what wines go with what foods?

Question

like white, red, dry, sweet etc... and is it bad ettiquette to drink cheap fruit wine or bring cheap fruit wine to parties

Answer 1

Okay, in my opinion, wine, like a new pair of shoes can be that added touch that takes something from ordinary to superb! Having wine on hand to greet an unexpected guest or serve at a dinner party is a gesture of hospitality.

Walking into a wine shop can feel overwhelming and with so many options one might wonder, “What basics should I have on hand?” Have no fear! Just as you have managed to figure out that sneakers go with casual outfits and high heels are appropriate with a cocktail dress, you will soon have a basic understanding of why certain wines pair better with certain things - and like shopping for shoes, once you learn the basics, shopping for wine will be a treat! The goal should be fun and not pretention! And hey, if you learned to adopt words like Isaac Mizrahi and Enzo Angioilini, into your vocabulary, the wine names and regions will be a cinch!

To demystify wine a bit, here is some “Wine 101”. First, wine is either named for the grape it is primarily made from or the region from which it comes. Hint: In general, if a wine from a particular region is matched with a food from that area, they are likely to compliment each other.

Tannin is a term that can sound intimidating. Found primarily in red wines, they come from grape skins and from being aged in oak casks. They are astringent in nature and are what gives wine that taste many deem as bitter. The purpose of tannins is to prevent oxidation of the wine (keep it from turning to vinegar) and while they can be enjoyable with hearty meals, many people prefer wines with light to medium tannin. Hint: The best way to keep a wine from tasting too tannic is to match it with a dish with high protein. The protein acts a buffer, and in essence, the wine appears less bitter.

Here a few suggested basics to have on hand. The wines I have selected may not be as familiar as the chipper chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon but are affordable, easily available and very user-friendly. Oh, and before we start throw out that idea that reds only go with meat and whites with chicken. Each varietal or grape has its own characteristics and, when paired accordingly, will delight the senses and excite the palette!

Montelpulciano d'abruzzo is a red wine I almost always keep on hand. The grapes are usually grown in Tuscany, but famous for being used in Abruzzi. Montepulciano d'abruzzo has rich berry tones - think plumbs, black raspberries, peppery spicy tones and light to medium tannin. It is not an overbearing wine and easy drinking. I like to pair it with lasagna or other dishes that have Italian sausage in them, even pizza! It is easy going down, moderately acidic and very reasonably priced (generally under $10.00).

Now, for a few whites! One of my favorites is Sancerre. This exquisite wine is Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley of France (about $16.00-$26.00 roughly). This wine is fantastic with a double cream, ripe cow’s milk French cheese Pave Affinois, smoked gouda and herbed cream cheese. Hints of apricot and gooseberry, with a dry and acidic finish went very well with these selections. Hint: Wines with high acidity go very well with heavy, creamy, rich dishes. They off set the fatty elements and the food does not feel too heavy and rich.

So, now you have a few basics to get you started! Perhaps not your everyday day ordinary ones, but extraordinary! Hope this is helpful!

Answer 2

Yes, it's true, the old rules are finally out the window. A famous chef once said, "People always say to me 'Red wine with meat, white wine with fish.' I say that fish is dead! It don't care what kind of fish you gonna be drinking with it."

That being said, Stick to the rules until you know the flavors you like and what tastes good with what. As far as etiquette goes, it depends on the room. If you are at a fancy shindig, avoid the Boone's Farm or white zinfandel, lol.

IMHO, fruit wines are right up there with box wines. As for the Ernesto& Gallo... Ernesto & JULIO Gallo, they make cheap wines, but the brand has expanded to better quality product. Decent cheap wines - Kendall Jackson, Penfolds, etc...

Answer 3

Depends on the food. Pizza, Indian food, Chinese food, most barbequed food are all great with beer. Italian and French food seem to go better with wine. Better still, have beer before the meal with the appetizers and wine with the main course and then some port wine as a digestif.

Answer 4

Drink what you like, but fruit wines generally are too sweet to complement haute cuisine. Traditionally, red wines are served with meat, white wines with poultry or fish, but this is not mandatory. For a middle-of-the road selection, try a Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc or any good Gruner Veltliner.

Answer 5

Keep in mind that whites tend to go with poultry or fish and reds tend to go with red meat. Sweet wines, such as reisling and moscato, are dessert wines. If you're looking for a brand that is less costly but tasteful try Sutter Home or Berringer. Both tend to be a little more than brands such as Ernest and Gallo (really cheap), but the extra dollar or two is worth it! They're a good medium.

Answer 6

Red, dry wines go good with heavy food like steak... White fruity wines go with lighter food like sea food or salads. As long as you don't bring a jug of really cheap wine like Carlo Rossi to a party you're fine. Get Yellow Tail Shiraz, it's like $12.

Answer 7

Our detailed food and wine matching guide helps you decide which wines to pair with a wide variety of meat, poultry, fish vegetarian dishes as well as desserts and cheese.

The matching of food and wine is a matter of personal taste. There are no hard and fast rules, but just remember it is easiest to think of wine as a sauce and match the strength of flavours and weight of the dish with the wine. To learn more, see our FAQ. You can also attend one of our Food & Wine

Answer 8

wine color should match meat color.

red wine for read meat. white whine for fish/poultry.

general rules, but only snobs will care.

as far as "cheap" goes, it all depends on the event. if you're going to peggy-sue's backyard hoedown, nobody is gonna care what you bring. if you're going to an art gallery opening in new york city, you might wanna go higher shelf.

Answer 9

To be honest, there is no rule these days. If you like it and it enhances the flavor of the food the have it.
I like merlot and it really does go with anything.

Answer 10

Drink what you like and it will always be the right choice for you.