 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Classic Food and Wine Pairings
updated August 2008
Note: The principal aim in pairings is to match wine and food that share the same intensity. When in doubt, drink Champagne, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir for their versatility and because they offer a harmonic balance of fruit and acid that make them work well with most foods. As with all pairings, our offerings are by necessity general. Cooking styles, sauces, and the like can easily alter the varietal of wine with any particular dish.
| Appetizer/Brunch/Courses | |
| Almonds, nuts, olives | Chilled Sherry |
| Antipasti | Pinot Grigio |
| Artichokes | Vegetable to avoid (or eat separately) when pairing with wine. Makes wine taste acidic. |
| Asparagus | Vegetable to avoid (or eat separately) when pairing with wine. Gives wine a sour note. |
| Canapes | Champagne/Rosé Champagne/rosé sparkling wine |
| Caviar | Champagne/sparkling wine |
| Crab Salad | Chardonnay or Riesling |
| Cucumber Salad | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Egg Dishes | Champagne |
| Eggplant — Grilled and Tomato Salad | Merlot or Pinot Noir |
| Fava Beans (or Cannelli Bean course) | Chardonnay or Riesling |
| Fish Pâté | Sancerre or any white Burgundy |
| Foie Gras | Champagne/sparkling wine or Gewürztraminer, Sauternes |
| Fruit course | Riesling |
| Greek Salad | Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, or Albarino (Spanish white) |
| Mushrooms (Fresh) | Champagne/sparkling wine |
| Omelettes | Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, Champagne |
| Oysters | Champagne, Chablis, and Pinot Gris |
| Pâté | Champagne/sparkling wine, Sauternes, Gewürztraminer |
| Prawns | Riesling |
| Prosciutto | Chardonnay |
| Quiche | Gewürztraminer, Riesling |
| Ragout | Chardonnay |
| Ratatouille and herbs | Zinfandel or Syrah |
| Salads | None. Beware of trying to pair with wine: vinegar and dressings do little for salads. |
| Salmon — Smoked | Champagne/sparkling wine, Riesling |
| Shellfish | Champagne/sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, White Burgundy/Chardonnay, Albarino (Spanish white wine) |
| Snails | Champagne/sparkling wines |
| Soups | None. Wine does nothing for soup. |
| Sushi | Champagne/sparkling wine |
| Tapas | Champagne/sparkling wine or chilled Manzanilla Sherry |
| Entrees and Cuisines | |
| Asian | Champagne/sparkling wine, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Riesling |
| Beef Dishes | Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux, Rhône, Syrah, Zinfandel |
| Beef Stew | Red Burgundy/Pinot Noir/Red Rioja, Barolo |
| Chicken — Fried | Barbera, Syrah, Zinfandel |
| Chicken — Grilled | Chablis, Champagne, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay |
| Chicken — Roasted | Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, Viognier |
| Chilean | Malbec |
| Coq au Vin | Red Burgundy/Pinot Noir/Red Rioja |
| Crab | Champagne/sparkling wine/Pinot Noir/Chardonnay/Pinot Gris |
| Dover Sole | Chablis or any white Burgundy |
| Duck | Pinot Noir, Red Rhône, Red Rioja, Zinfandel |
| Duck — Peking or Szechuan | Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir |
| Fish Stews | Champagne/sparkling wine |
| Fish — Grilled | Champagne/sparkling wine, Chablis, Chardonnay |
| Fish — White | Chardonnay, Chablis |
| Fondue | Champagne or sparkling wine |
| Ham | Viognier, Gewürztraminer |
| Hamburgers | Merlot |
| Indian | Chenin Blanc, Fume or Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino (Spanish white)
If hot, avoid wine and drink beer or water |
| Kangaroo | Grenache, Syrah |
| Lamb — Roasted | Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux, Merlot |
| Lamb Chop | Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux, Pinot Noir |
| Lamb Stew | Merlot, St. Emilion, or Pomerol |
| Lobster | Chardonnay or any white Burgundy, Champagne |
