The Harmony Between Food and Wine

Wine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in the company of friends and .. food.

The right combination between food and wine is a source of ultimate bliss for every connoisseur. Both wine and food can benefit from the right pairing. The right wine can accentuate unexpected gastronomical aspects of food and vice versa, wine can shine in a new light when accompanied by the right dish. In order to savor the splendor of such combinations, one does not need to frequent expensive restaurants and buy overpriced wines. Rather, when combining food and wine it is one's intuition and curiosity that are of paramount importance.

Most rules for agreeable food - wine combinations date back to the 19th century and are made by French cooks who travel around Europe showing other nations the French savoir-vivre. It is since then that we know that champagne goes well with oysters, white wine ? with seafood, and red wine ? with game and red meats. Those rules, however, have been broken many times throughout the years because the nature of certain dishes and the rich wine variety available allow for a much freer interpretation. For example, some red meats could be made more enjoyable by stronger white wines.

A more practical approach for combining wine with food is to avoid any possible dissonance between them. For example, an exceptional wine stands out much better when accompanied by a not so sophisticated dish that will bring out the wine's superb qualities instead of fighting with it. Certain wines and foods have "found" each other over the years and represent especially suitable combinations. Generally those are the regional wines and foods. Almost all local dishes go best with the wines from their regions.

Some tips for making good food ? wine choices:

Try to balance the weight of both, i.e. heavy dishes and those with a strong taste, such as game and red meat should be enjoyed with an equally heavy wine. In most cases those are red wines but some full-bodied whites could be an equally suitable alternative.

Dry wines could develop a very unpleasant sour or even bitter taste if served with desserts. Generally deserts are served with wines that are at least comparably sweet, if not sweeter.

Wines with high acidity go best with heavy, rich in fat dishes. This is because the high fat content negates the impact of the acid.

High-tannin wines should be combined with foods rich in proteins. The proteins combine with the tannins, thus diminishing the tannin taste. Wines made from grape varieties that contain a lot of tannins, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are an excellent match for red meats and other protein-rich foods. On the other hand, high-tannin wines acquire an unpleasant metallic taste if combined with fish and other seafood. Or they could have an extremely bitter taste when combined with salty dishes. So finally? which wine? You could have in mind the rules above when making your selection but don't be blinded by them and never take things for granted. Even when you are convinced that you have found the perfect wine for a certain dish, a small change, such as a bad yield, a change in the production technology, or other, could disappoint you. So have an open mind and be ready to experiment. Needless to say, a lot of times the results would be a bit strange but that's what will make the whole experience interesting!!

http://www.wines-resource.com

---

Ideal Wine Temperature

The ideal temperature to store wines is between 55ºF and... Read More

Australian Wines

Australia's wine industry has boomed in the past ten years.... Read More

Counting Carbs With Wine

The recent health claims that wines have antioxidants... Read More

Gewurztraminer Wine

Gewurztraminer is an excellent and unique grape variety that is... Read More

Rare Varietals Cure Wine Boredom

The future of the Australian wine industry will be shaped... Read More

Burgundy Wine

Burgundy red wines are produced in an area of France... Read More

Explore the U.S. Wine Trails

Follow a Local Wine Trail to Discover the Secrets of... Read More

Red Wine Compound May Extend Life

Good news! A recent study suggested that resveratrol, a red... Read More

The Harmony between Wine and Food

Wine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in... Read More

White Zinfandel Wine

White Zinfandel wine is a blush wine made in California... Read More

Whisky Syndicates

Whisky syndicates are groups of private owners and many have... Read More

Choosing a Wine Gift Basket

During the holiday season, most of us are in a... Read More

Who Made the First Wine Anyway?

Although details are understandably sketchy, it is believed that, around... Read More

The Truth About Red Wine and Heart Disease

Red Wine, Heart Disease, Hungry Sharks and Knights in Shining... Read More

What is Corked Wine?

Keeping a wine bottle sealed is probably the most important... Read More

Uses of Mirror Tinted Contact Lenses

Mirror tinted contact lenses have become a topic of interest... Read More

Guide To Tasting Wine

The basics of tasting wine are relatively simple to learn.... Read More

Chablis Wine

Chablis is thought to have originated in northern Spain and... Read More

Australia Is More Than Jacobs Creek

The Jacobs Creek Brand of wines have taken the world... Read More

Hosting A Wine Tasting Party

As your love and knowledge of wine grows, it is... Read More

Pairing Beer With Food

Pairing beer with the fine cuisine has recently come to... Read More

The Old Fashioned: Two Recipes of an Underrated Classic

Like many mixed drinks, the Old Fashioned has a number... Read More

Using Cooking Wine

Cooking wine is sort of a holdover from prohibition. People... Read More

Choosing that Perfect Wine for a Dinner Party

So, you find yourself having been invited to a dinner... Read More

The Curious History Of Wine Consumption In America

The history of wine consumption in America has been frought... Read More

How to Order Wine in a Restaurant

Ordering wine in a restaurant is not much different than... Read More

Wine, Wine, Wine

What in the world is up!Was there a full moon... Read More

Enjoy Your Favorite Wine - But With Some Rules

The mere mention of etiquette brings to mind various images,... Read More

DWI and Blood Alcohol Concentration: What does it mean?

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the relationship between the amount... Read More

Champagne

Champagne is without question the finest sparkling wine made in... Read More

Build Your Own Wine Rack (In An Afternoon)

A good drink is what even Gods enjoy and to... Read More

The Stuff of Poetry ? Mead

People have been drinking fermented beverages since the dawn of... Read More

Barbera Wine

Barbera is a wine grape variety from Monferrato in Piemonte,... Read More