| Having worked in a number of restaurants, I was | | | | Part of the art of pairing wine and food is deciding |
| usually asked my suggestions on how best to pair a | | | | whether you want the food to compliment or |
| glass or bottle of wine with a meal selection. What | | | | contrast the food you're offering. While you might be |
| surprised many of my guests was that I didn't | | | | offering a sirloin that one would normally pair with a |
| always follow the rule of pairing red wine with red | | | | nice dry red, if you've spiced that same sirloin with |
| meat and white wine with white meat. There are a | | | | peppers or seasoning that raises the heat of the |
| few reasons why, and here they are: | | | | steak, you may want to pair it with a white wine |
| You Don't Have to Follow Tradition | | | | that will help cut that spice and make the entire |
| The biggest thing to remember is that just because | | | | dining experience more enjoyable. |
| people have been pairing wine and food a certain | | | | While there's nothing wrong with having your wine |
| way for however long doesn't mean you have to do | | | | compliment the meal you've prepared, picking a wine |
| so. You'll be eating and drinking the selection, and if | | | | that contrasts your food is a great way to broaden |
| you think the Riesling sounds great with the New | | | | your horizons and to find new and exciting way to |
| York strip, that's your business and nobody else's. | | | | enjoy your food and your wine, which is really the |
| Don't let people looking at you funny discourage you | | | | most fun of pairing food and wine. |
| from branching out and trying new and different | | | | Blended Wines |
| wines with your meal, even if the pairing you select is | | | | Blended wines can mean anything from a blend of |
| something a little out of the ordinary. | | | | Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio to something like a |
| Wine Flights | | | | White Zinfandel or a Rose'. Blended wines like a |
| Wine flights are very popular at many wine intensive | | | | Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio blend are unique in that they |
| restaurants, as they let the restaurant offer a small | | | | offer aspects of both wines, depending on the ration |
| selection of complimentary wines at a slightly | | | | of each. White Zinfandel and Rose' add another |
| increased price in the hopes that you will buy a glass | | | | dimension in that they can pair well with many |
| or bottle of one of the small samples you tried. More | | | | different food options because of their unique flavor |
| and more, restaurants are pairing wine flights with | | | | profiles. While many guys might not want to be |
| their meals, as it benefits their bottom line. One thing | | | | caught drinking pink wine, don't rule out a good Rose' |
| to notice is that most wine flights offer differing | | | | to go with something like prime rib if you're |
| types of wine, be it a range of chiantis, a range of | | | | interested in trying something new. |
| chardonnays, or a range of Italian, Australian, French, | | | | Do What You Want |
| or Californian wine, which can include both red and | | | | When it all comes down to it, it's your money and |
| white wine. | | | | your palate. Only you can really know what you like |
| Using wine flights is a really great way to find out if | | | | and what you think will taste best. Don't let anybody |
| that really dry chardonnay will actually go well with | | | | tell you differently and don't be afraid to experiment |
| your medium rare porter house while letting you try | | | | both at restaurants and at home. Trying a new or |
| some other wines that might also work. Don't be | | | | different pairing at home can often be a better way |
| intimidated just because you don't recognize every | | | | to find out that something doesn't pair well instead of |
| type of wine in a flight. Branching out and trying new | | | | at a restaurant where you're then stuck with |
| things is part of the fun of wine drinking. | | | | something that doesn't taste as good as it sounded |
| Compliment or Contrast | | | | at first. |