& Food Pairings Musings on the Vine

Wine & Food Pairing Concepts Troublesome Matches

Rule 1. Look for compatible weights and bodies Vinegar or vinegar-based sauces/brines Rule 2. Look for compatible acid levels Tomato or other high-acid foods Rule 3. Look for complementary flavors and complexity Artichokes and asparagus (complex and changeable) Rule 3. (Alt.) Look for contradictory, but balancing flavors Egg and egg-based dishes (i.e. Hollandaise) and complexity Cranberry sauce or other relishes Rule 4. When a dish has a pronounced sauce, pair to the Chocolate flavors in the sauce Rule 5. When a dish has no pronounced sauce, pair to the main ingredient Ideal Matches

Sauternes with foie gras Important Considerations Chablis with oysters Claret with grilled steak 1. Amplified or diminished traits Red Burgundy with hearty stews Example: Dry wine with a sweet Chateauneuf-du-Pape with roast lamb (rolled in herbs)

2. Flavors that overpower Example: with chicken

3. Transferred flavors A Last Word of Advice Example: Highly-complex wine with a cream sauce When all else fails, serve several 4. New flavors with a meal and allow diners to find their own Example: Metallic taste you get when you pair best matches. with fish

© 2005 by Paul J. Malagrifa. All rights reserved. No part of these materials may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical without permission of the author. www.MusingsOnTheVine.com

Wine & Food Pairings Musings on the Vine

Light-bodied Medium-bodied Full-bodied Light-bodied Medium-bodied Full-bodied Sweet whites Sweet reds whites: Dry whites: Dry whites: Dry reds: Dry reds: Dry reds: Dry

Gewurztraminer Reisling Reisling Cabernet Wine examples Sauvignon Port Sauternes Blanc Mild cheeses OK OK Possible OK OK No No No

Strong cheeses OK OK OK No OK OK OK OK

Oysters Possible OK OK No No No No No

Shrimp, crab, OK OK OK No No No No No lobster

Shellfish OK OK OK No No No No No

Seafood Possible OK OK No Possible No No No (grilled) Seafood (cream OK OK OK No No No No No sauce) Pasta OK OK OK No Possible No No No (cream sauce) Pasta No No No No OK OK OK No (red sauce)

Asian OK OK Possible Possible Possible No No No

Poultry OK OK OK No OK No No No

Pork OK OK OK No OK Possible No No

Beef No No No No OK OK OK No

Fruit/Dessert Possible Possible No Possible No No No Possible

Chocolate No No No Possible No OK OK OK

© 2005 by Paul J. Malagrifa. All rights reserved. No part of these materials may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical without permission of the author. www.MusingsOnTheVine.com