When was the last time someone, (a friend of yours)
tried to “fix you up” for an evening of fun and romance?
For the majority of us, it turned out to be an evening
we never forgot (one way or the other). The evening
however could not have been a total waste since the
match either worked, or it did not, in which case there
was something learned.
It takes a very special knowledge of personalities to attempt to match any one person or thing, with any other person or thing, whether it is people or food and wine that we aspire to bring together.
The following are the rules that will aid you in making the perfect match when it comes to food and wine.
THERE ARE NO RULES!!!
There are however, guidelines, or concepts that have worked in the past, so let’s take a look at those:
- Just do it! Try anything, if it doesn’t work, it will only give you an excuse to try another idea. Have fun!
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Keep it simple, and above all trust your taste.
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Have fun and experiment.
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Don’t rely on other people’s tastes, general guidelines are helpful, but they are only guidelines. The largest part of the enjoyment of food and wine is the experimentation, so go ahead and experiment.
THERE ARE HOWEVER GUIDELINES
SALTY FOODS
Salt in small amounts will not clash with wine, and can at times soften a red wines astringency (tannins). Highly salted foods can produce a metallic after taste with more acidic wines however, so beware. Can you drink wine with ham? Absolutely, and for your best bet, try a wine with a higher residual sugar, full fruit flavors, moderate acidity and lighter tannins. My recommendation…German wines, domestic Rieslings or Chenin Blancs, Roses’ or Blush wines, and or Pinot Noir or Gamay Beaujolais’.
VERY SWEET FOODS
This category is hard to match since the sugar level in the food is usually higher than that of the wine being matched to it. If you are going to attempt this, try and match the level of sweetness in both the food and the wine. This way one will not over power the other. A sweet wine on its’ own will often make a very nice desert, and a pleasant way to end a meal.
ACIDIC FOODS
If the level of acidity in a dish or a side dish is high, such as sauerkraut, pickles, or pickled foods, then avoid trying to match these foods with wine.
HOT, OR SPICY FOODS
Look for cool refreshing wines, low in alcohol to best contrast this type of food pairing. At times a lighter styled wine with a bit of sweetness will work, as in the case of Gewurtztraminers, Riesling, or possibly even a White Zinfandel, paired up with spicy Asian food groups.
