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Food and Wine Philososphy

#1
Weighty and richer foods pair well with fuller and more powerful
wines. Richer meats such as game or roasts go well with full-bodied
wines. Generally speaking, powerful reds are favored, but a full
bodied white is a better match than a light red with most meat
dishes. Likewise, lighter white meats and fish goes well with more
delicate whites. Some examples of full-bodied reds include Italian
Barolo and Barbarescos which are made from the Nebbiolo grape
and Northern Rhone wines made from the Syrah grape as well as
Australian Shiraz wines from the Barossa Valley. Full-bodied whites
include oaked Chardonnay like some of the ones from California.

#2
If it grows together it goes together. This means that the typical
cuisine of a region will pair well with the wines made from the same
grapes that grow in that region. So wines from grapes grown in
Mediterranean regions will pair well with Mediterranean cuisines.
Likewise Rioja and Navarra wines will pair well with Basque style
cuisine. Pinot Noir will pair well with Burgundian style cuisine.
French Alsatian wines and some German Rieslings will go well with
Choucroute and many West German dishes. This is only a rule of
thumb, but usually works.

#3
Spicy foods pair well with sweeter wines. So now White Zinfandel
becomes legitimate! White Zinfandel and blush wines have gotten a
bad rap as wine appreciation has grown worldwide. So, next time
you are having Thai food or Pan-Asian cuisine, choose a sweet or
off-dry wine to go with your meal. Other good pairings for spicy
dishes are German Rieslings, labeled Spätlese and French Vouvray,
made with Chenin Blanc, labeled demi-sec. One way to tell if a wine
is sweet or dry is by checking the alcohol content. If it is below 11%
then it will usually have residual sugar and be off dry or sweeter. If
the alcohol is 11% and higher then the wine is dry. The only
exceptions to this rule is very sweet dessert wines such as French
Sauternes and fortified wines like Port, Sherry and some Italian Vin
Santo which will all have higher alcohol.