Here is a list of some wine types with descriptions of their flavor and what one should serve with the selection.
Chardonnay
This wine has an apple, coconut, nutty and buttery flavor. A very versatile wine, Chardonnay can accompany many types of food. Fish and shellfish in butter, chicken and veal in cream sauces, Thai, pork and grilled beef are just a few that can be eaten with this wine.
Gewürztraminer
This selection is floral and spicy. Drink this wine with rich appetizers and spicy food such as curry.
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
This rich wine has a cedar flavor. Merlot has a lighter flavor than Cabernet Sauvignon. Beef dishes such as stroganoff, lamb and steak with bordelaise are a good match. Grilled salmon, duck and pheasant also are a delight.
Pinot Noir
This soft wine has a slight cherry and spice flavor. Grilled beef tenderloin and prime rib go great with this wine. Poached fish in Pinot Noir is delicious!
Riesling
A light, sweet white wine. This selection goes well with fish or pork.
Sauvignon Blanc (also known as Fumé Blanc) or White Meritage
This wine has a melon, grassy and lemon flavor. It goes well with food flavored with lemon such as fish and chicken. Stir-fry dishes with beef and vegetables also can be paired with this selection.
Sparkling (Champagne)
Sparkling wine is tart and crisp. It goes well with spicy and salty foods. This wine is what people think of as 'Champagne.' It really is not Champagne unless it comes from Champagne, France.
Zinfandel, red
Red Zinfandel has a robust raspberry flavor. This wine goes well with spicy meat dishes, curry, turkey, pot roast, stew and rabbit.
Zinfandel, white
White Zinfandel has a sweet, tropical fruit flavor. Grilled foods -- hamburgers and salmon, etc. -- with ketchup or tomato sauces go great with this wine.
Food and wine choice
It is said, 'White wine with white meat and red wine with red meat.'
While this may be a safe way to decide which wine to select, it is not set in stone. If you don't like white wine, don't drink it just because you are serving or ordering chicken. Drink what you will enjoy.
It is helpful, however, to serve wine that has the same characteristics as the meal. If the food is spicy, choose a spicy wine. If it is robust, select a robust wine such as Red Zinfandel. The wine and the food will help to enhance the flavor of the other.
If you plan to serve or order a meal sans meat, again, choose whatever wine you enjoy. However, in regard to the standard rule, substitute 'white meat' for 'green vegetables' and substitute 'red meat' for 'brown vegetables.' Brown vegetables are beans, potatoes, carrots and onions. Reds go well with meatless lasagne, macaroni and cheese and other cheese dishes.
Purchasing or ordering a bottle of wine
When you purchase wine, avoid bottles that have wine residue near the opening. If the wine level is not within an inch to the cork, do not purchase the wine. These are signs that the cork is not doing its job -- to keep air out -- and that the wine itself could be spoiled.
As you sample wine, if it tastes unusually sour or smells or tastes musty, it may be due to a bad cork. Do not drink the wine -- take it back to the dealer or, if you are at a restaurant, send it back.
In order to have an enjoyable wine, do you need to spend more money on the bottle than you do on the dinner? No. Geographical location, the quality of grapes used and supply and demand are just a few variables that are considered that dictate the price of a bottle of wine.
For example, a winery in Napa Valley, Calif., a reputable location, could have a very large vineyard and therefore a large harvest of quality grapes. The company does not need to sell its product for high prices in order to make up for costs. A smaller vineyard in a less-reputable location -- and perhaps a lesser-quality harvest -- would.
There is a variety of information on the label of a bottle of wine that can help you to decide which bottle to buy. Some of the information can be confusing, so check out these explanations:
Appellation is the area at which the grapes were harvested. The appellation may only name the country and it may go so far as to name the country, region and vinyard. A few safe bets are wines from Napa Valley, Martha's Vineyard and, for reds, Bordeaux.
The variety explains which type of grape was used in the wine.
The vintage tells which year the grapes were harvested for this wine.
Glassware suggestions
Wine can be sipped from any glass imaginable. But a wine glass is preferred because its size and shape allow you to smell, see and taste the wine in the best way.
The stem should be long enough so you do not raise the wine's temperature by holding the bowl.
Good wine glasses are shaped as tulips so the narrow opening concentrates the wine's scent to the nose. It is important to be able to experience the aroma of the wine as it aids in enjoying its taste. Red wine glasses have larger bowls than white wine glasses. Sparkling wine (Champagne) glasses are taller and slender so the bubbles do not leave as quickly.
Do not pour the wine to the top of the glass. If it is at half-full, the taster can swirl the wine without spilling.
Wine storage and serving temperature
Now that you have selected your wine, it is important to store the bottle correctly and to serve the beverage at the correct temperature, according to its type.
Before you are ready to serve the wine, store the bottle on its side so the cork stays moist. If the cork dries out, it will not be effective as it will allow air into the bottle.
White wine is best stored lightly chilled at around 45 degrees. A red is best at room temperature or slightly chilled to about 60-65 degrees. It is better to serve wine too cool as opposed to too warm. When wine is too warm, the alcohol flavor is brought to the surface and is not as enjoyable to drink.
Unfinished bottles of wine will keep for up to about a week in the refridgerator. Jam the cork back into the bottle or purchase a stopper in order to keep air out of the bottle. There also are products available that extract air from the bottle before corking them which may allow the wine to last a little longer. It is best, however, if you can finish the wine within the next few days.
Site Note: All information shared via Romance 101 is completely 100% confidential and never will be sold or given away. This site is kept fully funded by all the advertising you see on this site. It is the advertising you see that keeps Romance 101 free for your enjoyment.
