What Wines go with what Foods? – courtesy of The
Liquor Stop, Granville NY
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White
Wines |
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Chardonnay: Usually a medium to full-bodied, dry wine. |
Poultry and game birds, veal and pork, rabbit fish and
pasta preparations which feature cream and/or butter, mushrooms. |
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Sauvignon Blanc (Fumé Blanc): Medium to light-bodied and dry. |
First courses, seafood, ethnic dishes—pastas, curries,
salsas, spicy sausages, vegetable dishes, luncheon salads, olive-oil based
dishes, tomato sauces, goat cheese. |
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Chenin
Blanc: Light to medium-bodied, normally off-dry to semi-sweet. |
Braised Chicken, sushi and other Oriental dishes, poultry,
pork. |
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Gewürztraminer: Light to medium body, usually semi-sweet, occasionally off-dry. |
Spicy cuisines such as Chinese, Mexican, and Indian, mild
sausages, fruit salad. |
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Riesling (Johannisberg
Riesling, White Riesling): Light to medium bodied, semi-sweet to off-dry. |
Crabmeat, appetizers and finger foods, pork, salads. |
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Red
Wines |
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Cabernet Sauvignon: Medium to full-bodied, tannic and dry. |
Beef, lamb, pork, duck, game meats, cheeses. |
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Merlot: Medium to full-bodied, less tannic than Cabernet, dry. |
Beef, lamb, pork, duck, game meats, cheeses, stews, pizza,
heart pastas. |
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Zinfandel: Medium to full-bodied (also made in a lighter style), dry. |
Hamburgers, beef, lamb, venison and game, hearty pastas,
turkey, stews, pizza. |
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Pinot Noir: Medium to light-bodied, dry, little tannin leaves silky texture. |
Lamb, duck, turkey, game birds, beef, rabbit, semi-soft
cheeses. |
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Specialty
Wines |
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Pink Wines (Rosé, White Zinfandel,
Cabernet Blanc, Blush, Blanc de Noirs): Vary in color and sweetness. Choose the most current vintage. |
Best with smoked foods, quiche, pork and ham,Mexican and Thai food. Can
be served with all food. |
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Sparkling Wines/Champagnes Crisp and bubbly. |
Brut: Dry. Traditionally a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. |
Aperitifs and first courses, fruits and nuts. Fuller
bodied variations go well with any fish and chicken. |
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Blanc de Noir: More fruity than brut, but still dry. |
Aperitif, with lunch, desserts. |
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Blanc de Blancs: More delicate than brut. |
Caviar. Anytime. |
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What Foods go with what Wines?
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Chinese |
Choose slightly sweet or off-dry wines. Rosès and Gewürztraminers are the best, followed by
Rieslings and Chenin Blancs.
With Tea or Peking duck, try Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Warning—Go easy with plum and hoison sauces...too much will kill and wine. |
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Japanese |
Choose very cold, off-dry, fruity white wines or any
sparkling wine. |
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Thai |
Rosé is the best choice but Rieslings can be a good bet.
Gewürztraminer is a risky choice, can be good or bad. Warning—Dry whites and reds are generally to be avoided. |
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Vietnamese |
Best advice is to choose very cold, fruity, slightly sweet
Rosés and Gewürztraminers. Rieslings are not a strong choice, Chardonnay
proves to be more flexible. |
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Mexican |
Very cold, fruity, full-bodied Sauvignon Blancs and Rosés work well. Chili heat will drown
Rieslings and Gewürztraminers. Gamays and Pinot
Noirs perform well, too. Cabernet and Merlots are not a good choice because
of the tannin. |
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Southwestern |
Choose fruity wines such as Rieslings and Sauvignon Blancs and reds such as Gamays
and light spicy wines such as Zinfandels. Try sparkling wines too, especially
with seafoods. Pinot Noir blends well. Warning—Chilies and high tannin wines clash. Avoid Merlots and Cabernets |
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Indian |
Choose full-bodied sparking
wines and reds such as Merlots and Zinfandels. Drier, full-bodied Rosés work
well also. |
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Middle Eastern |
Fruity wines, both red and white, work well. Choose the
drier Rosès and Rieslings. |
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Barbeque |
Wines need to be both fruity and rich, Zinfandel or Rosè make good choices. Try Sauvignon Blancs
with seafood. |
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Fried Foods |
Sparkling wines are terrific. Any crisp, dry, fruity wine,
white or red, works well too. |