Friday October 03, 2008 - Best Wine
The Harmony between Wine and Food
The Harmony between Wine and Food
by: Dan Philipe
Wine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in the company of friends and .. food.
The right combination between food and wine is a source of ultimate bliss for every connoisseur. Both wine and food can benefit from the right pairing. The right wine can accentuate unexpected gastronomical aspects of food and vice versa, wine can shine in a new light when accompanied by the right dish. In order to savor the splendor of such combinations, one does not need to frequent expensive restaurants and buy overpriced wines. Rather, when combining food and wine it is ones intuition and curiosity that are of paramount importance.
Most rules for agreeable food - wine combinations date back to the 19th century and are made by French cooks who travel around Europe showing other nations the French savoir-vivre. It is since then that we know that champagne goes well with oysters, white wine with seafood, and red wine with game and red meats. Those rules, however, have been broken many times throughout the years because the nature of certain dishes and the rich wine variety available allow for a much freer interpretation. For example, some red meats could be made more enjoyable by stronger white wines.
A more practical approach for combining wine with food is to avoid any possible dissonance between them. For example, an exceptional wine stands out much better when accompanied by a not so sophisticated dish that will bring out the wines superb qualities instead of fighting with it. Certain wines and foods have found each other over the years and represent especially suitable combinations. Generally those are the regional wines and foods. Almost all local dishes go best with the wines from their regions.
Some tips for making good food wine choices:
Try to balance the weight of both, i.e. heavy dishes and those with a strong taste, such as game and red meat should be enjoyed with an equally heavy wine. In most cases those are red wines but some full-bodied whites could be an equally suitable alternative.
Dry wines could develop a very unpleasant sour or even bitter taste if served with desserts. Generally deserts are served with wines that are at least comparably sweet, if not sweeter.
Wines with high acidity go best with heavy, rich in fat dishes. This is because the high fat content negates the impact of the acid.
High-tannin wines should be combined with foods rich in proteins. The proteins combine with the tannins, thus diminishing the tannin taste. Wines made from grape varieties that contain a lot of tannins, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are an excellent match for red meats and other protein-rich foods. On the other hand, high-tannin wines acquire an unpleasant metallic taste if combined with fish and other seafood. Or they could have an extremely bitter taste when combined with salty dishes.
So finally which wine? You could have in mind the rules above when making your selection but dont be blinded by them and never take things for granted. Even when you are convinced that you have found the perfect wine for a certain dish, a small change, such as a bad yield, a change in the production technology, or other, could disappoint you. So have an open mind and be ready to experiment. Needless to say, a lot of times the results would be a bit strange but thats what will make the whole experience interesting!!
About The Author Dan Philipe |
A Short Best Wine Summary
The Harmony between Wine and Food
The Harmony between Wine and Food by: Dan PhilipeWine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in the company of friends and .. food. The right ...
Click Here to Read More About Wine ...
Best Wine Products we recommend
Heitz Cellars - Trailside Vineyard - Cabernet Sauvignon
"Excellent structure, with a firm, refined band of spicy currant, herb, bay leaf and cedar. Wonderful balance and integration of flavors, with a supple textures and a long, complex finish. Drink this Napa Cabernet Sauvignon now through 2009. Great gift! 2, 946 cases of this dry red wine from California made. (JL)" WS- 89 (Subject to Availability) HCTC99 HCTC99
Price: 157.99 USD
Current Best Wine News
Great Wines to enjoy at any moment !
Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:22:04 PDT
You will find a selection of any kind of wines (red, white, rose, sparkling or not, even beers, spirits...) to enjoy at any moment, just as an aperitif, with cheese, game, vegetable plate...
Organic & Sparkling
Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:51:07 PDT
Sparkling wine can be better than Champagne. Fact. (If you didn't know...Sparkling wine is the official term for 'Champagne' made anywhere outside of Champagne, France). Although this geographical delineation serves to protect some of the wonders of Champagne, it allows others to get away with murder…
another wine blog » Blog Archive » Bubbles for every day,
Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:30:25 PST
How can you not love an article that proposes drinking sparkling wine with every meal of the day?
The Vino Vixen Twenty for Twenty at Jackson Twenty
Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:21:10 PST
The Vino Vixen(tm), Mari Stull, checks out the fabulous wine list at the Monaco's Jackson 20 in Alexandria Virginia. Reviews of Evil Cab Sauvignon, Gruet Sparkling, Hare's Chase Shiraz and Salmon Harbor Chardonnay. 20 Wines for 20 bucks - can't beat it!
Wine Week 57: Which wine to serve at your own wedding?
Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:13:42 PST
Weddings are the perfect time to open a few bottles of great wine, and when it's Brad's wedding then there's even more reason to get into some great wine! This week we look at a sparkling that many regard as Australia's finest, and is a regular at our celebrations. There's also a Margaret River riesling which will be served to the guests at the eve
Sparkling wine convention
Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:43:46 PST
Great sparking wine convention
Wine Reviews
Dessert Wine
Muscat Blanc | Muscat Grape
Labels: Cabernet Sauvignon
