What Foods Compliment Wine?

Wine, essentially a food itself, is complemented byand turkey, a bit more flavourful than chicken, will
an incredibly diverse number of foods. Many winesneed a rich, hearty wine.
and foods were meant to be enjoyed together,For most pork dishes, try a rich wine like Pinot
bringing about each other's nuances and individualBlanc or most all Chardonnays. Ham can be a
characteristics. Long gone are the days of simplychallenge when it comes to matching an
pairing red meat with a Claret or Chablis withappropriate wine because of its highly salty taste
poultry.and strong flavour. Consider a fruity Zinfandel or
When serving acidic dishes containing citrusy foodsPinot Blanc to offset the meat's strong taste.
or sauces with vinegar, stay with an acidic winePair foie gras with a Burgundy in either red or
such as a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or any sparklingwhite, and lamb should be matched with Bordeaux
wine. Pinot Grigio is perfect for lemon basedor any dry, red wines. Beef meals like steaks and
dishes such as Greek salads.roasts are best with tannic wines like a dry
For zesty recipes made with tomato sauces,Cabernet Sauvignon or deep Merlot.
choose a wine with a comparable acidity levelYou will also want to take into consideration the
such as the dry Chianti along with fettuccineway a dish has been prepared when finding foods
prepared with tomato sauce. Fettuccine Alfredo,that compliment a certain type of wine. Foods
on the other hand, is best with a Chardonnay,prepared lightly such as through steaming or
which complements seafood such as lobster mostpoaching will be most appreciated with a wine that
deliciously.is delicate in nature. When foods are prepared
Buttery, creamy sauces should be paired withmore flavourfully through braising, grilling, roasting,
New World Chardonnays that are also flavourful.or sauting, you will want to match the wine with
Marrying similar flavours and textures is an idealthe sauce used.
way of finding foods that compliment wines.In terms of cheese, choose deep, red wines for
Spicy foods can be paired beautifully with sweet,either sharp or mild cheeses and for those with a
dessert wines, causing the two to play off ofstrong, pungent taste, opt for fruity, sweet wines.
each other's opposing flavours. Hot dishes thatFor soft cheeses like brie or camembert, most all
tend to numb the palate need an opposite to helpred wines will be appropriate. Red wines also pair
cleanse the palate.well with hard cheeses such as blue cheese.
Meats, including game meats, pair well with redIf you will be serving more than one wine with
wines such as a classic Burgundy Pinot Noir whoseyour meal, always serve the lighter one first so
flavour accentuates those within the meat.the full bodied wine doesn't interfere with the
Chicken is a versatile food to serve along withfood's taste. Likewise, serve dry wines before
wine as it pairs well with Bordeaux and Burgundiestheir sweeter counterparts unless the main entre
as well as Chardonnay or Pinot Blanc. Duck, quailor similar dish is also sweet in nature.