You can find numerous guides about wine pairing. Unfortunately, those tips have so many wine jargons you don’t understand. Instead of learning how to pair your wine, you only end up more confused about it.
Don’t worry, after you finish reading this guide you will know what type of wine you should order the next time you’re out for a fancy dinner. You also can start collecting wine for various dishes you enjoy at home.
Why use the cardinal rule
Most people use the cardinal rule on pairing wine. That is to have red wine with red meat such as steak and other game meats. And white wine for fish and chicken.
You may think it’s a dumbed-down guide to wine pairing. Match the meat color with the wine for the best result. But it has some technical reasoning behind it. Mainly it’s about the dish’s ingredients and how the wine can match or even amplify the flavors.
The right combination can give you an unforgettable dining experience. Another plus side is you’re enriching your palate by having various flavors hitting your tongue. This rule uses the wine’s flavor base to match the dish.
Red wine is generally full-bodied and fruity with high acidity. Therefore it’s often paired with steak, pizza, or pasta dishes that are heavy with meat. That is to cut down the fat flavor in the dish. On the contrary, white wine has a sharper and tart flavor. Thus it’s perfect for fish dishes that can be both heavy or light in spices.
Keep in mind that each wine is different. Cabernet and Merlot are red wines, yet they have very different flavors. And they match different types of dishes as well. Going the cardinal rule is the safest method to pair your wine, but it doesn’t guarantee you will have the experience you deserve.
The crucial four tips to guide you
You can always rely on the maitre d’ or the sommelier for their help on wine recommendations. But what if you’re on your own and are about to host a party? Use these four tips to start wine tasting and pairing.
- Pair cheese with white wine and sparkling
Many people believe that cheese matches all types of wine. They forget that there are different types of cheese, just like there are various types of wines.
During a cheese tasting event, you can see how they only provide white wine, Champagne, and Rose. It’s because the sweet white wine and sparkling can both highlight or complement the cheese flavors.
But it’s a different case when it’s a wine-tasting event. The salty cheese and crackers act as palate cleansers. Sometimes they have hors’ de oeuvres or tapas to enjoy with the wine. The sommelier working with the event organizer has curated the flavors that will complement the wine selection.
- Contrasting Wine Pairing
As the name suggests, the idea is to pair the wine with dishes with contrasting flavors. This method will highlight the differences most pleasingly. It won’t be a clash of flavors in your mouth.
However, some people may not enjoy this technique. Having a contrasting pairing is not easy to have as you need to have a more advanced palate. But that’s not always the case, as you can do a quick trial and error method to figure out the best pairing.
- Congruent Pairing
Unlike the contrast method, you are looking for a wine that will complement the dish’s flavor. It doesn’t matter if you’re drinking before or after the meal, your wine will help you enjoy the dish even more.
This technique matches well with the cardinal rule of pairing red meat with red wine and white meat with white wine. But when you taste more wines and can differentiate the flavors, you will start seeing them in a different light.
A popular example of congruent pairing is the classic combination of Spaghetti Carbonara with a glass of Chardonnay. The wine’s light yet sharp flavor complements the creaminess of the egg and cheese in the pasta dish.
- Know the Wine’s origins
Most of the wines as you know share the same name with the grapes they have as main ingredients. You can use this information to figure out if the wine will be sweet or tart. Of course, the process will alter the final taste. But the base will stay the same no matter what.
Another thing to note is where the brands come from. Nowadays, almost every country has a vineyard that produces wine for the public. But even though they are using the same grapes, Riesling that grew in South Africa will taste different from the one from Australia.
Only choose the wine you know and enjoy
Being adventurous is fine, but when it comes to wine, you should know the basics of what you enjoy and what not. It doesn’t mean changing your diet to match the wine taste. Instead, you need to find the delicate balance of wine that you like and how to incorporate it into your diet.
Another thing you need to know is how to store your wine. You don’t have to own a wine cellar, but a rack will do. However, ensure that the rack stays in a dark, dry, and cool place.
Don’t forget to cork the bottle soon after opening it. The longer you expose the wine to oxygen, the flavor will dissipate faster. With that logic, you need to store the wine upright. When you store your wine on the side after opening, you are exposing more surfaces to the oxygen that snuck through.
Eventually, wine is a matter of personal preference. You can choose any wine you enjoy to pair with any dishes you have. However, you still need to use the basic pairing technique, that is to contrast or be congruent. As you try more wine and dishes, you are teaching your palate to know what works best. And this is the key to having the best experience in pairing wine.
