When it comes to pairing wine with food, the principle is quite simple. Full bodied wine can really only pair to full bodied food (think meat, barbeque, grilled chops); otherwise, it overwhelms the food. Likewise, a crisp acidic white, like a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, is significantly more versatile and works better as a food “accent” than a flavor partner. I hear all kinds of argument about the do’s and don’ts of wine pairing, but my friend Marty Tiersky sums it up here. This is Marty’s guide to wine pairing from notes he keeps in a book-like format that he has never published.
Tell me some of the challenges you have when pairing food and wine. We can probably dispel a few myths.
Enjoy!
Anchovy Grassy, Loire or New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, high acid dry Riesling, Manzanilla Sherry
Artichoke Sauvignon Blanc, Gruner Veltliner
Asian Cuisine Riesling, off dry Vouvray, Albariño, Pinot Grigio, Tocai Fruiliano, new world Sauvignon Blanc, Alsatian Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer
Asparagus Gruner Veltliner Sauvignon Blanc, steely whites,
Bacon Beaujolais, Sancere rouge, Gewurztraminer
Beef, Barbecued Spicy, medium weight Zinfandel, northern Rhone, Languedoc-Roussilon and Austrian reds
Beef, Ground Inexpensive, low tannin, medium weight reds, fruity Merlot
Beef, Roast Bordeaux, California Cabernet
Beef, Steak Bordeaux, California Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chianti Classico Riserva, Ribuero del Duero
Beef, Stew Rhone Valley red, Zinfandel
Bell Peppers Sauvignon Blanc, Vouvray
Caesar Salad Crisp Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, light Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Albariño or other Spanish whites, Sparkling wine.
Cajun/Creole Chenin Blanc, Riesling, dry rosé, Zinfandel, Shiraz
Calamari New world, grassy Sauvignon Blanc, Tocai Fruiliano
Calves Liver Merlot, Loire Red, Beaujolais, Cotes du Rhone red
Caviar Iced Vodka, light dry sparkling, Muscadet
Ceviche Unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet, Albariño
Chicken, Barbecued Riesling, Viognier, Chenin Blanc or fruity, light-bodied Beaujolais, Loire Cabernet Franc, Languedoc-Rousillon Red, Valpolicella, Zinfandel.
Chicken, Cream Sauce Riesling, Chardonnay, Champagne
Chicken, Fried New Zealand or other new world Sauvignon Blanc or medium weight Chianti Classico
Chicken, Mole Zinfandel, Shiraz
Chicken, Roasted Chardonnay (preferably without oak), Chenin Blanc, Riesling, full-bodied Sauvigon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, fruity California Zinfandel or a classic, well aged red wine (e.g. Rioja Rieserva)
Chinese Off dry Riesling, aromatic whites
Clams Muscadet, medium weight Pinot Noir
Cod/Brandade de Morue ~ Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux, Riesling, Muscadet
Coq au Vin Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chianti Riserva
Corn Riesling, Chardonnay
Crab Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay
Crayfish Off dry Riesling, lightrer style white Burgundy
Duck, Confit Unoaked, fruity, dry white, Alsatian Tokay Pinot Gris, Nebbiolo, Ribero del Duero
Duck Roasted Burgundy, off dry Riesling, cool climate Merlot, medium weight Nebbiolo, Rioja Crianza
Duck, Orange Zinfandel, Shiraz
Eggs Light, neutral, crisp whites, high acid sparkling wines
Fennel Sauvignon Blanc
Filet Mignon Elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux
Fish, Fried Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino and other Spanish whites, Soave, Pinot Grigio, German Riesling, crisp, unoaked Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
Fish, Grilled or Baked – white flesh Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, unoaked Chardonnay, Chablis, Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc
Fish, Grilled or Baked – strongly flavored Alsatian Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay, white Rhones, Loire reds (e.g. Chinon, Bourgueil, Sancere rouge)
Fish, Smoked Gewurztraminer, Alsatian Pinot Gris, Chablis, sparkling wine
Fish, Tomato Sauce Sauvignon Blanc, crisp whites
