Food and Wine Pairing: Iconic Dishes to Serve with White Wine

A glass of white wine served with a crisp, fresh salad

Many wine enthusiasts will agree that a glass of crisp, fresh, zippy white wine can be divine with a large selection of dishes. However, there are some nuances that must be considered when pairing various white wines such as a cool climate Sauvignon Blanc or an oaked Chardonnay. Pairing wine with the right dish can truly elevate your dining experience. Not all foods pair well with all wines. Whether you are at a restaurant or looking to cook something special at home to pair with a bottle of Kingston Estate Chardonnay in your cellar, for example, you would need to follow these simple wine pairing principles to make a good match. Wine Pairing Basics: A Refresher Course We’ve previously discussed the importance of observing the key principles of wine pairing when choosing which dishes are best to serve. These principles are components to consider in both the food and wine are acid, body, texture/tannins, sweetness, richness/alcohol and flavour profile.  Regardless of whether you are pairing a red or white wine, these principles will always be the same. Choosing the right meal to pair with wine comes down to observing the basic taste components of both parties.  For example, an Assyrtiko pairs well with a ceviche because they both have fresh aroma profiles and the acid of the wine also cuts through the fattiness of the raw fish. In addition, if you want to create a complex, layered pairing, contrast a spicy curry with a sweet, off-dry Riesling or Gewurztraminer for balance where the sweetness of the wine balances and compliments the spicy notes of the food.  Iconic Dishes That Pair Well with White Wine Below, we feature some of the most iconic food and white wine pairings for various grape varietals. While these pairings may not be to everyone’s taste, they are the ideal starting guide for those wine enthusiasts that are looking to master wine pairing principles.  Goat cheese and Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre: This pairing is an example of complementing a regional wine with local cuisine. The intensely crisp flavour profile and high acid structure of Sancerre pairs perfectly with the creaminess and saltiness of goat cheese. Perfect with a salad or as a pre-dinner treat.  Lobster and Oak-Aged Chardonnay: The butteriness of oak-aged Chardonnay and the richness of lobster have long been considered as a perfect food and wine marriage. Typically, an oaked Chardonnay, depending on where it comes from, usually offers the best of both a vibrancy and a richness that pair well with shellfish.  Prune and almond tart with Gewurztraminer: A prune and almond dessert offers the perfect combination of nuttiness and tartness to complement the velvety, aromatic nature of a sweet Gewurztraminer.  Thai or Indian curry with German Riesling: German Riesling such as from Alsace or Mosel is the perfect complement for spicier dishes, especially wines with some residual sugar. The sharpness of the zesty flavour profile coupled with slight sweetness perfectly balances the aromatics and heat of curries. Roast duck with Pinot Gris: A …

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The Ultimate Malbec Wine Pairing Ideas

A women drinking a glass of red wine

The Malbec grape variety is a favourite among many sommeliers, industry professionals, and wine aficionados because a good Malbec can offer bang for your buck. This dry red wine appeals to many for various reasons including its approachable dark fruity aromas. Indigenous to France, Malbec is typically used both as a blending grape and as a single varietal. Although, nowadays many would be more familiar with a Malbec from Argentina. Another popular reason this red wine is a fan favourite is due to its natural pairing ability with various dishes such as red meat, cheese, herbs and spices. Below, we delve deeper into how best to serve this wine and the pairings you should consider at your next dinner party.  Malbec: How Best to Serve This Wine The proper service of wine is an element of the wine tasting experience that many don’t pay enough attention to. We’ve spoken previously about how a wine’s serving temperature can impact both its aroma and taste profile. This is true for all wines, including red wines such as Malbec.  There is a misconception that full-bodied, red wines should be served at room temperature or above 21℃ (70℉). This is far from the truth. Instead, for a big red like Malbec to maintain its round tannins and lush mouthfeel, it benefits from slight cooling.  Place in the fridge for 25 minutes and cool to between 17-21°C (63 – 69℉), then proceed to serve in a large red wine glass with a good surface area. This will allow for the wine to breathe allowing the aroma profile to open up.  4 Wine Pairings to Try With Malbec Now that you understand how to serve Malbec, let’s look at the various food pairing options that you can enjoy with a glass of this delicious red varietal.  Salmon Tartare Appetizer  While Malbec is often thought of as a bold, full-bodied red wine that doesn’t mean it can’t be paired with a pre-dinner appetizer. In fact, many sommeliers note that an elegant appetizer such as this Salmon Tartare by Saveur using a mixture of soy sauce, cilantro, and a skinless salmon filet is a perfect match.  Since salmon is a fattier, richer fish it can pair well with a  young, medium body Malbec.  Garlic and Jalapeño Bison Burgers  An Argentinian Malbec is capable of complementing and balancing juicy, red meats such as sirloin steak and gamey, earthy meats such as bison or buffalo. If you are looking for a main dish that will leave a lasting impression, this Garlic and Jalapeño bison burger recipe by Primal Palate is a must-try.  The spiciness of the jalapeño combined with the richness of the meat pairs well with the full bodiness of the wine ensuring that neither element overpowers the other.  Vegetable Beef Stew  A hearty beef and vegetable stew such as this recipe by the Spruce Eats is an ideal pairing with Malbec. Packed with flavour, this stew calls for a wine that is as hearty, intense, and comforting as …

