“Pairing wine and food is an art, not a science.”

As you start your journey into drinking wine, it will become apparent really fast that pairing food and wine is necessary in order to truly get the full experience of a wine and to complement a meal the best way possible. In general, we recommend drink and eat what you like. However, if you take some easy steps when choosing which food or wine to consume, your experience will be enhanced like no other.

Pairing Food & Wine Basics

Our goal is to help others learn how to enjoy wine the best way possible. A critical part of enjoying wine to the fullest is to pair it with the food you are eating to enhance both the food and the wine. Here are a list of things to consider when pairing wine with your food (or visa versa).
  1. Red wines tend to pair best with meats with strong flavors, usually red meats.
  2. White wines tend to pair best with lighter flavored meals and meat, like chicken & seafood.
  3. Try to pair the wine with the sauce on the meat, rather than the meat on dishes where there is a lot of sauce (like pasta)
  4. Meals with high acidity (like tomato based pasta sauce) should be paired with wines with high acidity.
  5. Fatty foods pair best with bitter wines (like a ribeye and a cabernet)
  6. Sweet wines go well with sweet food (like dessert wines)
  7. There are two ways to pair wine and food, congruent (wine & dish share flavors) and complementary (do not share flavors).
Congruent – this is typically a red wine that is paired with a dish. The flavors in the wine and the food are both elevated this way. But remember that the food should never overpower the wine, otherwise the wine will just taste bland and very underwhelming. Complementary – these combinations of wine and food share no flavors, but they do complement each other. A good example of this is a sweet wine paired with a spicy dish. The sweetness will tone down the spiciness and the flavors in both the wine and the dish will be enhanced.

Pair By Wine Type

Pair By Food Type

Pair By Region

Pairing Wine With Ribeyes & Prime Rib

Pairing Wine With Cigars

Pairing Wine With Chocolate

Food & Wine Pairings To Avoid

There are some pairings that do not go well together and can actually make the food and the wine taste worse. In these scenarios you would be better off to just drink water or a different drink with the meal, and then enjoy the glass of wine after the meal. Unless you can find a wine that does go well with your meal. Learn more about which pairings don’t go well together above.
Pairing Wine With Foie Gras
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Foie gras is a delicacy renowned for its luxurious and indulgent appeal. Derived from the fattened liver of a specially raised duck or goose, the preparation of foie gras involves a traditional culinary technique called “gavage,” where the birds are … Read More

Pairing Wine With Quail
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Quail is one of the most delicate members of the poultry family. Being a mostly gamey-type of meat, the sauces and seasonings on the dish are usually its focal point. Most establishments or at home recipes will call for such … Read More

Pairing Wine With Raclette
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Raclette is such a fun, social dinner idea to have a few of your friends and family gather together to relax while cooking your meal in front of you whilst enjoying some great wine to pair with it. The options … Read More

Pairing Wine With Red Beans And Rice
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The origins of red beans and rice go back to Louisiana and Creole cuisine. This dish was often prepared with leftover ham broth from the previous day to make a hearty and filling dish. The flavor profiles of red beans … Read More

Pairing Wine With Shrimp And Grits
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Shrimp and grits is a classic, comforting Southern dish with a perfect harmony of flavors and textures. This culinary delight features succulent, plump shrimp sautéed with aromatic spices and butter until tender and slightly caramelized. It is then served atop … Read More

Pairing Wine With Wagyu Steak
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Wagyu is the king of steaks and is widely considered to be one of the best cuts of meat in the world. There are a couple of differences between Wagyu and a regular ribeye or a sirloin steak. Wagyu is … Read More

Pairing Wine With Prosciutto
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Prosciutto is a renowned Italian dry-cured ham that has earned a place in the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide. Crafted from the hind leg of the pig and aged for several months, prosciutto boasts a delicate and velvety texture with … Read More

Pairing Wine With Port Salut Cheese
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The wine you choose to pair with a Port Salut cheese can range from light-bodied wine to a full-bodied, complex one with a strong finish. Port Salut is a semi-soft cheese known for its iconic orange rind with a very … Read More

Pairing Wine With Pecorino
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Pecorino cheese, known for its distinctive salty and tangy flavors, pairs exceptionally well with specific wines that can complement its unique characteristics. The wine’s fragrance, acidity, and structure play crucial roles in enhancing the taste experience and balancing the cheese’s … Read More

Pairing Wine With Osso Bucco
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Hailing from Milan, Osso Bucco is a tantalizing Italian specialty that captivates with its rich and robust flavors. This iconic dish showcases tender cross-cut veal shanks, slowly braised to perfection in a luscious combination of white wine, aromatic vegetables, and … Read More

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