods! We are going to look at food pairings with red and white wine since they are both the most popular options. It’s hard to know which wine tastes best with what, so here is your beginner’s guide to wine and food pairings!
Reds
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cheese pairing: young, Soft Goat Cheese.
This delicious wine is full-bodied and rich with dark fruit flavors and savory tastes like black pepper. If you’re going to be eating steak or lamb chops this is the wine you’ll want to be sipping on. It will refresh your palate after each bite.
Merlot
Cheese pairing: gouda
You’ll want to invite this wine over if you’re eating chicken, burgers, or shepherds pie. Merlot is a smooth medium-bodied wine with a soft finish.
Pinot Noir
Cheese pairing: Light Cheddar
Pinot Noir is a dry fruity red wine that is typically light bodied. This vino will be your new BFF if you’re eating chocolate, fish, or wild game meat like moose.
Zinfandel
Cheese pairing: Asiago
This wine is light-bodied but its high acidity makes it taste bold. Some winos say this vino resembles the taste of jam because of its strong aromas of berries. This is the wine you’ll want to have at your house if you love Mexican, Thai, or Spanish food.
Whites
Chardonnay
Cheese pairing: Brie
There are two different styles of Chardonnay. There is aged-oak or un-oaked. If you want a creamy and rich wine, you’ll want to buy an oaked Chardonnay. If you want more of a dry wine, you’ll want to get a bottle of un-oaked Chardonnay. In otherwords, one is more ripe than the other. Whichever Chardonnay you choose you’ll want to pair it up with halibut, or turkey.
Sauvignon Blanc
Cheese pairing: Sharp Cheddar.
Most Sauvignon Blanc wines are dry. Flavors range from line to flowery peach depending on how ripe the grapes are when the wine is made. If you’re a vegetarian this is the wine for you. Sauvignon blanc pairs well with green vegetables like asparagus, and zucchini. It also pairs well with sole and oysters.
Pinot Grigio
Cheese pairing: Gruyere
This white wine is tart and light. Pinot Grigio is mild to medium dry and has flavors of pear, citrus, and apple. It pairs perfectly with pasta, chicken, and light fish.
Riesling
Cheese pairing: Swiss
If you’re looking for a light, fresh wine with a touch of sweetness buy a bottle of Riesling. This tasty wine pairs well with Japanese foods, tuna, and pork dishes.
Refer to this list next time you want to have a glass of wine with your dinner! Trust me, it may not seem like a big deal, but you’ll enjoy your meal a whole lot more if you have the proper vino to go with it!
Happy wine shopping!
Photo by Justin Aikin on Unsplash