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Your Food And Wine Pairing Guide For Winter

Make sure that your food and wine pairing this winter is everything that you want it to be: comforting, cozy and utterly delicious.

  Winter Food And Wine Pairing: Why Hearty Reds Will Steal The Show The winter season brings with it not only colder weather but also delectable wine and food pairing options. As the temperatures begin to drop and comforting objects such as sweaters and slippers become prominent once more, we begin to crave soul-comforting meals.   Evenings spent by the fireside and annual family gatherings are often accented by hearty stews, creamy cheese selections and decadent dark chocolate. With our food preferences shifting towards more rich and full-flavoured textures during the winter months so must our wine choices.  For many, hearty reds always steal the show. Their ability to perfectly complement a wide variety of comforting meal options such as lamb, beef and winter vegetables makes it a fool-proof wine option this winter.  Best Wines To Pair With Winter Food: Have a holiday party coming up? Want to plan a special winter meal for you and your family? If you are unsure which wines to choose when pairing with winter food, take some inspiration for our list of the best wine styles to try this season.  Malbec If you are looking for a food and wine pairing that is more robust and flavourful then choosing a Malbec will never guide you in the wrong direction. This is a medium to full-bodied wine that offers ripe flavours of black cherry, plum, cocoa, sweet tobacco and blackberry.  A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, Malbec has great cold-weather appeal. Consider pairing this robust structured red wine with meat-driven dishes such as roasted pork or mushroom stuffed peppers. To ramp up the intensity, serve your guests this wine with a mellow blue cheese such as Stilton or Barkham Blue.  Shiraz Shiraz is a sublime choice during the winter months. This wine offers a beautifully rich and complex profile and is notable for its blackberry, dried currant, mocha and earthy aromas. With big fruit flavours on the palate and grippy tannins, this wine is a pairing delight for your winter feast.  A warm, fruity Shiraz should be paired with beefy stews such as a braised oxtail or seared lamb chops with a rosemary balsamic reduction. If pairing with cheese, choose a strong cheese such as cheddar to compliment the boldness of the wine.  Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon is known as being one of the classic red wines to enjoy during the winter season. It’s rich, smooth taste and elevated tannins make this wine ooze with charm. Offering notes of cedar, blackcurrant, plum and chocolate this wine is perfect for the festive season.  Pair this wine with both meat-focused and comforting vegetarian dishes. When serving with meat, choose meat with a heavier texture such as steak or venison. For vegetarian dishes, consider pairing with a warming mushroom risotto or a pinto bean BBQ burger with roasted red peppers.  Pinot Noir A lighter red wine than the options mentioned above, Pinot Noir is a beautifully versatile wine for the winter season. A classic served at many festive holiday parties. Due to …

