Pair Wine Like A Pro

Are you tired of boring dinner parties and want to spice up your pairings menu? You’ve come to the right place! The holidays are right around the corner, meaning more time with friends and family to enjoy the best things in life, such as food and wine. Preparing for these events can be stressful! With our help, you’ll be wining and dining like a pro. Here, we will discuss choosing the right pairing for any occasion and the best wine pairings for dinner parties. To learn more, keep reading!

Most Common Pairings

Various factors must be considered when choosing the right pairing for a meal. First, you must consider what type of meal you have prepared. Then, you must consider what flavors will complement your meal and the attributes that will intensify it. Below, we will list the most common pairings and meal suggestions for each.

The first pairing is chardonnay and a light seafood dish like salmon, scallops, crab, or lobster. Most chardonnays are dry and medium-bodied, which makes them the perfect pairing for lighter meats in flavorful sauces. We recommend trying our Companion Wines Yellow Star Chardonnay with Mustard Seed-Crusted Salmon. 

One of the most well-known pairings is pinot grigio, with seafood dishes such as fish, scallops, crab, or lobster. Pinot grigio is light-bodied and has familiar aromas like lemon-lime, pear, and sweet fruits like peach or apricot. We recommend pairing Pighin Pinot Grigio Friuli Grave 2022 Blanc with Mahi Mahi with Strawberry Sauce.

The next pairing is a riesling with sweet and spicy flavors. Riesling is known to be sweet or dry and highly aromatic with a distinct floral aroma. We recommend trying a semi-sweet riesling with Seared Scallops with Jalapeño Vinaigrette.

Another white wine pairing is sauvignon blanc and tart flavors such as citrus fruits, vinegar vegetables, a variety of fruit tarts, or a dish with a zesty sauce. Sauvignon Blanc is known for being high in acidity, full-flavored with minerals, grass, and grapefruit notes, and has light to medium-high alcohol levels. We recommend trying Twomey Sauvignon Blanc 2022 with Fresh Strawberry Slab Pie.

The next pairing is a glass of cabernet with red meat like a steak, prime rib, or an upscale burger. A rich wine needs a rich dish to truly bring out the highest level of the flavor profile. In this case, we recommend trying Companion Wines Companion Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 and the Argentinian-Style Blackened Rump Steak with Salsa Criolla.

Pinot noir is paired perfectly with a dish that emanates earthy flavors. Some examples of dishes that would go well with a dry, light to medium-bodied pinot noir are savory mushroom dishes, eggplant, or pizza. We recommend trying the Twomey Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2021 with Grilled Eggplant Burgers with Halloumi Cheese.

Syrah pairs well with spiced dishes like well-seasoned grilled steak, peppercorn-crusted tuna, or a mix of well-seasoned or sauced vegetables. We recommend our Companion Wines Lodi Syrah 2019 with Braised Chile-spiced Short Ribs with Black Beans. 

Most people don’t know, but zinfandel pairs perfectly with rich plates such as stews, rich pasta, and robust preparations of various red meats. Zinfandel is commonly made with red fruits and spices and is smooth and medium—to heavy-bodied. We recommend tryin gThe Prisoner Saldo Zinfandel 2021 with Red Wine Venison Stew. 

Rosè and cheesy dishes are the perfect pairing for spring or summer! Rosè is known for its fruity flavors and light body, and range from sweet to savory or dry. We recommend trying M. Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2022 with Kale Pesto Crostini Cheese Board.

The last, and our personal favorite pairing is sparkling wine with salty flavors! Sparkling wine is known for its bubbles caused by carbonation. It has various types and flavors, so fitting it into one category is challenging. We recommend trying Mathieu-Gandon Saveur Brut Champagne N.V. with Lamb Loin Chops with Pan Sauce with Cumin and Chiles.

More

At Club Jeroboam, we love spicing things up and providing our members with the tools they need to love the food and drinks they make! We’re always striving to bring something new and fresh to our members. For more recipe ideas, check out the Recipes page on our website! We have 30 wine-based cocktail recipes, over 35 lunch and dinner recipes, and six dessert recipes to choose from. There’s something for everyone, so check it out!