Simple rules for perfect wine pairing, and when to break them without hesitation

by Tali Dalbaha

Regions on the rise
Uruguay, a country of 3.5 million people and 12 million cows, is famed for its beef, as one might imagine. A lovely rich, spicy red wine from that country is Tannat, its grape name a variation on tannin a polyphenol found in plants that adds bitterness and astringency to wine, and helps amplify the flavour of steak. One of the best is Bodega Garzon Tannat Reserva 2016. A rich purple in colour, it offers fresh aromas of red and black fruits like plums and raspberries, along with a delicate spicy nose. $18.99

Canary Islands, the Spanish archipelago and one of the most exotic places in the world famed for rich volcanic soil has been a viniculture region for over 100 years. Bodegas Monje, located in the north part of Tenerife, produces a Listan Negro native red grape that results in a lovely wine purple in color, with a hint of black pepper and blueberries. $19.99
Savoie Region. In the heart of a French department in the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region, vineyards here, such as Domaine des Rocailles, produce wines of wonderful fruit and complexity, and particularly great whites. Les Rocailles Apremont Vieilles Vignes Jacquère intense and crisp presents great acidity and citrus flavour. It’ll put you in mind of frosty air and white slopes. $15.99

Joining forces
One of the most pleasurable synergies in life is that between food and wine. When they work well together, it’s like an orchestra playing on the palate, like a ballerina doing the perfect dance and everyone singing “Hallelujah” (how’s that for a medley of metaphors?). Some people are meant to be matchmakers, and so pairing is second nature to them, but others most of us, in fact need to learn and understand how, for instance, opposites can attract in wine as they do in couples. Part of acquiring this knowledge, of course, is to keep trying new food with new bottles and grapes it’s a great practice to be always adventurous and the resulting journey can be magical.

A few tips to get you started
Light food with light wines: A salad with raw beet, cucumber, arugula, and goat cheese, for example, works best a with a light white wine, such as Granbazan Albarino Etiqueta Verde ($17.99) both fresh and crisp, with lively acidity

Earthy food with earthy wines: Risotto with porcini mushroom and pecorino cheese will go perfectly with Produttori Barbaresco Pora 2013 ($64.99). Pricey, but so worth it
Dessert with sweet wines: Consider pairing chocolate soufflé with Quinta do Noval Black Port, but one rule is important: the wine must be sweeter than the dish (think of drinking Coca Cola right after eating chocolate…the soda definitely won’t taste as sweet after).

For the most part, similar flavours usually go well together, but other specifics to keep in mind include the fact that spicy food eaten in tandem with sweet wines will moderate some of the spiciness and add balance to overall flavour (think Indian cuisine with German Riesling… heavenly matched). Fried food, meanwhile, is accentuated by high acid wines (say, buttermilk fried chicken with Belle Reverie Champagne, $29.99).

High fat foods like foie gras, can use a little sweetness to break their richness, which is why the latter is often paired with a Sauternes, like Chateau Coutet 2014 ($34.99), while hightannin wines like Barolo will benefit any dish with dairy, and a good steak will sing when paired with a California Cabernet, like Alexander Valley Vineyards’ 2016 Cabernet ($21.99).

Super Buy Rite Wine & Liquor, 575 Manila Avenue, Jersey City, buyritewines.com

BREAKING THE RULES: ADVENTURES IN UNEXPECTED PAIRINGS
Beef Dumpling Soup with Pinot Blanc, Weingut Heitlinger Eichelberg GG 2015 ($39.99). Yes, beef with white wine may seem novel, but this duo is wonderfully comforting. Often, this particular Pinot Blanc doesn’t show much character, but here winds up shining and glowing.

Chinese food with Bordeaux is absolutely fabulous, from Pecking Duck to Kung Pao chicken, also open a bottle of Chateau du Seuil 2015 ($24.99) and you will have the perfect night with take out.

Having waffles and fried chicken? Instead of using syrup, use some good Sauternes. Truly the breakfast of champions! And remember, every wine that goes well with pizza is a great wine!