Matching Wine or other alcohol with food?

Question

My boyfriend is making me chicken and shrimp gumbo for my birthday dinner tonight, which I have never had before.

I would like to enjoy a glass of wine with it, but as I have never had it before, I am unsure of what wine would go well with it?

Or other alcoholic drinks?

I don't trust my boyfriend, as he thinks bourboun and coke goes with everything.

Allow me to clarify...I've had wine before...not gumbo...don't really know the flavours (assume it is spicy) so I am not sure how to match.

Answer 1

hmmm..white wines go with pastas and lighter meals, some fishes or chicken, with shrimp i would go with a merlot perhaps. chicken can really go with white or red depending on the sauce used or how heavy the meal is. i think your best bet is a merlot or chardonay but if you want a red wine try a bordoue or a different red wine to balance the spiciness with your wine,

sorry my spelling is really bad

Answer 2

I would definitely go with wine. As a general rule, you match the wine (red or white) with the meat color, red meat-red wine, white meat-white wine. However, more often than not, the meal will be made up of a combination of both. In your case, I believe that a German Riesling (A Kabinett) will match very well with the spiciness of your food selection, and also has a low alcohol % since you have not had wine before. A California Zinfandel or maybe an Australian Shiraz or will also be a good match in the red wine category...Whichever you choose-ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

If it is a real hearty gumbo and you are liberal with the Tabasco or other hot sauce go for a steely white (like a sauvignon blanc or an Italian trebbiano or a Portuguese Dao Branco or a chardonnay) or perhaps a DRY rose. If he and you hold back on the firery spices enjoy it with a rich red like a shiraz/syrah.

However, I would suggest it would be best and most appropriate to enjoy it with a good Louisiana beer, like Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager or Abita Turbodog ale.

Answer 4

Usually the rule is, the color of the food drives the color of the wine. I.e. red meat = red wine. White meat (chicken, fish) = white wine. But, gumbo is white meat in a red base. Im leaning towards the red wine since Gumbo is spicy and hearty. Maybe something dry and red like Yellow Tail Shiraz.

Answer 5

http://www.nataliemaclean.com/

The following wines go best with Shrimp:

Red Wine
• Rosé

Sparkling Wine
• Champagne Blanc Des Blancs

White Wine
• Burgundy Chevalier-Montrachet
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc: Pouilly-Fume/sancerre
• Semillon

......
The following wines go best with Chicken:

Red Wine
• Beaujolais
• Cabernet Franc Full-Bodied
• Merlot
• Pinot Noir
• Rioja

Sparkling Wine
• Sparkling Wine: New World

White Wine
• Bordeaux: Semillion/sauvignon Blanc
• Burgundy Le Montrachet
• Gewürztraminer
• Riesling
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Sauvignon Blanc: Pouilly-Fume/sancerre
• Silvaner
• Soave

....So you can see that with both shrimp and Chicken you have a many choices. Eat well! Enjoy! Salute!

Answer 6

Try a Gewurztraminer. Hugel is nice not too pricey but not cheap, however is BF is cooking it's a special occasion.
Gewurztraminer is an aromatic white wine
Off-dry with light acidity
Tropical fruits, ginger.
Goes well with spice and its an easy entry level wine. Very easy to drink.

Answer 7

Brown Brothers orange & vegetation muscat is a super candy wine, it isn't the main inexpensive interior the international nonetheless. while you're finding at paying for suited champagne then seek for something that declares "demi sec" (interprets as a million/2 dry) on the bottle and stay away from something that declares "brut" (dry). in line with possibility while you're finding for a greater low fee selection then asti spumante is a not undesirable candy clean wine from italy.

Answer 8

Anything white is the best with chicken or shrimp dishes.

Answer 9

You could go with either a red or white wine:

White - Sauvignon Blanc

Red - Red Zinfandel

Answer 10

chose a fruity, non-tannic red wine, a Bourgueil (Cabernet )