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Food Matching

Aperitifs | Fish | Meat & Poultry |
Cheese | Other Foods | Storing Wine

Aperitifs

The two most common appetite-whetters from the wine world are dry sherry or sparkling wine.

Try one of the lighter Californian or New Zealand sparklers, or for a real celebration go for a non vintage champagne. Kir royale is back in fashion so try adding a dash of Casis or other blackcurrant liqueur for flavour and colour.


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Fish

White Fish such as Sole Trout Plaice etc go well with a lightly oaked wine from any region.

Salmon is best with a Chardonnay from California or New Zealand or try it with a lightish red such as Beaujolais or Pinot Noir.

For Tuna choose a red in preference to a white for example an Australian Shiraz or Chilean Cabernet.


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Meat and Poultry

If you are eating roasted chicken then go for a soft edged red such as a crianza or reserva rioja. A lighter cooking style would be better with a white whine depending on the sauce you have with it.

Roast Pork or Grilled Chops are happiest with a fuller spicy red, Australian Shiraz or Californian Syrah.

Rump steak or Sirloin Steak can cope with robust reds such as Zinfandels, however Fillet Steak needs something lighter like a Bordeaux. If you are having peppered sauce, mustard or horseradish with your steak then chose a Syrah or Grenache.

To cut through the fattiness of duck the acidity of a Chianti Classico works well or a new Zealand Pinot.

Lamb is generally felt to be quite a greasy meat depending on how it is cooked so a Rioja, Valpolicella or Shiraz would be suitable.

Meat casseroles

Most casseroles have rich sauces which are better suited to Red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignion, Zinfandel or Shiraz from Australia and New Zealand, however a Bordeaux is also appropriate.


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Other Foods

Italian Pizza/Pasta. If the meal has a tomato / meat sauce then choose a red wine and probably an Italian Chianti or Valpolicella would be most appropriate.

If the pasta has a white sauce then any white whine would go well but particularly a Soave or Frascati.

Curry (Hot) Counteract the heat with a chilled Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.

Curry (Mild or Tandoori) Choose a light red such as Beaujolais or a Merlot.

Chinese or Thai is best with white wine so combine with a crisp Chardonnay or Suavignon Blanc.

Mexican. All whites and Rose’s go well with spicy Mexican foods.

Salads and Picnics Chenin Blanc Chardonnay or Rose’


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Cheese

Mild creamy cheeses can be eaten with red or white wine from any country but try Red Bordeaux, an Italian white or a Pinot Noir from Australia.

Mature / strong cheese will stand up to a heavier wine so look at Cabernet Sauvignon from the new world or depending on when the cheese is being eaten you could choose a sweeter dessert wine.


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Storing Wine

It is worth noting that all wines and not just vintage wines are better if they are stored correctly and drunk at the right temperature.

Do not store your wine near heat, such as the cooker or the central heating boiler, nor should you store it outside in very cold temperatures.

Don’t over chill your white wine as it will dull the flavour serve at about 10 degrees C or slightly below for a Chardonay.

Red wine should be served at room temperature but never warm a red near the fire or radiator as this affects the flavour. Some lighter reds such as Beaujolais can be served lightly chilled, about an hour in the refrigerator.

Everyone knows that you should let red wine “breath” before drinking. For today’s reds that are matured and intended to be drunk when bought then it is probably not necessary however if you would prefer to do so then just removing the cork is not sufficient as only a small amount of wine in the neck of the bottle is coming into contact with the air. Decant into another vessel even if you re-funnel it back into the bottle, this will allow all of the wine to come into contact with the air and remember the wine will develop in the glass anyway.


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