Foie Gras Sweet Botrytized wines, Sauternes, Alsatian Ventage Tardive or Selection de Grains Nobles Gewurztraminer
Game Birds Tuscan, Piedmont, Australian, Rhone and Spanish reds, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, Semillion
Goose Off dry Riesling, Rosso di Montalcino, Burgundy, Rhone Valley red
Guacamole Sauvignon Blanc, German Riesling (Moselle)
Gumbo Alsatian or Austrian white, Shiraz, Pinot Noir
Ham Riesling, Pinot Gris, light Pinot Noir, Sancere Rouge, Beaujolais
Hot Dogs Medium weight spicy Languedoc-Roussilon reds
Indian Spicy Rhone reds (e.g. Gigondas, St. Joseph, Crozes Hermitage) Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, other aromatic whites
Japanese Sake, sparkling wines, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Tocai Friuliano
Lamb, Roasted Burgundy, Bordeaux, Merlot, Rioja, Chianti Classico
Lamb, Braised Australian reds, Rioja Crianza, Barbera, fruity Cabernet Sauvignon
Lobster Chardonnay, white Burgundy, Alsatian or Austrian Riesling
Mexican Dry Riesling, Vouvray, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Shiraz, Zinfandel
Mushrooms Pinot Noir
Mussels Muscadet, Pinot Grigio, Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Alsatian Pinot Blanc, fruity white Burgundy (e.g. Bourgogne Aligote). Tocai Fruiliano
Nicoise Salad Dry rosé, fruity red
Olives Fino Sherry, sparkling wines
Oysters Chablis, Muscadet, Loire Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling wine, Pinot Noir
Paella Albariño, dry rosé, Rioja Crianza
Pasta, Tomato Sauce Soave, Sauvignon Blanc, Southern Italian reds
Pheasant Piedmont reds, Pinot Noir, Ribero del Duero, Rosso di Montalcino
Pizza Valpolicella, Chianti Rufina, Loire reds, Beaujolais
Pork Ribs, BBQ German Riesling, Alsatian Pinot Blanc, Loire reds (e.g. Chinon, Bourgueil) chilled Beaujolais, fruity Zinfandel
Pork, Roast or Chops Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Cru Beaujolais, Pinot Noir
Prosciutto Dry Riesling, Tocai Friuliano, Soave, Sauvignon Blanc
Quail White Burgundy, Chianti Classico, Zinfandel, Dolcetto, Rioja Crianza
Rabbit Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet/Shiraz blends
Ratatouille Languedoc-Roussilon reds (e.g. Minervois, Corbieres), dry Rose
Salad Racy whites, Sauvignon Blanc, dry Riesling, Vinho Verde, Rueda
Salmon Medium weight Pinot Noir (e.g. Oregon, Sancere rouge), Merlot, Chablis,
Sardines Sauvignon Blanc, Vinho Verde, Spanish whites
Sausages Beaujolais, fruity Zinfandel, dry rosé, aromatic Alsatian whites, Gruner Veltliner
Scallops Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Shellfish, Raw Muscadet, Chablis, Champagne, Vinho Verde, Albariño, Pinot Grigio
Shrimp, Cocktail Sauvignon Blanc, Spanish whites and other high acid whites
Shrimp, Grilled-Broiled Muscadet, Albariño, Pinot Grigio, Fino Sherry, Chenin Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay
Squab Rhone reds (e.g. Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Cotes Rotie, Hermitage St. Joseph), Australian Shiraz and Grenache, Merlot, Super Tuscans
Soup, Clear Dry Fino Sherry, Madeira
Soup, Cream Fruity, dry whites, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris
Southwestern Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Vouvray, Pinot Noir, Languedoc-Roussilon reds
Sushi Riesling, sparkling wine. Pinot Noir for tuna and fattier and oily fish
Sweetbreads Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
Thai Riesling (low alcohol-off dry), Pinot Gris, Vouvray, chilled Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, light Zinfandel
Tomatoes Sauvignon Blanc, rosé sparkling
Tuna Medium weight Loire and Rhone reds, Pinot Noir, oaked Chardonnay
Turkey, Roast Dry Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Turkey, Thanksgiving Fruity whites, Riesling, Vouvray, Tocai Fruiliano, light reds, Beaujolais, Chinon, Merlot
Veal, Roast Chardonnay, dry Riesling, Vouvray, Rhone whites, Pinot Gris, Rioja, Burgundy, Loire Red,
Venison Northern Rhones (e.g. Cotes Rotie, Hermitage) Piedmont reds, Australian Shiraz and Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux
Zucchini Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, Grenache Blanc
