| Food and wine pairing is something that some | | | | seasonings can be wonderful. They are warming, |
| people take very seriously. While the perfect | | | | rich and hearty. Less "refined" than a roasted rack |
| combination of a particular dish with a particular | | | | of lamb, but they are so soulfully satisfying that |
| wine can be a marriage made in heaven, with the | | | | they can be sublime dishes in their own right. |
| flavors of each perfectly complementing and | | | | However, some of these spicier and more rustic |
| highlighting the other, a poor pairing can be a | | | | flavors and textures can be a bit much for a |
| disaster, clashing, bringing out awkward flavors | | | | more refined full-bodied wine like fine Bordeaux. |
| and just simply making each suffer. If you are | | | | These Provençal flavors and aromas call for |
| serious about your food and wine, as I am, then | | | | similar gamey, aromatic and spicy flavors in the |
| risking destroying a dinner course or the | | | | wine. A perfect combination is wines from the |
| enjoyment of a fine wine is serious business! | | | | same region. In fact, most cuisines in Europe have |
| That being said, should you be afraid of wine and | | | | grown up over the ages to accompany the wines |
| food pairing? No. The fact of the matter is that | | | | made nearby, or visa versa. Provençal red |
| there rarely is any one perfect combination of | | | | wines, in particular Bandol and |
| food and wine. For any one dish there may be | | | | Chateauneuf-du-Pape, are generally meaty, rich, |
| dozens of wines that would pair very nicely with | | | | chewy and also aromatic, infused with the scents |
| it. With a little practice, experience and know-how | | | | of the hillsides of the south of France. Often called |
| you can pretty easily predict which wines will | | | | the Provençal garrigue , this scrubland is full |
| highlight a dish and which will detract from it. | | | | of the scents of wild rosemary, lavender, thyme |
| To begin with, drink what you like to drink with | | | | and other local herbs and spices. The flavors in |
| what you like to eat. Don't force yourself to drink | | | | the wine can mirror and stand up to the aromas |
| a wine you wouldn't normally like to drink just | | | | and flavors in these rich lamb dishes. |
| because it is theoretically supposed to be best for | | | | Stilton and Port |
| a given cuisine. Also, in general it is best to try to | | | | Stilton is one of the classic blue cheeses. Coming |
| pair wines with foods that have a similar level of | | | | from England, Stilton has a rich, creamy texture |
| flavor intensity. In other words, a richly flavored | | | | and a pungent, salty flavor. Port is a red fortified |
| red wine may not be the best match for a | | | | dessert wine from Portugal's Douro Valley. At first |
| delicate filet of sole. Try to pair wines in such a | | | | glance, it doesn't sound like a pungent, salty blue |
| way that the flavors of the wine or the dish are | | | | cheese should have anything to do with a sweet |
| not completely dominating so that the other | | | | red wine. However, Port and Stilton is one of the |
| suffers in comparison. Beyond these basics, | | | | most classic wine and food pairings you can find! |
| experiment a bit. It helps to make some | | | | The sweet, richness of the wine perfectly |
| educated guesses about what will work and what | | | | balances the salty, creaminess of the cheese. This |
| will not. That is where this article comes in. I hope | | | | pairing is often served towards the end of a |
| it will give you some ideas as a starting ground to | | | | dinner, either just before the dessert course or in |
| make wise food and wine pairing choices. | | | | its place. And for an even better pairing, enjoy |
| Here are a few classic and very basic food and | | | | this combination in the winter, sitting next to a |
| wine pairings for red wines. Understanding these | | | | warm toasty fire in your fireplace! |
| basics, along with some experience with them, will | | | | Chocolate and Dessert Wine |
| help you to learn why certain wines work well | | | | I include this as a "classic" wine and food pairing |
| with certain foods so that you can start to make | | | | because it is a much talked about one. However, |
| your own pairings that make sense. For white | | | | this pairing tends to cause much more |
| wine pairings, see the companion article "Five | | | | controversy than many others. Traditionally it has |
| Classic White Wine and Food Pairings". | | | | been felt that a dark, rich and sweet red wine like |
| Steak and Cabernet Sauvignon: | | | | Port, which can have coffee and chocolate-like |
| Steak is about as hearty a flavor as you can get! | | | | nuances to its flavor on its own, is the only wine |
| Wimpy wines will not stand up to a good steak | | | | that can stand up to the dark, rich flavor of |
| very well. Likewise, Cabernet Sauvignon based | | | | chocolate. However, many wine lovers will argue |
| wines, such as California Cabernets and Bordeaux | | | | that chocolate is really too strong a flavor for any |
| are generally full-bodied wines, with ample power, | | | | wine, that chocolate bests speaks for itself and |
| structure and tannin. These powerful wines can | | | | should not be paired with any wine, or maybe |
| overpower lesser dishes. A well-marbled, simply | | | | just with a small cup of rich coffee as an |
| grilled steak has an abundance of fat and protein | | | | accompaniment. However, this can vary |
| to buffer the power of the wine, cutting and | | | | depending on the type of chocolate and the type |
| softening the hard tannins of a young red. This | | | | of dish. Even some full-bodied, dry red wines have |
| allows the fruit and other complexities to stand | | | | been known to pair well with less-sweet versions |
| out. This is a classic combination that rarely | | | | of dark chocolates. A much lesser known pairing |
| disappoints! | | | | is a wine from the south of France called Banyuls. |
| Lamb and Bordeaux | | | | Banyuls is a beautiful appellation which produces a |
| Lamb is another red meat which can have bold | | | | fortified wine which is similar to Port in many |
| flavors, often a big gamier than beef. Bordeaux | | | | respects. Different grapes are used but it |
| and lamb can be an outstanding combination for | | | | produces a somewhat similar rich, alcoholic, sweet |
| this reason. However, there are many different | | | | red wine which is often served after dinner. |
| cuts of lamb and different ways to prepare it. | | | | Something about the more roasted quality to the |
| Some cuts and preparations are not ideal for | | | | fruit and the fruitiness that comes from Grenache |
| Bordeaux or other Cabernet-based wines (see | | | | and other other grapes employed seem to stand |
| below). For pairing with Bordeaux, look for the | | | | up to chocolate quite well. |
| more refined and simply prepared cuts such as | | | | Well there you have it, five classic food and wine |
| loin chops, rib chops and a rack of lamb. These | | | | pairings to get you started. Try them out. Try to |
| classic dishes can be a divine pairing with | | | | identify what it is about the wine and food that |
| Bordeaux. More aromatic, rustic and spicy | | | | compliments each other. Pay attention to what |
| preparations of lamb often call for a wine with a | | | | the wine does to the flavors of the food and visa |
| bit more of a chewy, rustic and herbal character. | | | | versa. By building your palate's experience with |
| Lamb and Provençal Red Wines | | | | food and wine you will be better able to come up |
| The other face of lamb is a bit more rustic, less | | | | with new wine and food pairings in the future. |
| refined. Grilled loin chops or leg of lamb with garlic, | | | | Enjoy! |
| rosemary, cayenne and other Southern French | | | | |