Re-thinking wine and food combinations
You really can drink wine with just about anything these days. Zinfandel with your Tex-Mex? Not a problem. A little Chardonnay with your fried chicken take-out? Delicious. Pinot Noir and wild boar? Why not? I've found surprising combinations by experimenting ... granted, I am extremely thorough when it comes to this sort of research.
The old rules about white wine with white meat and red wine with red meat just don't give us enough guidance anymore. With modern fusion cuisine and wines from new regions around the world, the choices—and confusion—are great. I've tried to capture thousands of interesting combinations in my interactive wine and food matcher at www.nataliemaclean.com/matcher. I pair wine with everyday meals, as well as challenging fare, such as vegetarian cuisine, egg-based sauces, cheese, TV dinners, and even dessert, including Jell-O and fudge (for those who like to layer their vices).
You simply search by wine for meal inspirations or by food to find great wine choices. There are more than 360,000 food and wine combinations in the matcher as well as thousands of recipes for a variety of dishes. I add more wines and foods based on readers’ suggestions, which I get from the 75,000 subscribers to my free e-newsletter, Nat Decants. The newsletter offers tips on how to buy, cellar and serve wine. I also write about food and wine matching for dinner parties in my book Red, White and Drunk All Over.
Now that we’re into barbecue season, you’ll find suggestions for grilled meats and vegetables, as well as summer salads and seafood. Those planning weddings, reunions and graduation parties can discover great suggestions for a wide range of menus. Got a dish or a wine to stump me? E-mail me via my web site and I’ll suggest a match for you.
Here are some of my favorite wine and food matches:
2006 Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc Durbanville, South Africa: A refreshing simple white with herbal notes and aromas of gooseberries and lemon. Closed with a screwcap. Pair with: seafood, pasta. $13.15
2006 Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Casablanca Valley, Chile: A big old, oaky chardonnay is as comfy as your favortie jeans - buttery, round and accepting. Pair with: salmon steak. $15.95
2006 Michel Gassier Les Piliers Viognier Vin De Pays D'oc, France: A gorgeous viognier! Full-bodied with luscious, round and mouth-filling flavors. Pair with: grilled swordfish, mango chutney. $18.95
2003 Juniper Crossing Shiraz Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: A terrific, full-boded wine. Notes of dark black fruit, mint and chocolate. Pair with: gourmet burgers, lamb, barbequed steak. $18.95
2004 Maculan Cabernet Sauvignon Veneto, Italy: A simple, round and full-bodied wine with notes of chocolate and dark fruit. Pair with: roast beef, root vegetables. $14.95
2004 Ramirana Gran Reserva Syrah Maipo Valley, Chile: A rich, full-bodied and chocolaty wine. Pair with: roast beef, root vegetables, roast potatoes. $18.95
