Many people know how to create delicious dishes at home and in a restaurant. However, some of them find it hard to pair food and wine. Pairing food and wine is not difficult. Actually, it is fun and exciting and a great way of adding excitement to your meals. Pairing both means finding the balance that enhances the flavors of food and wine. It means both elements should not overpower each other. There are basic things and knowledge you need to find this balance. Here are essential tips to help pair your food with the wine you like.
- Consider the Flavor Intensity
One basic rule of pairing wine with food is to consider the flavors. It is the best way to find balance. So, whether you are pairing with wine imported from Italy or a local winery, ensure you consider flavors. Pick a full-flavored bottle for full-flavored food. You can also go for a mild wine with a light-flavor meal. The important thing when looking for a perfect combination is considering the intensity of the flavor. Wine has different characteristics, and its contents bring different tastes and smells. Therefore, understand the traits in each variety to help you choose the right wine. When you know these traits and what makes them, it will be easy to match your food with the right wine based on flavor.
- Choose Wine that is Sweeter than the Food
When choosing sweet wine, ensure it will be sweeter than the food. Don’t go for a dry wine with sweet food. It will be tart and bitter. Instead, go for sweet wine with moderate acidity to match the food. The acidity will cut through the fats, and the sugar compliment the food’s richness. Therefore, for sweet food, go for dessert wines, port wines, or ice wines.
- Tannins and Salt Should Not Mix
Always choose sweet wine for salty foods. Crisp and light wine will help pair salty food. However, when choosing the wine, don’t pick one with tannins. Tannins will clash with the salt, making it taste harsh. That way, your mouth may feel dry and taste bitter. Additionally, tannins and salt have the same taste. Therefore, go for a light wine to leave your mouth fresh.
- Choose Less Alcoholic Wine for Spicy Food
Wines are the same in some way, which holds the same for their alcohol content. If the wine has a high amount of sugar, there is a chance it also has high alcohol content. That means they have undergone different fermentation rates to bring the different alcohol levels and tastes. Therefore, choose wine with low alcohol content if your food is spicy. This is because alcohol highlights the oils. You can also go for less-fermented wines.
- Pair Wine with Sauce
If your meal contains meat, try pairing the wine with the sauce rather than meat. If the wine does not match the sauce, it will be weak. For instance, if you have tomato sauce, your wine should match the acidity in the sauce. Go for medium-bodied wines for tomato sauces.
To Conclude,
You need to do these basic things to pair your food and wine. Remember, it all amounts to what you like. However, if you want a balanced taste, these are crucial things you can try.