| Lobster — Poached | Champagne or Pinot Noir |
| Macaroni | Merlot |
| Meatballs | Merlot |
| Meatloaf | Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux |
| Mexican |
Chenin Blanc, Fume or Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino (Spanish white) If hot, avoid wine, and drink beer or water |
| Monkfish | Riesling |
| Omelette | Champagne, Beaujolais or any light red Burgundy/Pinot Noir |
| Osso Buco | Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, Zinfandel |
| Pasta with cheese | Chianti Classico |
| Pasta in cream | Chardonnay |
| Pasta with meat sauce or meatballs | Chianti Classico, Merlot, Amarone, Barolo |
| Pasta with pesto | Fume Blanc/sauvignon blanc |
| Pasta with salmon | Champagne/sparkling wine or Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir |
| Pasta with seafood | Champagne /sparkling wine or Pinot Grigio |
| Pasta with Tomato & Basil | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Pizza with fish and cheese topping | White wine, like Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc; otherwise beer, soda or water |
| Pizza with meat topping | Red wine, Zinfandel; otherwise, beer, soda or water |
| Pork | Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, red Rhônes, Syrah, Zinfandel, Riesling, Beaujolais |
| Pork Chop | Riesling |
| Pot Roast | Barolo |
| Quail and Pheasant | Red Burgundy |
| Rabbit | Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux, & Red Rhone, Pinot Gris |
| Red Snapper | California Red blend/Meritage |
| Risotto | Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, Amarone |
| Risotto with truffles | Italian reds, like Barbaresco or Barolo |
| Salmon | White Burgundy, Pinot Noir/Red Burgundy, Pinot Gris |
| Scallops | Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris |
| Sea Bass | Chardonnay/Chablis |
| Soufflés | Champagne or sparkling wine |
| Spicy Foods | Riesling — this wine loves any pork, especially grilled pork chops |
| Steak au Poivre | Red Zinfandel, Rhone, or Syrah |
| Thai | Chenin Blanc, Albarino (Spanish white), Riesling, Fume, Sauvignon Blanc or sparkling wine, Viognier |
| Tuna — Grilled | Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, Rioja |
| Trout | Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Soave |
| Trout — Smoked | Riesling, Gewürztraminer |
| Tuna Dishes | Chablis, Champagne/sparkling wine, or Sauvignon Blanc |
| Turkey — Roasted | Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, red Zinfandel, Shiraz |
| Veal | Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, Chardonnay |
| Vegetarian | Chardonnay or Champagne, Sparkling wine |
| Cheese | |
| Note: Cheese and wine seem like a natural pairing, but they are actually hard to marry. Texture and smell of many cheeses can overmatch wine. | |
| Brie or Soft Cheeses | Champagne/sparkling wine/Chablis/Chardonnay |
| Camembert | Champagne/sparkling wine/Chardonnay |
| Cheddar | Port |
| Goat’s Cheese | Sancerre |
| Gouda | Dolcetto |
| Parmesan | Sangiovese, Amarone, Barolo |
| Roquefort | Sauternes, Late-Harvest Riesling, Madeira |
| Stilton | Port |
| Desserts | |
| Apple Dumplings | Late Harvest Chardonnay or Riesling |
| Cakes with Jam or Raspberry | Late Harvest Riesling or Chardonnay |
| Dark Chocolate | Red wine, like Port, works well; Champagne often also used |
| Dark Chocolate Truffles | Red Blend/Meritage or Cabernet Sauvignon or Port |
| Figs (fresh) | Champagne, preferably Rose Champagne |
| Ice Cream and Meringues | Champagne/sparkling wine |
| Plum Desserts | Late Harvest Riesling or Chardonnay |
| Rich tarts, crepes, pecan pie | Sauternes, Late-Harvest Riesling, Madeira |
Have any additional questions about wine, vintages or food pairings?
Get a personalized response from QRW by email.
QRW, 24 Garfield Avenue, Winchester, Massachusetts 01890
Phone: 781-729-7132 Fax: 781-721-0572
Copyright ©1978-2008 Q.R.W. Inc. All rights reserved.