Food and wine pairings for the most part is not rocket science but rather a study of complementary contrasts. For a wide variety of foods, there is no right or wrong definite wine answer but rather a matter of preference of one type over another. However, with that said, there are certain food and wine pairings that simply clash due to the chemicals found in each.

Rules to Eat and Drink By

If you focus on the wine first, you should really concentrate on the structure and body rather than how it tastes. For instance, choosing a medium-bodied Chardonnay with a subtle oak undertone will go with a wide range of foods whereas a heavier Chardonnay with a rich, buttery texture would not.

In a food and wine pairing, you do not want to match a delicate, light dish with a heavy, full-bodied wine. Learn to love the acid content in wines as it can be a great match to rich sauces, cheeses, fried foods and fish. Another great food and wine pairing is the matching of a tart vinaigrette or sauce with a tart tasting wine.

When eating a dish that is high in fat content, pairing a more astringent wine high in tannins is a great match as the biting taste of the wine cuts through the heaviness of the fatty food. One of the most important rules in a food and wine pairing is not upstaging either the food or the wine. For instance, if you have an amazing wine vintage that you are anxious to show off, do not pair it with a food dish that is elaborate. Instead, an uncomplicated entrée is the perfect showcase for a fabulous wine.

Unspoken Rules

The general consensus for food and wine pairing is that if you have a red meat being served, you complement it with a red wine. For fish, seafood light chicken dishes and even some pork entrees, the wine should be white or even a Riesling or zinfandel. The basic rule of thumb is that if you have a heavy entrée, you do not serve a heavy-bodied wine as that will overwhelm the stomach and tastebuds.

Basically, with food and wine pairings, you do not want a battle of flavors and textures between the two as that detracts from the entire dining experience. Choose a simple wine for elaborate culinary efforts and a more complex wine for simpler fare.

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.