WINE GUIDES · WOUTER PARENT
Wine and food pairing: where to start
Start with the main flavours and texture of the dish. Sauce, seasoning and cooking method can matter more than the main ingredient. A rich sauce may call for a different wine from a light dressing on the same food.
Match the weight
Delicate food can disappear beside a powerful wine. Fuller dishes usually have room for a fuller-bodied glass. This is a useful starting point, not a rule that prevents experimentation.
Use acidity and sweetness
Fresh acidity often works well with rich or fatty dishes. Consider a wine with enough acidity for a dish with tomatoes or citrus. With dessert, the wine generally needs enough sweetness to avoid seeming thin or sharp.
Taste them together
Try the wine before and after a bite. Does the food soften the tannin, highlight the fruit or make the wine taste bitter? Personal preference matters. Note combinations you enjoy so you can use them again.
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