Pairing Food with Wine

For the most part I am a white wine kind of gal, especially Chardonnay no matter what I am eating. But since I joined this wine club I have discovered how much better food is when paired with the right wine. I always knew the information was out there but I never really paid much attention to it.

Having knowledge of properly pairing wine with your food can truly intensify the enjoyment of eating. It doesn’t get much better than seafood with Sauvignon Blanc. Duck breast with Burgundy or a juicy steak with a classic Cabernet Sauvignon.

pairing wine with food

Bring this tradition of pairing food and wine around the table with friends and family to your life and see the amazing effect Delicious wine with great food and conversation has on your family!!!

Back in the day, my favorite radio station hosted a monthly “Wine & Cheese Party“, kind of the 80’s version of online dating. However, the wine they served wasn’t exactly a Fine Wine and their main concern was not pairing it with the right cheeses.

Everyone knows wine pairs well with cheese but what cheeses go with which wines?

Chardonnay pairs well with Asiago, Havarti, Stilton and other blue-veined cheeses. Almonds and toasted nuts. If you are preparing a snack tray to serve with Chardonnay be sure to include sliced apple and mango. As far as meals; serve with chicken, pork or veal. Lobster, crab, halibut or shrimp. And for dessert; banana bread or vanilla pudding. I highly recommend the Freedom Chardonnay from this wine of the club.

Sauvignon Blanc you will want to serve feta and goat cheese. Sliced green apples pair well too! For dinner, serve chicken, pork, or turkey. It pairs well with fatty white fish, lobster, oysters, scallops, shrimp, sushi. And for dessert key lime pie, meringue, sliced mango or sorbet.

Riesling, another of my favorites and often served with Gouda or Havarti. Then I toss some candied pecans, walnuts and sliced pears on the tray. Along with slices of smoked sausage. For dinner, serve with duck, trout, or seabass.  And for desserts caramel sauce with apple pie.

As for Red Wines my choices include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  

Pino Noir; pairs well with goat cheese and brie, strawberries, dried fruit and walnuts. As for the main meal serve filet mignon, chicken, lamb, sausage or salmon. For dessert, Crème Brule or white chocolate.

Cabernet Sauvignon try with cheddar or gorgonzola. Beef stew, venison, rib eye and grilled ahi tuna pair well with this bold red wine. As well as, broccoli or tomatoes. Desserts could include bittersweet chocolate or black cherries. Kenneth Jones III and Antoniou are two delicious Cabernets only available here.

paring wine and food

Merlot. Parmesan and Pecorino-Romano or fondue are good choices here. Also chestnuts or walnuts. Try serving  steak or many grilled meats such as a Steakhouse Burger (recipe below). Grilled meatier fish or ahi tuna. Serve with tomatoes, or caramelized onions. Then end the meal with dark chocolate, berries or plums. The Ricord Merlot is an excellent choice. As is the Coplan Vineyards ‘The Chairman‘.

I have chosen this wine club as my wine source; they are absolutely amazing and have some of the best wine!!! I loved to cook and those who know me know I like my wine. That is what food is all about and wine goes right together with that. It’s all about blending flavors to create an experience in your taste buds and mind that creates pleasure and happiness! That is why there is a saying Eat Drink and be Merry !!!

So with this wine club I get to experience fine wines from Napa and Sonoma Valley at my door each month. Each Delicious batch of fine wine is different and that is why the single vineyard plays a huge roll in the flavors from year to year. The wines are affected by the year, rain, atmosphere and the minerals in the soils. So yes the single vineyard and year to year batches change in fine wines and that is why the year matters and the batch matters because you’re experiencing that part of the world in that season of that year!!!

Another benefit to joining a Wine club like this wine club; you receive Delicious wine from Napa and Sonoma Valley. They send you new wine that they have selected and we get the pleasure of enjoying and sharing with our family!! Then when you find a batch you really love you can order a case!!! That is an amazing benefit as well!! You will find new wines you love all the time and want more. When you join Introduce Wine Ambassador to 3 People & Your Wine is FREE!!

And then there is an opportunity for people passionate about wine to build a business with family, friends and colleagues who enjoy wine. Tap Into The $38B Industry.

Now try this delicious burger and see how well it pairs with Merlot. The recipe has been shared by a friend at a Wine & Dine Wednesday Event.

STEAKHOUSE BURGER

The first thing you need to do is to heat up the pan on high or heat up the grill on high. This will help sears the meat and hold in all that delicious flavors. After you have done this then turn your heat down so you slowly cook the meat to keep all that flavor in the burger!

Put 2 pieces of bread, crust removed and torn into small pieces, in a large bowl. Mix with ⅓ cup of low-fat milk (you can use unsweetened Almond or Soy milk) use a fork until it forms lumps. Then mix in 2 ½ tsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. freshly ground pepper, 3 cloves minced garlic, 2 Tbsp. ketchup and 1½ Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce. Make sure it’s mixed evenly with no lumps. Mix with your hands, they work the best.

Now you need to divide the mixture into 10 think burgers. Make sure the patties are ¾-inch thick and about 4½” round. Then you need to put a slight depression in the middle of the patty. By doing this it will keep the patty from puffing up on the grill or on the stove.

Grease the pan with butter; on the grill use a non-flammable spray. Start cooking the burgers until your desired doneness. The rule is 2-4 minutes per side. Add the cheese of your choice and let it melt. Brioche buns are a great choice because they hold up well to thick burgers. Pretzel buns are good too! Finally add the toppings of your choice. Theses burgers are great for tailgating parties!!

See additional recipes from our Wine & Dine Wednesday. And see here for STEAK delivered to your door.