Learn everything you need to know about wine, from grape varietals and growing regions to tasting, serving and pairing with food.
Great wine and food pairings either emphasize the similarities or highlight the differences between the wine and food. In wine, elements are predetermined. But in a recipe, a match can be made by choosing ingredients and cooking methods that complement or contrast with the chosen wine.
Matching wine with food is a personal choice – forget the old rules about red wines with meat and whites with fish. Instead, experiment with different combinations, and take note of the aromas and flavors you like. Pull off a good match with these considerations:
As a general rule, wines are better appreciated when they progress from light to heavy over the course of the meal, with white wines served before reds, and dry wines before sweet ones. Sweet dessert wines should taste sweeter than the food they are served with.
Conventional pairings came about to complement or contrast the main ingredient of a dish. For example, white wine has traditionally been paired with fish because its tactile elements – light food and light wine – are complementary. The same rule applies for heavy red meats and full-bodied red wines. But often the dominant flavors of a dish come from other ingredients instead, such as cooking fats, sauces, spices or herbs, that have affinities with particular wines.
Cooking methods influence the aromas, tastes and textures of foods and figure prominently in the wine match. Charcoal-grilled foods pair well with oaky wines because they complement the smoky elements of both partners. Braising adds weight and richness to foods, helping them form a stronger link to fuller-bodied wine styles.
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Caviar Shellfish |
Smoked fish Double and triple-cream cheeses |
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Fish Shellfish |
Green vegetables Goat & sheep cheeses |
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Poultry & Charcuterie |
Exotic spices Citrus |
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Poultry & Fish & Shellfish |
Butter & cream Cow's milk cheeses |
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Smoked meats Charcuterie & sausage |
Bold spices Mild or strong cheeses |
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Sausage & charcuterie Mild red meats |
Cherries & berries Aged or strong cheeses |
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Red meats & Pork & veal |
Mushrooms & truffles Woody herbs |
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Red meats & Sausages |
Black pepper Aged hard cheeses & blue cheeses |
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Chocolate Blue cheeses |
Nuts Dried fruit |
