Wine cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires the young, makes weariness forget his toil” – Lord Byron
The first rule to remember about pairing food with wine is to forget the rules!
PAIRING FOOD AND WINE – ASSUMPTIONS
- Food is meant to be a wonderful experience – variety, frequency
- The first taste is the best taste
- Wine should complement the food, not overpower or be masked by it
Wine should provide the perfect balance with the food with which it is paired.
Some purists may not agree, but as far as wine pairings go there are some great ideas of pairing such as chicken with Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon with Beef Stew and Pinot Noir with Lamb, however the simple answer is… whatever you think tastes good, does!
- Drink to enjoy yourself (but don’t overdo it)
- There is no need to spend a mint for a good wine
- When you find a wine you love, buy a lot of it – you will probably never find it again
- You may send a wine back only if it has gone bad
- Attempt to describe characteristics of every wine you try
Check out Food and Wine for more help guiding you through some pairing options.
