| Many of us have been there at some point. We're | | | | cream here. Anything which would go well with |
| in a restaurant, trying to decode the wine list to | | | | lemon (poultry, salads, seafood) works well with |
| find a good pairing for our meal. However, you | | | | this wine. It also provides a good contrast to |
| may not be familiar with the wine offerings at the | | | | heavier, creamy sauces. |
| particular restaurant or worse; you may really | | | | One of the rules of pairing wines with foods is to |
| know nothing or next to nothing about wine! | | | | consider the flavors in the food itself. Suppose |
| It could be worse - you could be on a date when | | | | that you'll be having barbecue (wine with |
| this happens to you (you were?! Sorry.) Well, | | | | barbecue? Really?). You want a red here, one |
| keep reading; this article could save you a good | | | | which has both enough acidity and/or enough |
| deal of awkwardness next time you're in charge | | | | body to not be drowned out by the strong |
| of ordering the wine. | | | | flavors of the sauce. A cabernet is just a little too |
| A lot of us are familiar with the old saw "red wine | | | | soft for this, although it is certainly done. A better |
| with red meats or red sauces, white with white | | | | choice, however would be something more |
| meats, seafood and white sauces". While there is | | | | assertive such as an Italian Barbera (with its |
| some truth to this, there is a lot more to know | | | | relatively high acidity) or a Valpolicella (which has |
| about pairing wine with food. | | | | the body to stand up to any BBQ). Another good |
| Some reds are excellent with seafood, such as | | | | and popular choice for this meal would be a red |
| Cote Du Rhone, whose Grenache, Syrah and | | | | Zinfandel, which has pepper and black cherry |
| Mourvedre grapes provide a smoky, pleasantly | | | | flavors which are excellent paired with grilled |
| mineral taste which compliments many fish dishes | | | | meats. |
| as well as any Sauvignon Blanc. Wines produced | | | | So how about whites? Again, we'll go with the grill, |
| from the Gamay grape are also a good pairing | | | | given that grilled foods are a perennial restaurant |
| with seafood and even turkey and duck dishes. | | | | option (and spring is right around the corner). |
| Conversely, there are whites which are excellent | | | | Some good white wine pairings are a crisp, dry |
| with tomato-laden dishes. One example is again | | | | white such as a Semillon or a Pinot Grigio with |
| Sauvignon Blanc (OK, you may not want to drink | | | | grilled vegetables, salads and even fruit (melon is |
| it with your spaghetti marinara, but it is excellent | | | | an especially good pairing with these two whites). |
| IN marinara sauce! Something to remember when | | | | These are also good with a variety of cheeses |
| cooking at home). Speaking of this wine, it is an | | | | ranging from mild Gouda and Havarti to strong |
| easy pairing for many foods - think lemon and | | | | blues. |