subject: How To Have A Vegetarian Christmas [print this page] If you would like to enjoy a nice glass of wine with your meal but you are feeling a little unsure as to how you should go about selecting the right wine for your meal, you certainly won't be alone. There are a lot of different wines for you to choose from, practically thousands, in fact, but you shouldn't let this put you off from beginning your career as a wine connoisseur. There is a low to learn in this field though, so you shouldnt be upset if you get it wrong occasionally.
If you have a quick look online now you will see that there are all kinds of classic combinations that you could have a go at recreating, such as champagne with fish and chips (it sounds insane, but it works!), but what it really comes down to is your own personal taste. Like fingerprints, everyone's taste buds act a little bit differently, so something you find absolutely delicious might turn another person's stomach.
One of the best ways to start your wine matching is to sample the classics first. You can find out more about these combinations by looking online, or you could purchase one of the many books on the matter. Understanding how to pair wine with food isnt just about knowing ever kind of wine in the book, its also about knowing what the wines actually consist of and how they work together with foods.
For example, if youre preparing a creamy pasta dish such as a carbonara, a wine thats high in acidity such as a Sauvignon Blanc will help to power through the creaminess of the sauce and will compliment it very well. When eating spicy food, consider pairing it with a full-flavoured wine that will counteract the taste of the food. This can be done with white wind most commonly, and Sauvignon Blanc is also ideal for this requirement. However, a Wolfberger wine would also work well and a red wine could be accommodated as long as it was quite light and so didn't completely overpower the meal.
When eating sweet food the last thing you want to do is pair it with a sweet wine, otherwise it will all be too overpowering. When it comes to cheese it can be notoriously difficult to find a wine that matches the taste, but there are some easy options. Blue cheese, for example, goes very well with a Sauternes or a Sauvignon Blanc, while lighter cheeses such as camembert and brie work perfectly with light reds.
