Wines can complete a perfect meal or may disadvantage it. It is therefore essential to know what wine to match each recipe and each type of food. This is why you should ask your host about the food she or he is about to serve. This way, you will be able to choose the perfect wine gifts for it. Here is a description of the main types of wines and the foods that could be matched with
- Cabernet Sauvignon. Those wine gifts have an aroma so strong that you
must be careful when you serve the meal: the wine might “steal” the whole taste of the dinner. In some cases, this is a good thing but your host will want her foods to be appreciated.
Best match: roast beef baked in red wine sauce.
Worst match: fish fillets with vegetables. (The fish does not taste very strong, but it tastes more delicate. The flavor will deteriorate if it is combined with the strong flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon).
- Pinot Noir. This wine is popular as it is a weak wine with a delicate flavor. It’s hard to find someone who does not like its fruity aroma, but that does not mean that it fits with anything.
Best Match: Apricot Chicken (any recipe that has a moderate aroma as this, with a weak taste of fruits, will emphasize the delicate taste of wine).
Worst match: Chicken with tarragon and vinegar (any combination of vinegar and herbs will “crush” the fruity aroma of wine. Generally, Pinot Noir goes with acidic foods).
- Sauvignon Blanc .This is one of the most elegant wine gifts, with a strong taste and an aroma that reminds you of grapefruits. The wine goes well with many foods, but not all …
Best Match: perch with lemon and fresh herbs (this dish tastes the same like wine, but it has complementary flavors).
Worst Match: Brussels sprouts and lettuce with blue cheese (usually blue cheese is hard to match with any type of wine, and especially with Sauvignon Blanc. The two flavors are too strong to coexist).
- Chardonnay. Classic Chardonnay has a special fruity, classic flavor.
Best match: pork sautéed with sauce, cider (cider will perfectly complement the flavor of pineapple wine).
Worst match: lamb seasoned with chili (strong flavor of lamb meat mixed with strong spices are to taste the wine too flat).
- Champagne. Sparkling wines are generally easy to combine with different foods, because the acid makes the taste to wake up to life. This is one of the best wine gifts, as they could be combined with almost any type of food.