| There seems to be so many wine types that it is | | | | - Cabernet Sauvignon - This full-bodied and intense |
| almost impossible to choose one or two. But the | | | | wine has berry, peppery, and vanilla qualities that |
| best advice for the novice wine aficionado is to | | | | pair up well with beef, pasta, poultry, and wild |
| start small, and realize that there are really only a | | | | game meats. |
| few types of wines. The decisions are not as | | | | - Merlot - This red wine has hints of berry, plum, |
| imposing as you think. | | | | black cherry, spice and tobacco. Merlot is a softer |
| These six wines will make a good match for | | | | and more supple red wine than Cabernet |
| most flavors, and will satisfy even the most | | | | Sauvignon. It works well when paired up with |
| discriminating palate. The three white wines taste | | | | poultry and lamb. |
| especially good with almost all grilled fish, poultry, | | | | - Pinot Noir - This wine is more delicate than |
| or shellfish recipes. The three red wines will dare | | | | either Cabernet or Merlot. It has a hint of spicy |
| to go beyond just the red meat that they are | | | | cherries and earthy nuances that create a nice |
| normally paired with. | | | | complex flavor. Pinot Noir pairs up well with beef |
| White Wines: | | | | and ham. |
| - Chardonnay - Being perhaps the most popular of | | | | Once you decide you want your wine mastery to |
| all white grapes, it has a combination of fruity, | | | | match well with your cooking skills, you should be |
| buttery, and toasty flavors. It is usually a dry | | | | asking these three questions when it comes to |
| wine, and pairs well with many foods, and | | | | selecting a wine. As you consider these questions, |
| especially grilled ones. | | | | keep remembering that you want to pick a wine |
| - Riesling - A light and fruity wine with a hint of a | | | | that has flavors you enjoy. |
| floral fragrance and sweetness, Riesling is a | | | | 1) What is the main ingredient of the recipe, and |
| refreshing choice for salty, spicy, or smokey | | | | what are the flavor additions? In other words, is |
| foods. | | | | the ingredient salty, smoky, or acidic? |
| - Sauvignon Blanc - This is a dry white wine that | | | | 2) How is the dish prepared? Is it grilled, |
| is lighter in color and body than the others. It is | | | | simmered for hours, or smoked? |
| also more citrusy and herbaceous than | | | | 3) What kinds of wines are available, and which |
| Chardonnay. Sauvignon Blanc has an acidic zing | | | | brands will fit your budget best? |
| and is a very food-friendly wine. | | | | Answering these questions will put you on the |
| Red Wines: | | | | right track to pick wine types that fit your style. |