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Wine Pairing Principles: The Art Of Pairing Wine And Cheese

pairing wine and cheese

Almost like siblings, wine and cheese have spent centuries enjoyed alongside each other. In many regions, beloved pairings have been a staple of dinner tables and dessert courses, and have been adapted to better complement each other. Both food and wine are quite subjective, and even the most popular wines and cheeses have their detractors. This makes pairing wine and cheese an art rather than a science. However, there are a few principles that should be kept in mind while pairing wine and cheese. Building pairings with these rules in mind will help you craft delicious matches for even the most complex and unusual wines.   Wine And Cheese Pairings: A Perfect Match  There are many historical ‘rules’ for wine and cheese pairings, but all of them should be taken with a grain of salt. Ultimately, tasting and experimenting are the only ways to know which pairings work best for your palate. It’s important to remember that wine and cheese evolved during a period when travel was unusual. Local wine would have been consumed with local cheeses, and the bacteria and yeasts that helped to create flavours in a cheese would have also been responsible for creating the wines from the same region. It’s why they go so well together.  The globalization of trade has meant that we can find wines and cheeses from around the world. And pairings need to go beyond the simple regional match.  4 Rules To Follow When Pairing Wine And Cheese: Instead of sticking by the old, outdated rules, these more modern suggestions will help you pick your newest favourite pairing. Consider Intensity The most basic guideline is to match wine and cheese in terms of intensity. This means that lighter wines like a Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc will better complement lighter, unaged cheeses like Brie, or Ricotta, while a more robust Rioja can stand up to a heartier cheese like an Aged Gouda or Manchego. However, matching intensity with intensity is like a one note song. And contrasts between a wine and a cheese can be magical. Pair Salty With Sweet Eating salty cheeses like Parmesan or Pecorino Romano with a bubbly wine like Prosecco or Champagne are great complementary pairings because the acid of these wines causes the mouth to salivate, compensating for the saltiness in the cheese. A salty blue cheese goes well with a sweet wine like Sauternes or Port for a similar reason. Contrast Sparkling With A Creamy Texture Another great way to highlight a sparkling wine is with a creamy, rich cheese. A sweet, creamy cheese like Brie might be overwhelming with a sweet wine like Port, but a sparkling wine like Champagne has crisp acidity, which helps to cut through the intense creaminess by providing textural contrast. Region Is Key Many of the best wine and cheese pairings have a history of being prepared in the same region. Both wine and cheese are so closely connected to each other and have the ability to reflect the terroir of the …

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The 5 Best Wine Pairings For A BBQ

When hosting a summer BBQ, too many people make the mistake of assuming that these events call for beer rather than wine. Often, that’s because they’re unsure of which wine pairings for BBQ offer the most flavour. If you’re planning a barbecue this summer, explore some options for wine pairings, in addition to other beverages like beer and soda. There are some great barbecue-friendly wines available. To avoid overpowering the subtle flavours of the wine with smoky barbecue and rich meat, it’s integral to find a pairing that offers complimentary, rather than competing flavours. Choosing The Best Wine For Your Summer BBQ When choosing the best wine for your summer BBQ, you’ll need to determine the menu first. There are some well-rounded wines that offer plenty of pairing possibilities, but knowing what you plan on serving allows you to make more specific pairings. Although a crisp summer white is always appealing, there are plenty of red wines that complement barbecue well.  If you select a red wine, and it’s hot outside, make sure to chill the bottle briefly before serving. Most people don’t chill red wine when drinking it inside, but the ideal serving temperature is between 55-65°F, or around 15°C. If it’s too hot outdoors, a warm red won’t appeal. Pairing Considerations To Keep In Mind From the meat, to the preparation, to the flavours and sauces added, there are lots of elements to keep in mind when pairing wine for a barbecue. The best pairings create a balance between all the flavours in both the wine and the food. Type of Meat The meat components in a barbecue are most often beef, pork, chicken, or fish. Typical pairing wisdom suggests that darker meat, like hamburgers, steak, or pork ribs, goes best with red wines, while chicken wings, seafood, and fish goes with white wine. Ideally, you should match the intensity of the wine to the meat. Although a hamburger is made of beef, it doesn’t offer as much intense flavouring as a tenderloin or tomahawk steak and can be paired with much lighter-bodied wines. Flavour of Sauce Another element of the food to keep in mind for barbecue wine pairings is the sauce. Whether you’re using an herb-forward rub or a marinade that relies primarily on citrus, it will affect the overall flavour of the dish. Best 5 Summer BBQ Wine Pairings Most people assume that the smoky flavors in barbecue will be complemented by a strong, oaky red. Although this pairing might appeal to some, try to find complementary flavors rather than competing flavors. Here are some wines that pair well with a variety of barbecue dishes. Pinot Noir Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied red wine that is prized for its savoury, fruit-forward taste. It’s one of the most popular wines in the world, and pairs extremely well with the smokiness of barbecue. It offers plenty of complementing flavours without overpowering the food. If you’re serving a lighter dish like grilled calamari, or chicken, look for a …

