How to match the right wine to every meal

If you enjoy a glass of wine but you’re not quite sure how to select the appropriate wines for your everyday dishes, then we’re here to help with some tips and tricks. Plus, you can even save money when you apply this Vivino coupon code when ordering your wine online. Before you order, check out our list of simple rules that you can follow to match your food and wine.

1. Balance

One of the key factors to consider when choosing the right wine to accompany your meal is balancing the two. For a rich meal, with bold flavours, it’s best to select a wine with similar features and with a lighter dish, a softer wine. There should be a balance between the flavours of the food and wine to make sure that neither of them outweighs the other. Generally speaking, red wine is appropriate for heavier dishes like red meat, while white wine is usually better for accompaniment with lighter meals such as fish or poultry. 

2. The prominent element

First, you need to identify the prominent element of your dish so that you can pair the wine accordingly. It’s likely that the dish will have more than one, so think about which element is key and select the wine based on this element. The dominant part of a dish is usually the sauce or the way in which it is cooked, and not the main ingredient so take this into consideration. 

3. How to pair white wine

There are different types of white wine including dry, sweet, rich, and sparking. A dry white such as a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon blanc works well with a range of dishes like fish and vegetables of all kinds. A sweeter white wine, for example, Moscato or Gewürztraminer is best for cheese, cured meats, and desserts, but is also ideal for contrasting the flavours of spicy dishes. Sparkling wine on the other hand goes especially well with any foods that have a strong salty element. This is probably why they’re a favourite for parties and celebrations, as they’re perfect for accompanying most snacks. 

4. How to pair red wine

Red wines generally fall under three main categories; light, medium, and bold and these characteristics can help you to identify the best pairings. You can match a full-bodied red wine, like a classic Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, not only with red meat but also with cheeses and starchy foods. A lighter red is very versatile and can be appropriate for a range of tastes including rich fish, roasted vegetables, and white meat. 

5. Rosé

If you can’t seem to decide between red or white wine, then a Rosé could be the answer to your dilemma. Many Rosé wines have a combination of the acidity you would find in a white wine, together with the fruitiness or body of a red wine so this makes it ideal for many different types of dishes including fish, white meat, roasted vegetables and all kinds of cheese. 

6. Keep it simple

Don’t go overboard trying to find the perfect wine. Remember that these are just some basic tips to give you some inspiration but there are no set rules that say you must match a certain wine to a certain food. Selecting your chosen wine is a personal matter so it can be based on your likes and dislikes just as much as any professional wine pairing. It often comes down to instinct so if you’re able to identify which types of wines you enjoy drinking with a specific meal then trust your instinct. If you want more tips on selecting wine, then you can also check out the expert advice in this article from the Guardian Magazine.