Matching Wine and Food

Article submitted by Red & White Wines, Inc.  Located W3192 Cty Rd KK, Suite B,
Appleton.  For more information call 920-882-2141

The subject of matching food and wine rarely gets more attention than during the holiday season. With the variety of foods served it can be baffling even for experts. The wine that matches best with turkey may not match well with cranberries or savory stuffing. What to do? Well, you have two choices. One, go middle of the road with both red and white wines, or two, drink what you like. For choice #1, good options for white would be Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris) or Gewurztraminer. Middle of the road reds include Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Barbera, Grenache or a soft Merlot. Chenin Blanc - look for Vouvray from France (Pierre Chainier is delicious and friendly). Pinot Grigio - reasonably priced from Italy with good flavor. Pinot Gris - Try Oregon for softer acids and richer fruit. Gewurztraminer - fruity, spicy, with some residual sugar, this is a great all around choice. Pinot Noir - the "it" grape of the moment. For great value look for castle rock from California. Sangiovese - the primary grape of Italy from Chianti to Apulia. Light & approachable. Barbera - from Italy, great fruit & brighter acid than other reds. Grenache - Newly popular but centuries old from Spain, France or Australia this is perfect for a crowd! Look for Tres Ojos or Oxford Landing GSM for some of the best value reds in the world! Merlot - Many are soft & easy to drink. As it is well known it may be the right choice if you have a less adventurous crowd. Now for choice #2. People have a tendency to get too worked up about matching the right wine. There's nothing wrong with throwing all the rules out the window. If it doesn't match, it doesn't match. If you have a favorite wine that you love and want to share with others, buy it. Nobody's holiday will be ruined and you may open someone's eyes to something new.