Pairing red wine with delicacies is a combination of art and science, aiming to achieve harmony and balance of taste by complementing the flavors of food and wine. Here is a selection of great wine and food pairing guides:
1. Heavy-flavored dishes and rich red wine
Pairing suggestions: Heavy-flavored dishes, such as cumin lamb, black pepper beef, etc., are suitable for pairing with rich red wine.
Why: The rich flavor of red wine complements heavy-flavored dishes, adding richness to the food.
2. Oily and saucey dishes and high acidity red wine
Pairing suggestions: Greasy dishes, such as roast duck, Dongpo pork, etc., are suitable for pairing with high-acidity red wine.
Reason: High acidity red wine can effectively eliminate greasiness and stimulate the delicious aroma of food.
3. Spicy dishes and fruity sweet white wines
Pairing suggestions: Spicy dishes go well with fruity, sweet white wines.
Reason: Spicy will amplify the bitterness, acidity and alcohol in wine, while fruity sweet white wine can balance this stimulation and bring a more comfortable taste experience.
4. Seafood and white wine
Pairing suggestions: Seafood dishes, especially multi-layered seafood such as pickled fish, are suitable with white wines with high acidity.
Why: White wine with high acidity can complement seafood, reduce greasiness, and highlight the fruity flavor of the wine.
5. Light dishes and light white wine
Pairing suggestions: Light dishes go well with light white wine.
Reason: This kind of pairing can better highlight the flavor of the food itself and prevent the rich taste of the wine from covering up the food.
6. Sweet dishes and highly sweet wines
Pairing suggestions: Sweet dishes are best paired with sweet wines.
Reason: Pairing sweet dishes with high-sweetness wine can maintain the balance of sweetness between food and wine, bringing a more pleasant taste experience.
7. Recommended classic combinations
Red wine braised beef: This dish uses red wine as the main ingredient. The stewed beef is tender and delicious. Pairing it with a rich red wine, such as Shiraz or Malbec, can highlight the deliciousness of the beef while balancing the astringency of the red wine.
Red wine pasta: Red wine pasta is flavored with red wine and paired with ingredients such as sausage and garlic, giving it a rich taste. Choose a fruity red wine with moderate tannins, such as Merlot or Cabernet Franc, to enhance the flavor of your pasta.
White wine with crispy chicken: Crispy chicken is hot-fried, with crispy skin and smooth meat. Pair it with a white wine with higher acidity, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling, which can effectively remove greasiness, add fruity aroma, and make the taste crispier. .
8. Other matching suggestions
Peanut Dried Tofu: As a traditional and simple drink, the peanuts are crispy and the dried tofu is flexible, making it suitable for pairing with all types of red wine. Peanuts are rich in oil, which can lubricate the mouth and reduce the astringency caused by the tannins of red wine; dried tofu, with its unique bean aroma and salty taste, complements the fruity aroma of red wine.
Sausage: Central European-style sausages, such as Salome, with their rich meaty aroma and unique spice flavor, are suitable for pairing with fruity red wines with moderate tannins, such as Merlot or Cabernet Franc.
Marinated platter and roasted meat: The marinated platter and roasted meat in Cantonese cuisine, such as duck feet, goose wings, roast goose, etc., have plump meat and moderate fat, and are suitable for pairing with oak barrel-aged red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or blended red wine.
In short, matching red wine with delicacies requires comprehensive consideration of the flavor and taste of the food as well as the type and characteristics of the red wine. Through clever combinations, you can create a unique taste experience and give your taste buds a feast.
