Wine and Food Pairings
Wine and food pairings is an individual choice. Every person's sense of taste is different. In general, each person should decide for him or herself what combinations of wine and food taste good - don't worry about what anyone else says should work. However, I understand this is difficult when a wine drinker is just starting out. Hence, this listing.
Red Wine
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White Wine
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Champagne
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Remember - these are only guidelines!! You will figure out quite quickly that your own tongue has its own idea of what goes well with what. Trust your own judgement, and eat and drink what you enjoy! Have a question regarding wine pairing? Ask Chef Pamela!
Red Wine and Food Pairings
Typically, you want to drink light-to-dark, just as when you plan a meal you start with delicate tastes and work towards heavier tastes. For this reason, you normally don't serve a red wine with appetizers or opening courses in a meal. Red wines do go very nicely with heavier foods - beef, red pasta, and so on.
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Beaujolais
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Pinot Noir
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Merlot
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Cabernet
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Zinfandel
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Port
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Mild Cheese
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Strong Cheese
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Appetizers
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All Seafood
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Pasta, cream sauce
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Pasta, red sauce
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Asian food
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Poultry
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Pork
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Beef
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Fruit/Dessert
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Chocolate
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White Wine and Food Pairings
Typically, you want to drink light-to-dark, just as when you plan a meal you start with delicate tastes and work towards heavier tastes. For this reason, you tend to serve a white wine with appetizers or opening courses in a meal. White wines also go well with most lighter dishes - salads, fish, poultry, and so on.
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Chenin
Blanc
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Gewurz
traminer
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Dry
Riesling
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Sauv.
Blanc
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Chardonnay
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White
Riesling
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Mild Cheese
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Strong Cheese
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Appetizers
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Oysters
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Shrimp, crab, lobster
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Shellfish
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Seafood w/lite sauce
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Seafood w/cream sauce
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Grilled Fish
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Pasta w/cream sauce
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Pasta w/red sauce
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Asian food
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Poultry
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Pork
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Beef
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Chocolate
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Champagne and Food Pairings
Typically, you want to drink light-to-dark, just as when you plan a meal you start with delicate tastes and work towards heavier tastes. For this reason, Champagne tends to go very well with appetizers or opening courses in a meal. It also goes well with sushi and very light meals, and of course as an after-dinner celebration!
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Extra Dry
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Brut
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Blanc de Blanc
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Blanc de Noir
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Mild Cheese
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Strong Cheese
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Appetizers
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Shrimp, crab, lobster
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Shellfish
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Seafood w/lite sauce
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Seafood w/cream sauce
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Grilled fish
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Pasta w/cream sauce
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Pasta w/red sauce
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Asian food
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Poultry
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Pork
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Beef
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Fruit/Dessert
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Chocolate
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Cheese Pairing Guide
Mention a wine party to someone, and the first thing that tends to come to mind is "and cheese". Wine and cheese both have an extremely long history - both were mentioned in the Odyssey! Both wine and cheese are natural products, created using a standard process but with a myriad of results. Both tend to age well.
Wine and cheese combinations, much like all other aspects of wine, are a purely personal decision. That said, there are some combinations that are naturally pleasing to the vast majority of consumers. Usually one drinks red wine with hard cheese, and white wine with soft cheeses. These charts below are just a guideline - be sure to keep an open mind and find out what is best suited to your own palate!
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Cheese Type
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Wine
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Wine Suggestions
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Baby Swiss
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Asti Spumanti
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Bleu
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Tawny Port, Madeira, Sherry
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Boursin
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Gewurztraminer
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Brie, Vintage
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Champagne, Sweet Sherry
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Brie, US
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Cabernet, Beaujolais
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Camembert
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Cabernet, Chenin Blanc
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Caraway
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Gewurztraminer
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Cheddar, Mild
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Champagne, Chardonnay
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Cheddar, Strong
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Cabernet, Rioja, Sauvignon Blanc
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Cheshire
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Riesling
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Chevre
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Gewurztraminer, Champagne
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Colby
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Riesling, Champagne
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Cream Cheese
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White Zinfandel
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Danish Blue
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Cabernet
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Edam
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Riesling, Dry Champagne
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Feta
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Beaujolais
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Goat Cheese
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Sancerre, Vouvray
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Gorgonzola
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Sauternes - Bordeaux
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Gouda
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Riesling, Champagne
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Gruyere
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Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Port
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Havarti
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Bordeaux, Rioja
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Monterey Jack
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Riesling
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Muenster
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Beaujolais, Zinfandel
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Provolone
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Chardonnay
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Roquefort
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Tawny Port
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Stilton
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Port
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Swiss
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Gewurztraminer
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Have a question regarding wine pairing? Ask Chef Pamela!
