How to Pair Wine

It can take years to master the art of pairing wine, but just a few short minutes to learn the art of enjoying it. Don't spend hours staring at the endless aisles of mind-numbing, cartoon labeled wines wondering what to serve your in-laws with dinner. Read on to learn the 6 basic rules to pairing wine and impressing even the most discriminating wine snobs...

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Match The Color:
   This is the most basic rule, and probably the one with the most consistency to it. Match red meats with red wine and white meats with white wines. The tannins found in red wine tend to compliment darker, earthier meats. Those same tannins can leave you with a metallic aftertaste in your mouth when mixed with fish.

2. Match The Intensity:
   If the dish you are serving is light and delicate, try to find a wine with a mild taste to it as to not overpower the meal. If you are serving a bold or spicy dish, try to pair it with a more robustly flavored wine.

3. Match The Taste:
   This is another basic but important rule. A dryer wine mixed with a sweet dish such as pie or pudding will make it unpalatable. Likewise, a sweeter desert wine mixed with the main course will likely counteract the flavors in the food rather than compliment them.

4. Match The Region:
   Another easy way to pair wines comes into play when preparing regional dishes. Nothing really compliments a dish better than a wine that has been a staple in that region for centuries. With the recent wine renaissance, finding imported wines from countries all over the world has become both easier and more affordable to do.

5. Match The Event:
   Try to think about the setting in which the wine will be served and what people will be doing.
   
   Having an outdoor wedding in the Summer time? Think light white wines and semi-sweet reds or fruit wines.
   
   Having a house warming party? Select a few dryer wines to compliment the appetizers you plan on serving but remember: steer clear of heavier wines that might lower the energy in the room.
   
   Thanksgiving dinner? Everyone is already facing a tryptophan induced stupor so throw in a darker, heavier wine to finish the job.

6. Match The People:
   This rule will save you every time. No matter how well the wine matches the food or any other of the above tips, the fact of the matter is that some people only like certain types of wine. If your best friend only likes that 12 dollar bottle of country red from the grocery store, don't invite him over for dinner and offer him a merlot.
   
   Nothing compliments the taste of wine like the company of good friends. If they're enjoying themselves than you've found the perfect pair. :)

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be too worried about how much the wine costs. Some of the best wines I've ever had were less than $20 a bottle.
• When in doubt, choose your wine first then find a dish to match it.
• Never be embarrassed to ask questions. You will, however, receive better answers from someone who drinks it for a living rather than stocking it. Try to do most of your wine shopping at an actual wine store with employees who specialize in helping you pick the right wine for any occasion.

Resources

• The Wine Fugitive

[jyanger]

on 6/4/2009 Here's a great source for pairing food and wine: http://envymags.com/2009/06/meat-your-match/

[Healthygirl78]

on 2/4/2008 Some good pointers here, thanks!

[choicearizona]

on 2/4/2008 A great article. Maybe the most informative article on this subject in such a short space. Some basic to-do's I hadn't really considered. http://www.phoenix-life-insurance.com

[arwen1964]

on 2/4/2008 Very thorough article. I have been bewildered by the choices in the wine aisle for years. By default, I serve red with red meat and white with fish or chicken.

[JMOrganizations]

on 2/4/2008 Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. This was very informative.