Food & Wine Pairing Concepts
White Wine Varietal Characterists
Sparkling, Rose' & Dessert Wine Characteristics
Red Wine Varietal Characteristics
Classic Food & Wine Pairings
100
When it comes to Food Pairing, Alcohol, Tannins and Sugar all provide this
What is weightiness in wine?
100
Grassy and Citrus and Tropical Notes in warmer Climates
What are main characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc
100
Tiny bubbles, minerality, citrus, fresh brioche, and creaminess
What are the classic characteristics of Champagne
100
A wine of finesse with garnet to ruby color of lighter concentration- tart and Ripe Red and Black berries, medium tannins, medium +acidity. Earthy organics, savory herbs, and minerality
What are the classic characteristics of Red Burgundy (Pinot Noir)
100
This wine pairs perfectly with Caviar - acid in wine cuts saltiness and enhances the flavors of the caviar. Serve with sour cream and toast points to enhance the creamy and toasty charcteristics in the wine.
What is Champagne
200
These are examples of light, medium and heavy whites and reds.
Light- Dry-high acid unoaked whites, and dry high acid, low tannin reds (PG, Prosecco, Rose’, Beaujolais Nuevo, French-American red hybrids) Medium - Aromatic Whites and reds with moderate tannins and high acid (Riesling, Champagne, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo) Heavy - Oaked, higher in Alcohol new world whites (Chardonnay) and lower acid aromatic old world white wines (Gewurz and Southern Rhone CDP) and High tannin, high alcohol Reds, (Napa Cabs, Austrailian Shiraz, Southern Rhone CDP)
200
Stone fruits, Mineral and High Acid, and TDN in aged versions
What are main characteristics of Riesling
200
This Bright fresh wine represents 90% of the wine production in Provence, France.
What is dry rose’
200
Ruby to purple in color with ripe to jammy red cherry plum and in warm climates. Chocolate and Coffee notes with long vanilla and baking spices in the finish. Soft supple tannins.
What are the classic characteristics of Napa Merlot
200
Pairing beautifully with Barbeque, the rich fruit and spice flavors of this wine are enhanced by the bbq sauce, while its natural acidity cuts into the sauces sweetness, and its medium tannins and touch of sweetness tame down its heat and let the smoky flavors of the meat shine.
What is Zinfandel
300
When thinking about weight in food, it is important to think of these things in addition to the food itself.
What are cooking methods, sauces and sides served with entrees
300
High alcohol, soft acids, creamy and buttery baked apple and pear and vanilla
What is warm climate oaked chardonnay with malo-lactic fermentation
300
This fresh fruit, dry, mineral driven sparkling comes from the northeastern of Italy
What is Prosecco from the Veneto region in Spain.
300
Purple and highly concentrated in color. Red berries and cherries but dominated by ripe black fruit flavors of blackberry, black cherry and spiced plum. Noticible Rotondone and a cured meat and leather flavor are the hallmark of this varietal
What are the classic flavor characteristics of Syrah.
300
This cheese is often served with Ice Wine to contrast the wines sweetness acidity with its creamy savoriness.
What is Bleu Cheese
400
When considering flavors in wine, one can pair either of these ways:
What is matching similar flavors to enhance characteristics in wine and/or food. (Oaked chardonnay enhances creamy and butteriness in lobster mac & cheese or adding contrast to diminish characteristics in wine and/or food (champagne with lobster mac and cheese will cut the richness and bring out more intense flavors in cheese and sweetness in lobster)
400
Medium alcohol, medium to high acid (lemon) and green apple and bosc pear. Ripe melons, ripe bartlett pear, and orange in warmer climates.
What is non-oaked or chardonnay aged in old oak barrels (Chablis and Burgundy).
400
This wine is high in alcohol, sweet, has a ruby color, with dried or baked black fruit characteristics and lots of vanilla and spice. It can be ruby in color or more garnet depending on the style.
What is Ruby and Tawny Port
400
Garnet to Dark Ruby in color. Orange rim when showing age. Dominated by red fruits of cherry, cranberry, pomegranate and red currant with high acidity, high tannins, and often high alcohol. Floral notes of fresh or dried roses and violets depending on age. Telltale flavors of savory herbs and tomato leaf with no discernable signs of oak.
What are the classic characteristics of Sangiovese.
400
The high acidity and tannins of this wine match the high acidity of tomato sauce. The natural herbaceousness and tart red fruits are a perfect match with the regional specialities of tomato and fresh herb-based dishes of this region.
What is Sangiovese from Tuscany
500
When matching structural components in wine if often showcases these.
What are secondary flavors. (matching high acid foods with high acid wines raises the acid threshold in your mouth so that you can taste flavors that may be hidden by these structural elements. Same goes with sweetness)
500
Lychee and Ginger Spice, lots of Floral, and lower acid
What are main characteristics of Gewurztraminer
500
Rich with ripe tropical fruits and sweet honey nectar with ginger notes, yet finishes with a lip-smaking acidity.
What is Ice Wine
500
Ruby red, medium concentration and high alcohol. A mix of tart red, ripe back and jammy blue fruits are all in the glass. Lots of baking spices and vanilla, floral and often black licorice flavors.
What are the characteristics of California Zinfandel
500
The sweetness and tannins in both of these items work in harmony together, often resulting in this beautiful extended finish of fruit and creamy cocoa.
What is Port and Chocolate.
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