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Introduction to Food and Wine Pairing
Eating what you like with a glass of your favorite wine is a great idea; eating should be a singular pleasure. But food and wine pairings are not a solitary affair. When did you last see a restaurant full of people eating alone?
Because the most enjoyable meals are shared, knowing how to create the perfect food and wine pairings will guarantee a stellar dining experience every time.
To get started, we have to think like sommeliers. Some food goes better with certain types of wine, and there is a tug-of-war between science and tradition in every successful match. So, pairing food with wine is a creative endeavor, like a chemistry experiment.
The following tips will jumpstart your ability to create outstanding pairings.
SOMM TIP
Pairing food and wine is more about your guests than yourself. You don’t want to be a culinary narcissist. On the other hand, you can’t assume just because you like a pairing, then everyone else will, too. Read on for tips on how to make sure everyone loves your parings.
Top Four Food and Wine Pairing Methods
Pair by Weight
Whether talking about salads or stews, you can intrinsically determine the overall weight. A mixed green salad is lighter than a more substantial salad with feta cheese, roasted peppers, and olives. Grilled chicken breasts are lighter than roast chicken. The sauce, dressing, amount of fat, and calories all (literally) weigh in.
You can also measure wine by weight. Heavy wines go well with rich dishes, and light wines go well with light dishes.
Here’s an example: A California Zinfandel is weightier than a Sonoma Merlot, while the Merlot is heavier than a Carneros Pinot. As a result, a hearty dish such as short ribs will complement the Zinfandel but completely overwhelm the Pinot. On the other hand, Merlot and roasted chicken are both medium-weight and perfect.
A note about white wines: Oak-aged wines from warm weather regions are bigger than those aged in stainless steel. Heavy whites go better with cooked fatty fish and poultry, while lighter ones are better with sashimi and sushi plates.
Pair by Cooking Method
The way you cook something alters its pairing possibilities. For example, a grilled lobster tail might work better with a full-bodied Chardonnay; poached lobster pairs nicely with a subtle Pinot Gris; lobster ceviche plays deftly with a coastal Sauvignon Blanc.
Grilling or roasting allows pairing with more assertive, weighty wines. If the fish is delicate, the wine should be, too.
Pair to Complement
Leaving weight aside, you can marry food with wines with similar flavors and aromas. Earthy Burgundian Pinot Noirs can have notes of undergrowth and mushrooms, making them a complementary match for an Old World ragout—a creamy, buttery Chardonnay pairs with equally creamy sauces.
Cabernet Sauvignon can taste like bell peppers –hello, pyrazines!– so grilled peppers on the side might enhance any pairing. The same principle applies to Syrah and its white pepper aroma, which beautifully enhances a steak au poivre. Classic wine and food pairings are often complementary.
Pair by Contrast
Conversely, contrasting flavors can make an enticing match. Spicy food with spicy wine can be overwhelming; pair your Indian or Szechuan food with wine with a hint of sweetness, and the combination will work perfectly. Enhance oysters au gratin with a tangy, crisp white wine that cuts through the dish’s heartiness. Or be daring and pair sparkling wine with fried foods: Champagne with fried chicken is an unforgettable tasting experience!
SOMM TIP
Not everyone experiences red wine the same way. For a sizeable minority, the flavors in red wine are masked by an overwhelming bitterness. Foods that are high in protein or fat will alleviate that effect. This is why steak is often the recommended pairing with tannic red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon.
More Food and Wine Pairing Ideas
Local Food and Wine Pairings
Local food evolved to harmonize with local wine, especially in regions with long winemaking traditions. Tomato-based Italian dishes pair nicely with a Primitivo, while bratwurst and sauerkraut are enlivened with German or Alsatian whites. Beef bourguignon loves earthy Pinots, and cured meats burst with flavor next to a Rioja. Even New World cuisines are shaped by Old-World cooking; if you look for the origin of a dish, you will likely find a regional wine that pairs well. This is one instance where spending time researching can yield big rewards.
Pairing Dessert
Desserts are challenging to pair. The traditional rule is that the wine must be sweeter than the dessert, but not many people drink super-sweet wine. It’s possible to pair chocolate desserts with dry red wine, but the wine must be rich and jammy: think Aussie Shiraz or old-vine Zinfandel. Adding red berry coulis or marmalade will mirror the fruity aromas of these red wines, enhancing the enjoyment of the pairing.
You may even want to seek out some of your local vineyards!
SOMM TIP
Restaurants use several culinary hacks to create a sure-to-please wine pairing. But be warned, this is also why restaurant food is often unhealthy!
Increasing fat, salt, and sugar will mask incompatible flavors in food. High-alcohol wines do this, too. So, essentially, any flaw can be overwhelmed by an onslaught of delicious flavors.
Be aware of these tricks of the trade, and you can become a more discriminating (and healthier) consumer.
Pair with the Occasion
Brut Champagne tastes odd with wedding cake, but this day demands celebratory wine. No one wants to toast with a Moscato on the most important day of their lives, even if it’s the better match! A value-oriented Cava or Prosecco will have the same effect without sacrificing your budget.
Pair with the People
Once you have a bit of experience, it’s easy to select wines for your palate. But that’s not the goal of pairing, remember? You should continually assess your dining companions’ wine knowledge, experience, and expectations. A Grand Cru dry Riesling might work beautifully with coconut shrimp, but if your friends are all beer drinkers, pop open a less contemplative wine or, even better, a fancy beer.
If you want to pair your wine up a notch, it may be time to add some wine terminology to your vocabulary! If you want to enjoy your event, you may even want to hire a sommelier for your food and wine pairing event!
All-Around Pairings
When in doubt, pour some bubbles. Sparkling wine’s tight acidity and freshness pair well with any dish, whether in contrast or as a complement. A palate cleanser if you wish, Champagne elevates any part of the dining experience.
Wine Pairings Chart
Many sites offer a wine and food pairing chart (pdf), and some market a food and wine pairing app. These appear to be helpful and possibly scientific, but they don’t help at all.
Experiment
Trends in food and wine are constantly changing. Don’t be afraid to take a risk with a low-sulfite wine or one made from an obscure grape. Trying something new can be exciting for you and your guests if you share the experience. Once you begin to trust your palate, you can take more significant risks. With bigger risks come big rewards!
Earn Your Sommelier Certifications
You can learn how to become a sommelier at the Wine School in Philadelphia. You can register for our in-person sommelier courses if you live in the Philadelphia region. We offer an Advanced Food & Wine Certification program.
Our wine programs, both online and in person, have been ranked as the top sommelier courses by SOMM.
If you live elsewhere, check out the National Wine School. FYI, we also offer their online sommelier programs for a hefty discount to our friends across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wines go with what foods?
The art of food and wine pairing can be complicated when trying for a sommelier-level pairing, but it’s not hard if you want the pairing not to taste bad.
What is the best food and wine combination?
A top food and wine pairing is brut Champagne with potato chips. The bubbles’ high acidity is a fantastic contrast to the fat and salt.
What are the two basic rules when pairing food and wine?
The two basic rules for pairing food and wine are (first) never buy an expensive bottle of wine, and (two) be very wary of tannic red wines.
What should you avoid when pairing food and wine?
Tannic red wines are often unsuitable for pairing with food. About 20% of the population is genetically wired to dislike them, and only a narrow band of dishes goes well with overly bitter red wines.
loved this article! I felt somewhat knowledgeable as I knew much of what he suggested, coming out of high-end restaurant industry, but now I feel certain when assisting my guests in selecting wines to pair perfectly with dinner! Thank you.
Great tips for wine and food pairings…especially for the beginner.