Food and wine are two of the most enjoyable things on this planet. Food is for the body, wine is for the soul, or so the saying goes. On the other hand, there are certain foods that compliment certain wines, and there are certain wines that compliment certain foods.
This is the key to throwing that perfect wine-tasting party you and your friends have been dying to have. Knowing these food/wine combinations is very important when thinking of serving a certain wine. The flavor in both food and wine can be brought out with the right combination, and it can be taken away with the wrong combination.
What are the Best Food and Wine Combinations?
The first thing to remember is that there is no certain, set way to pair foods with wines. In the end it is up to you which dish taste best with which wine, but if you are unsure, there are certain generalizations that can help create an amazing wine tasting party or just regular dinner. First decide whether the food you are cooking is a “hard” or “soft” meal. “Hard” meals tend to be food like rib-eye steak and a baked potato.
“Soft” meals are like boiled chicken and wild rice. When cooking these meals there are certain wines that compliment the ingredients and type of food you are cooking. With the “hard” meals, most people prefer a strong red wine, but with the “soft” meals, many people prefer a more delicate white wine. Now, you may find this to be untrue for you and your friends; these are just tips to help make your party a smashing success. You can also do this the other way around.
Say you want to serve a Merlot; a filet salmon with a nice, subtle Italian sauce will compliment each other very well. Suppose you would like to serve a Cabernet Sauvignon; cooking a roast with a several vegetables and a baked potato would make a nice pairing. Many people enjoy drinking Chardonnay, with this wine a nice chicken alfredo or chicken ravioli would make a superb combination. There are other factors in matching food and wine. For instance, if the mood at your dinner is a romantic one, it is probably best not to serve pizza with a Pinot Grigio wine. The Pinot Grigio is a romantic drink, but the pizza is not a romantic food. These kinds of combinations can ruin anybody’s dinner. These are just a few things to consider when pairing wine and food.
