5 Tips For Pairing Food And Wine

Learn 5 Tips for Pairing Food and Wine when you go to a restaurant or cook a meal. Today wine experts encourage more creativity and experimentation when selecting wine with food. Choose wines for sauces, chicken, meats, fish, and ethnic dishes. Don't be afraid to experiment with different wines and make mistakes while learning. Use these  general guideline for selecting wine with food for cooking or going out to restaurants.

1. Sauces and Chicken Dishes. A good rule to follow for food dishes with sauces is to use the same wine in the sauce with the meal. If you make a chicken dish with white wine or red use this wine to drink with the meal. When you serve Filet Mignon with Red Wine Sauce use the same red wine you choose as an ingredient in the sauce. Chicken is a neutral dish that goes well with red and white wines. You can chose Burgundy, Pinot Noir or Rose. White wine like Chardonnay or Riesling goes well with dishes with no tomato sauce or cream based sauces.
2. Pasta and Fish Dishes. Pasta sauces that are tomato base often go well with rich red wine like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. The lighter red wines like Rose or Zinfandel go well with pasta sauces too. Cream based sauces often go well with a white wine like Chablis or Pinot Gringo. Some fish dishes can be served with red wine try to pick a wine that does not overpower the dish. If you use a wine in the recipe then use same wine with the fish dish. For light fish dishes consider a good white wine that is not sweet like Chen Blanc or White Chablis.
3. Red Meat. Red meat usually goes well with a red wine. There are many types so choosing the right one is a  challenge. Steak and pot roast go well with rich dry red wine like burgundy or cabernet  sauvignon. Prime rib goes well with Merlot or even Chianti. Try a French red wine known as Beaujolais Nouveau with other cuts of beef. Cube steak or hamburgers a more causal meal call for some simple wines like a Rose or Syrah.
4. Chinese and Mexican Foods. It can be challenging to find wines that go with Chinese dishes. A good wine is a Riesling with low sugar and smooth taste. This is classic white wine for spicy meals. It will not over power a strong sauce or spice. In general white wines work better with most Chinese dishes like Chablis or Chardonnay. For Mexican foods those dishes with green chiles often go well with white wines and red chiles with red wine. Dry wines often go well with the spicy or fruity sauces used in Mexican dishes. Another tip is that good acidity in a wine often complements spicy Mexican food. So check acidity when selecting a wine with Mexican foods.
5. At restaurants ask for assistance. When eating out ask your waiter or waitress for a suggestion of a good wine that goes with the meal you are ordering. Many restaurants train wait staff to know about different wines to increase sales. Many upscale restaurants have wine experts called sommeliers which will be happy to assist you in choosing the right  bottle of wine. Some restaurants even specialize in matching food and wine so they have  staff to assist customers that order wine by the bottle. Many restaurants have an extensive wine list. When you purchase wine at stores often the staff can help you select the right bottle for your dinner.