There is nothing better than an exquisite glass of wine when it’s paired with a delicious meal. Some wine lovers know the perfect wine to go with their meal. Others wonder how to make the perfect food and wine pairing to make the best out of their dining experience. If you’re looking for the basics of food and wine pairings, look no further:
Identify Tastes
Both food and wine have different categories of taste. Every food lover will tell you that there are over twenty different tastes found in food. Luckily when it comes to pairing with wine, you will only need to know six of the different tastes: salt, acidic, sweet, bitter, fat and spice. It’s important to become familiar with the acidity, sweet and bitter tastes of wine. Each type of wine will have a different taste. Sweet wines are sweeter, sparkling wines tend to have more acidity, and red wines are usually more bitter. Be sure to think about the intensity with each taste to determine if a wine is more bold or light, or if a food is really rich or light. Remember that the flavors of the wine should be just as intense as the food.
Contrasting and Congruent Pairings
After knowing the tastes of your food and wine, it’s time to start pairing. When it comes to food and wine pairings, there are two methods. A contrasting pairing finds a balance between the contrasting tastes of the food and wine. Congruent pairings find a balance by amplifying similar flavors between the two. Pairing dry sparkling wines, like a brut Champagne or Spanish cava, with salty foods makes a contrasting pairing. Dry sparkling wines tend to have a bit of sweetness, which makes salty foods much more refreshing. For a great congruent pairing, consider pairing a glass of chardonnay with a vinaigrette salad. Both are acidic and complement each other well in taste.
Wine and Favorite Foods
There is a glass of wine to pair perfectly with some of your favorite dishes. The fatty tastes of macaroni and cheese go great with high acidity of Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon. If you’re into red wines and looking for the perfect dish to go with it, consider pairing it with bold flavored red meats like cumin-spiced burgers and steaks. Fish and chicken dishes, which are low-intensity meats, pair best with white wines like Arneis or Chablis. All of your favorite dishes can be paired with an equally delicious wine. Don’t be shy; play around with different pairings. Enjoy the sweet and savory pairings of each dish.