Wine And Food Pairing Infograph
Your Ultimate Wine And Food Pairing Infograph
Pairing your wine with food is more an art than science and that is why the two go so perfectly together!
Here are some pairing guidelines…
- Remember to always drink what you like.
- Think about the meal as a whole, is it spicy or creamy, buttery or rich?
Now a pick a wine bearing in mind the following…
- Keep flavours in balance
Pair mild foods with mild wines. Match bold flavours with big, flavourful wines.
Try to match the richness of the food with the richness of the wine, for example a creamy alfredo pasta will go wonderfully well with Chardonnay.
- Cleanse the palate
If you are eating a fatty dish think about cleaning the palate with a red wine that boasts strong tannins. For example if you are eating a steak, pair it with a bold, red wine.
If you are eating a fatty dish but thinking about a white wine try pairing the meal with an acidic, fruity white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc. You can ignore this rule for dishes that are just relatively fatty – such as Chicken in Cream Sauce – which will probably do better with a rich Chardonnay that can match their rich flavours.
- Match acids with acids
If you’re eating a dish with a strong acidic content (such as Shrimp with Lemon or Pasta with Tomato Sauce) pair it with an acidic wine that can keep up with the acids in the food.
- Creamy foods don’t suit acidic wines
Rich cream sauces will usually clash with an acidic wine like a Sauvignon Blanc. Think about it this way. If you squeezed lemon juice into a cup of milk, would it taste good?
- Strong spice and wine
Strong spices, such as hot chilli peppers in some Chinese or Indian food, can clash and destroy the flavours in a wine. In most cases, wine is not the ideal thing to drink. However, if wine is what you must have, consider something spicy and sweet itself such as Riesling.
Give Paul from the Wine Village a call to find the best local Hermanus wines to serve this season!
Remember that foods generally go best with the wines they grew up with. So if you’re eating Italian food, think about having an Italian wine.
Extra Reading:
- Top 3 Natural Attractions Near Creation Wines
- Crazy Crafting – The South African Craft Beer Revolution
- Chardonnay
- Tips For The Perfect Pair – Your Food And Wine Pairing Guide
Source: Food and Wine Pairing, E.C. Kraus
Remember to always drink what you like!