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A Helpful Guide To Pairing Wine And Chocolate

Pairing wine and chocolate certainly sounds like a match made in heaven. But getting the pairing right is another matter. These ingredients can overpower the palate and matching the wrong wine with dessert could result in a tasting disaster. Below, we will talk you through our helpful guide to ensure you can confidently pair chocolate and wine at your next wine tasting or dinner party. Wine And Chocolate: An Ideal Wine Pairing Many wine tasters have trouble pairing chocolate desserts and wine. To master this pairing, you need to understand the structural components of each ingredient and how they interact with each other. Although some argue that the success of this pairing is largely subjective, there are a number of principles that you can use to guide you. The flavour, acidity, weight and length of wine will have a much larger impact on the texture and sweetness of chocolate than some may anticipate.   However, with the right guidance and practice pairing wine and chocolate will become a simple task. Tips For Successfully Pairing Wine And Chocolate As we mentioned, a successful pairing of wine and chocolate comes with an in-depth understanding of the relationship and affinities between these two ingredients. Both are capable of leaving a lasting impression on the palate, so knowing how to balance their characteristics is essential. Below, we will mention the top considerations that you must keep in mind when choosing which wine to pair with chocolate and vice versa. Keep Tannins In Mind As you may know, tannins are naturally occurring compounds in grapes. Yet, they are also present in chocolate. The higher the percentage of cacao, the more tannins there are. You should try to avoid pairing a tannin-heavy wine with tannin-rich chocolate. For instance, if you are serving a chocolate mousse with a high cacao content, it is best to consider pairing with a wine that offers a fuller body, robust aroma or an intense fruit inspired flavour profile. Zindanfels can be a great pairing for tannin-rich dark chocolate due to their dense fruit flavour and higher alcohol levels. The fact that Zinfandel tends to have lower and softer tannins also means they do not clash with the tannins in chocolate. Start Sweeter An easier pairing method is to try to err on the side of sweetness. Choosing a wine that is slightly sweeter than your chocolate-themed dessert will usually ensure a successful pairing. As both wine and chocolate carry a natural intensity, the two ingredients can often partake in a palate power display. To create a friendly balance between the two, let the chocolate take the leading role while the wine supports with a slightly sweeter aftertaste. For example, consider pairing with a fortified Port, Madeira or an Italian sparkling wine such as the Fattoria Conca d’Oro. Pair Weight With Weight Pairing a full-bodied wine with lighter flavoured chocolate will ultimately diminish the elegance of the chocolate. That is why it is important to consider weight when pairing wine and chocolate. …

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Wine Pairing: Mastering The Principles

