| Types of Wines and Pairing Each with FoodWhen | | | | wines drinkable sooner they are often blended |
| only one variety of grapes is used to make a | | | | with other grapes. French Bordeaux is mostly |
| wine, the wine is called a varietal and is named | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot to soften |
| after that grape. Regulations vary by location, but | | | | the tannins. When blended with Merlot and |
| in California at least 75% of the juice in a wine | | | | perhaps Cabernet Franc as well, this Bordeaux |
| must be of a particular grape in order for the | | | | style blend is called Meritage in the United |
| wine to be labeled as a varietal.Pairing White | | | | States.Food and Wine Pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Wines with FoodChardonnay | | | | is the classic wine to serve with red meats.Merlot |
| (Shar-doe-nay)This popular dry white wine is | | | | (Mare-lo)Merlot is softer tasting than Cabernet |
| more full bodied than other white wines. | | | | Sauvignon due to having less tannins. It is a |
| Chardonnay has aromas of fruits and acidity. The | | | | smooth, dry wine. Merlot is often described as |
| aroma typically has flavors of lemon or grapefruit. | | | | having the flavors of boysenberry, black cherry, |
| Fermentation in new oak barrels results in a rich, | | | | herbs, and mocha.Food and Wine Pairing: Merlot is |
| buttery taste often described as toastiness, | | | | best with poultry and grilled meats, but actually |
| vanilla, apple, nutty, or toffee. Chardonnays aged | | | | goes well with most foods.Pinot Noir |
| in French oak result in a milder flavor than those | | | | (Pee-no Na-wahr)Pinot Noir is a smooth silky wine |
| aged in American oak.Food and Wine Pairing: | | | | that is extremely fruity. It is characterized with |
| Chardonnay goes well with chicken, seafood, and | | | | aromas and flavors of black cherry or rose petals |
| fish.Sauvignon Blanc | | | | along with hints of spiciness or herbal qualities. |
| (So-veen-yawn-blah)Lighter than Chardonnay, | | | | Pinot Noirs are enjoyed for their soft velvety |
| Sauvignon Blanc usually has a grassy citrus aroma. | | | | texture. High in alcohol, they are full bodied but |
| Flavors range from apple, pear, green tea, limes | | | | not heavy.Food and Wine Pairing: Pinot Noir is best |
| and freshly mowed grass. You can often detect a | | | | served with grilled salmon, roast beef, lamb, duck, |
| little smokiness. California Sauvignon Blancs | | | | and mushrooms.Sangiovese |
| sometimes have a melon flavor. This is a crisp | | | | (San-gee-oh-ve-zee)Sangiovese is a medium |
| light wine with a strong acid finish. It is also called | | | | bodied dry wine with earthy aromas and berry, |
| Fume Blanc. | | | | plum, spicy, or floral flavors. It has a smooth |
| American Sauvignon Blanc tends to be grassier | | | | texture. Sangiovese is the main grape used to |
| than those produced in New Zealand.Food and | | | | produce Italian Chiantis.Food and Wine Pairing: |
| Wine Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with salads, | | | | Sangiovese goes especially well with pasta and |
| poultry, seafood, and cheese.Riesling | | | | other Italian foods.Barbera |
| (Rees-ling)Rieslings have a floral aroma. They | | | | (Bar-bear-uh)Barbera is often used as a blending |
| range from very dry and crisp to intensely sweet | | | | grape. As a varietal it can exhibit aromas of |
| depending on where it is from. German Riesling is | | | | berries, plums, or cherries with hints of vanilla, |
| slightly sweet and balanced with some acidity. | | | | toasty, or smoky flavors.Food and Wine Pairing: |
| California Riesling tends to be sweeter.Food and | | | | Tomato based pasta dishes are perfect matches |
| Wine Pairing: Rieslings go well with chicken, fish, | | | | to serve with Barbera.Syrah |
| pork, and spicy foods.Gewurztraminer | | | | (Sah-ra)Syrah is a hearty wine noted for its |
| (Gah-vurtz-tra-meener)Gewurztraminer has a | | | | complexity of aromas and flavors including |
| spicy aroma and fruity flavors of peach, apricot, | | | | raspberry, plum, smoke, and white pepper. It is a |
| tropical fruits, and lychee. It can be dry or | | | | dark red wine, sometimes almost black in color. |
| sweet.Food and Wine Pairing: Gewurztraminers go | | | | This wine is also called Shiraz.Food and Wine |
| especially well with spicy Asian dishes and pork | | | | Pairing: Syrah is great eaten with duck, wild game, |
| sausages.Pinot Grigio | | | | steak, and beef.Zinfandel |
| (Pea-no-gree-zhe-oh)Pinot Grigio is light and crispy | | | | (Zin-fan-dell)Zinfandel can be light to full bodied. It |
| with almond, lemon, and vanilla flavors. These | | | | can be rich and spicy or lighter and fruitier. |
| wines are also called Pinot Gris.Food and Wine | | | | Aromas and flavors that are typical include |
| Pairing: Pinot Grigio goes well with seafood and | | | | raspberry, jam, black pepper, and licorice.Food and |
| salmon.Pairing Red Wines with FoodCabernet | | | | Wine Pairing: Zinfandel is wonderful with steaks, |
| Sauvignon | | | | grilled meats, and tomato based dishes.Kathy and |
| (Ca-burr-nay So-veen-yawn)Cabernet Sauvignon | | | | her husband Steve spend much of their free time |
| is a rich full-bodied wine. Aged in oak, this is a | | | | involved with enjoying and tasting wine. Their |
| complex wine with cassis and blackberry flavors | | | | Web Site, reflects their interest in wine and |
| as well as hints of bell pepper. To make these | | | | exploring the wine regions of California. |