Revealed! The Best Wines to Pair With Food

Finding the right wine with which to dine can be the icing on the culinary cake, especially if you enjoy cooking or hosting dinner parties. Pairing the right wine with your efforts can elevate the dining experience for your family or guests, scoring you extra style points.

We present to you a handy guide to which wines pair best with various meats.

What wine goes best with Beef?

The complex flavour of beef is a delicate balance of richness and umami, and finding the right wine depends on a multitude of factors. Depending on how the beef is cooked, you will be looking for a bold or medium red. For bold and peppery steaks, ornate Beef Wellingtons, and delicious roast beef, you are best served with a bold red wine such as a Malbec, a Shiraz, a Cabernet Sauvignon, or a good bold blended wine.

For many Italian dishes with sweet tomatoes and onions, such as a traditional ragu, or dishes with mushrooms or fragrant cheeses, the slight change in the balance of flavours lends itself to a red wine that’s a little lighter, such as a Merlot or Tempranillo.

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What wine goes best with Pork?

Pork’s milder flavour and higher fat content lend themselves to a red wine with a little more acidity. Popular in a lot of Mediterranean and Chinese cuisine, pork pairs well with “medium” red wines that have slightly fewer tannins and a bit more acidity, such as Tempranillo, Merlot, and Sangiovese. This counterbalances the fat content in pork while enhancing the umami flavours. These wines will be particularly successful with Mediterranean vegetables and spicier Chinese food.

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What wine goes best with Chicken?

The main strength of chicken is its versatility, its mild flavour and good texture provide means it pairs well with a whole host of accompaniments, sauces and spices that, in turn open up a world of options when it comes to wine. Choosing the right wine for chicken comes down to which part of the chicken you are eating, and what it’s cooked with. For the darker chicken cuts like legs and thighs a light red such as a Pinot Noir and Grenache pair quite nicely, especially if you’re pan frying the chicken.

Alternatively for chicken breast you might consider a richer white wine like a Chardonnay or Semillon. If your dish is creamy or cheesy then a good rich white is an ideal pairing. Chicken more than any other meat will always work best with your personal preference as its versatility allows you to access the whole spectrum of wines.

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What wine goes best with Fish?

For fish such as Tuna, Salmon, Cod and Other non-shellfish then lighter crispier white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigo or Alberino. Oily fish with delicate flavour lends it to more gentle white wines as anything else risks overpowering the flavour of the fish. It’s crucial to avoid wines that are too heavy or overly complex when pairing with delicate fish. These wines can overwhelm the fish’s subtle flavours so choosing wines with subtle fruitiness and floral notes ensures that the wine enhances rather than overpowers the flavour of the fish.

By considering the flavour profile of both the fish and the wine, you can create a memorable dining experience that delights the palate and satisfies the senses. Serving with plenty of greens and herby flavours will bring the best results.

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What wine goes best with shellfish?

For shellfish such as lobster, prawns, and other crustaceans like crab, a rich and powerful white wine complements the natural sweetness that comes with the fish and competes well with its saltiness. A Viognier or Chardonnay are typically well-paired with lobster or prawns and work particularly well with cream-based sauces that often pair with these shellfish.

Molluscs such as scallops, clams, and oysters pair better with sparkling wines. Oysters and Champagne is a classic combination for a good reason! Sparkling wines are typically drier and leave little aftertaste, which means the delicate flavour of the food can shine through without being overpowered.

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