Matching food with the right wine is more than just pairing white wine with fish. Knowing how the components of both food and wine compliment and contrast with one another can do wonders for enhancing a dining experience. This article will look into the structural elements and subtle intricacies that affect how wine and food are paired with each other. How To Master Wine Pairing The components that make up varieties of wine and food are complicated. Yet, when paired correctly can offer a beautiful harmony between the two. Mastering the principles of wine pairing takes practice. Some say that with wine pairing you can never go wrong, you can only continue to learn. While this is true, by having a deeper understanding of how the structural elements and components of wine and food react with one another when dining can help you better decipher how to master wine pairing more efficiently. Key Wine Pairing Principles As wine tasters, we are aware that some individuals’ wine tasting skills will be more advanced than others and not everyone will be able to pick up on the nature of a wine in the same way. Similarly, wine pairing can be quite subjective.  Individual and personal preference can often play a factor in how a dish is paired with a bottle of wine. With that being said, there are key wine pairing principles that when understood and followed can help make your dining and tasting experience both harmonious and enjoyable.   Body With Body Pay attention to textual components such as the body or weight of food and wine. You may have heard that “red wine should be paired with red meat” and “white wine should be matched with fish.” While this isn’t wrong, per se, the reason these are often associated with each other is due to their similar palate weights. Generally, a full-bodied red wine will be paired with food that is richer, chewier and may have a higher oil content. However, that is not to say that all red wines should only be served with heavy meat dishes. For example, a medium-bodied Pinot Noir from Burgundy can be paired perfectly with that a medium-weight fish such as bass. Alternatively, a salty Assyrtiko from Greece can be decanted and served with a pork roast. Pairing dishes and wine based on body similarity is one of the core principles of wine pairing.    Place With Place Often, if you are unsure about the correct pairing that you should go with, matching place with place can be helpful. Regional pairing can provide those who are still learning with a template. For example, a fruity, yet mineral driven Sancerre pairs extremely well with a Chavignol goat cheese from the region. Or a light and elegant Ribolla Gialla matches nicely with a Prosciutto di San Daniele. However, is important to remember that this principle serves only as a general guideline and pairing simply by region is not always the answer.   Contrast Vs Compliment Determining …

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Best Food and Wine Combinations for the Cottage

Cottage living in Canada means clean air, star-filled nights and, of course, lots of opportunity to barbeque. And a great glass of wine goes with any of these simple pleasures. During those lazy July and August days, a chilled white or rosé wine is perfect. Not only are these usually naturally lower in alcohol than most reds, but they refresh your palate. However, many of the great summer foods cry out for red wines, and this can work if they are lighter bodied or even served a little chilled. Just picture it … sitting by the dock, soaking up the sun and enjoying a glass of wine. Doesn’t it make you forget winter? Cottage Food Cooking After running away from civilization in favour of easy cottage living, the last thing we want to do is slave away in the kitchen for hours on end. The best cottage dishes involve a barbeque and as little work as possible. Recently, The Food Network compiled a list of “24 Make-Ahead Cottage Dishes”. We thought it would be fun to highlight some of the best wines the world has to offer to pair with them. When you find yourself planning meals for your next cottage trip, try to include some of these great pairings 1. Sticky Spicy Slow-Cooked Ribs Perfect for a barbecue at the cottage, these sweet and spicy ribs are easy to make and are guaranteed to become quite messy. It’s important to have some napkins on hand in order to clean your hands before holding your wine glass. View recipe. Any red meats such as ribs are better enjoyed when served with a lighter bodied and fruity wine like a Valpolicella or Beaujolais. But these sweeter ribs call for a red with quite a bit of ripeness, like a California Zinfandel . Another option is the Zinfandel blend from Tierra Divina. This can be served slightly chilled. Tierra Divina Reds$22.40 / Bottle\ Rreds is deeply colored, aromatic, and deep, but with a lift to the finish. This description mirrors the three traditional components of REDS: petite sirrah, carignane, and zinfandel. Petite sirrah is deeply colored – is there any other varietal which makes such a black wine? Carignane imparts a white pepper, minerally component, which is distinctly aromatic and shines through the fruitiness of zinfandel, which itself provides the backbone and depth of Reds. 2. Harissa Marinated Chicken Skewers with Couscous Marinade these chicken skewers before you leave on your trip so they can soak up all the fiery-hot harissa flavour. Simply put them on the grill, place over the couscous, serve and enjoy! View recipe. To best compliment this dishes fiery-hot flavours, this light meal option will pair well with a Dry & Fruity Rosé wine such as a Chinon Rose or Rosato. This dish would be best served alongside a refreshing bottle of Rosato from the Marche region of Italy. Azzoni – Rosato 2015$16.00 / Bottle The Azzoni Rosato 2015 offers a Tuscan blend of Sangiovese with Ciliegiolo, Lacryma …

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