Ethnic

PAIRS BEST WITH: Aromatic & Crisp whites or Fruity reds with good acidity ALSO CONSIDER: Rich whites and Smooth or Powerful reds Ethnic foods are a broad category and one of the greatest challenges they present, in relation to wine pairing, is how to find a match for hot and spicy foods. Many people opt for an…

Pizza

PAIRS BEST WITH: Crisp & Rich whites or Fruity & Smooth reds. ALSO CONSIDER: Aromatic whites & Powerful reds. Pizza can be just perfect for many meal occasions, but the accompanying wine should never be too serious. The style of pizza and the main toppings will be your guide in selecting the wine. However, keep in mind…

Pasta

PAIRS BEST WITH: Crisp & Rich whites or Fruity & Smooth reds. ALSO CONSIDER: Aromatic whites & Powerful reds. Pasta dishes cover a multitude, simply because the pasta plays the role of a carrier for the main ingredient. As with other foods, the weight and strength of flavor of the dish should be matched to the body…

Seafood – Shellfish

PAIRS BEST WITH: Crisp whites ALSO CONSIDER: Aromatic & Rich whites with good acidity The guidelines for matching shellfish with wine are very similar to those of fish. They can be delicate or highly flavored and light in texture, or quite substantial. As with fish, good acidity in the wine is very important and therefore Crisp style white…

Seafood – Fish

PAIRS BEST WITH: Crisp whites. ALSO CONSIDER: Aromatic & Rich whites with good acidity and, by exception, Fruity reds. Fish are generally light in texture and flavor, and are therefore best paired with white wine. The lighter the flavor and softer the texture of the fish the lighter the wine should be. Equally, heavily flavored and chunkier…

Meat – Game

PAIRS BEST WITH: Rich whites & Smooth or Powerful reds with good acidity. ALSO CONSIDER: Aromatic and Crisp whites. Game meats (game birds, venison, wild boar) are rich and robust in flavor and can be quite earthy. They require full bodied and richly flavoured wines, to match the strong flavors of the meat. Rich style whites and Smooth or…

Meat – Veal

PAIRS BEST WITH: Crisp & Rich whites or Fruity & Smooth reds. ALSO CONSIDER: Aromatic whites & Powerful reds. Veal is similar to Pork, in that it occupies the middle ground between red meat and white meat and can pair well with either red or white wine. The delicate flavor and tender texture of veal should be…

Meat – Pork

PAIRS BEST WITH: Crisp & Rich whites or Fruity & Smooth reds. ALSO CONSIDER: Aromatic whites & Powerful reds. Pork occupies the middle ground between red meat and white meat and can therefore pair well with either red or white wine. How it is cooked and the accompaniment will usually be key determinants in your wine selection.…

Meat – Lamb

PAIRS BEST WITH: Smooth & Powerful reds ALSO CONSIDER: Fruity reds (light dishes) and, by exception, Aromatic whites. Lamb is very wine-friendly and is a great match for classic reds. Roasted lamb, in all its guises, is ideal with Smooth and Powerful style reds, especially those with a good level of acidity, as they can deal very effectively with…

Meat – Poultry

PAIRS BEST WITH: Crisp & Rich whites or Fruity & Smooth reds ALSO CONSIDER: Aromatic whites & Powerful reds. White meats (e.g. chicken, duck, goose and turkey) are lower in both protein and fat content than red meat, and are therefore more versatile with wine. In most instances they can be paired equally well with white or…

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