Thu August 7th 2008

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Wine and Food

Wine is the juice of crushed grapes that is fermented and then aged in oak casks or steel vats. A wine will derive its singular character from how it is fermented and aged.

Pairing Wine with the Right Flavors
The anxiety of picking the perfect wine to accompany food can often be paralyzing. Understanding how the characteristics of wine relate to its body and tastes will make choosing the right wine easy.

Wine augments any meal, bringing out the flavors of the food and the characteristics of the wine simultaneously. While you should always drink whichever wine you prefer, we have some tips to enhance your dining experience.

Another myth about wine is that it is a beverage that exclusively accompanies dinner. The good news is that wine is not just a dinner companion. In fact, you can drink wine before and/or after meals or simply by itself.

Unlike other beverages, wine helps to stimulate the digestive system, increasing the ease and pleasure of any dinning experience. Recent studies have proven a number of health benefits associated with wine. Every day, more and more advantages related to drinking wine are making it an evermore popular choice.

Wine Before Food
Wine can be a perfect start to the evening. If you are looking for an aperitif wine, select one that is low in acidity. To keep from interfering with the taste of the coming meal, a good starting wine should whet the appetite without lingering in the mouth.

If you want a red wine before food, drink it a little cooler than normal, since a cooler temperature can mask some of the acidity. A red too high in tannins may be too strong to have before dinner.

Conversely, if beginning with white wine, serve it a little warmer than you would normally. The change in temperature reveals more of the character of the wine while it better complements your palette.

Sweet wines are also a good choice because their flavors can stand on their own without food. Similarly, dry wines help to stimulate the appetite.

A fun alternative could be a light sparkling wine, as they are not usually consumed with food.

Some fortified wines make good sipping drinks. Full of flavor, they are too strong to drink with the meal. Consequently, drinking them before allows you to truly enjoy them. As aperitifs, though, they may be too filling to be served before some foods.

Wine with Food
While there are some "rules" about matching wines with food, it is important to satisfy your owns tastes first.

A general rule is that reds are great to drink with heavier meals, and whites are better suited for items lighter on your palette. Alternatively, Rosés and Sparkling Wines are best with a smaller assortment of foods than Reds or Whites.

Whether planning a romantic get together, or a large dinner party, your wine choice should be a part of your overall gestalt of the dining experience, rather than a simple a beverage choice. The right wine can make or break a perfect meal.

Matching Wine and Food

Types of Wine	Red	White	Rose	Sparkling
FOOD	1. Cabernet Sauvignon 2. Merlot 3. Pinot Noir 4. Zinfandel	1. Chardonnay 2. Chenin Blanc 3. Gewurztraminer 4. Riesling 5. Sauvignon Blanc 6. Semillon	1. White Grenache 2. White Zinfandel	1. Blanc de Noir 2. Brut 3. Extra Dry 4. Spumante
Appetizer		2, 4, 5	1, 2	1, 2, 3, 4
Mild Cheese		2, 3, 4, 5, 6	1, 2	1, 2, 3, 4
Strong Cheese	1, 2, 3, 4	1		1, 2, 3
Salad		4, 5		3
Shellfish		1, 2, 4, 5, 6		3
Seafood (light)		1, 3, 5	1, 2
Seafood (heavy)	2, 3	1, 6
Poultry		1, 2, 4, 5	2
Pork	3, 4	1, 3	1
Ham		3, 4	2
Lamb	1, 2, 3, 4		2
Beef	1, 2, 4
Pasta	1, 2, 4	5
Dessert		3, 4	2	4

Wine After Food
Wine is an excellent after dinner drink, concluding the meal in a relaxing, friendly atmosphere.

Common after dinner drinks include dessert wines, white wines, and fortified wines such as Port or Sherry.

Generally sweet, after dinner wines usually go well with pudding, pastries, and some cakes. If served alone for dessert, a tray of different cheeses and nuts helps to compliment the wine's flavor.

As the bookend of the flavor of a meal, the wine should complement the food served. Serving a heavy wine after a filling dinner may make you and your guests uncomfortably full.

As a theme, keep in mind that the time after dinner should be spent leisurely, and the right wine can help set the mood.

A variety of after dinner wines are available in today's market, including:

• Wood Port
• Vintage Port
• Sherry
• Madeira
• Brandy
• Cognac

In addition, there are several types of Brandy, such as:

• Calvados or Apple Brandy
• Armagnac or French Brandy
• Eau-de-Vie or Fruit Brandies.

Learn more about pairing wine with food, as well as using it as a unique ingredient in your cooking.

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