Choosing the Best Wine for Your Next Dinner Party

Here is some good wine pairing advice from our friends at Everywine.co.uk

A poorly chosen bottle of wine can let down even the most delicious, well-cooked meal. So when you are throwing a dinner party, it is vital that you select the right bottle of wine to compliment your culinary delights and ensure a happy gathering.

The first question to ponder is often whether to serve red white or white wine. If you fall at this hurdle, you might want to reconsider your future as a dinner party host!

In short, white wines are traditionally served with white meats, fish and dishes with white or creamy sauces. If you are serving white meat or fish in a darker sauce, use your wine to compliment the flavour of the part of the dish that is most important, or the flavour you wish to accent the most. Red wine is served with red meats and red or dark sauces but it is also wonderfully versatile. Red wine ranges from robust, heavy flavours like Cabernet Sauvignon, through to the lighter, more elegant notes of Pinot Noir.

Try to match the flavour of your wine with your meal by reading the description on the  bottle. If you are serving a filling dish such as a casserole or lamb shank, go for a bold wine that will not be overpowered, such as Cabernet. If your dish of choice is flavoursome but not quite as heavy, such as soups and stews, a fruity Merlot will work well. Strong meats and game require a wine with a bit more bite, so find a good Shiraz if you are serving venison, duck or rabbit. Pinot Noir compliments pasta brilliantly, but also works well with ham, turkey, salmon and grilled vegetables.

Most white wines will ably accompany lighter dishes. Salads, fresh fish and other seafood all benefit from the lift that a crisp, refreshing white wine brings. Other good ways to think about pairing wines with foods include considerations about the weather. If it is the height of summer and people arrive at your dinner party feeling warm, do you really want to serve them a heavy, full-bodied wine? Equally, on a cool winter’s night, your guests will be craving something hearty, not a chilled glass of Shiraz or Chardonnay.

The wine that perhaps puzzles most dinner party hosts in terms of what to serve it with is Champagne. People often fail to realise that this bubbly beauty is not just for quaffing on its own in times of celebration. Dry Champagne works sensationally with light appetisers, cheese and eggs, while sweet Champagne is ideal to go with desert.

On the whole, the best advice is: fear not. There are only a few wine and food combinations that will have your guests running for the door (such as red wines with a fish dish – too many tannins will create a metallic taste in the palate). So be brave, perhaps break or bend a few rules here and there and have fun

Comments

[sean]

Excellent site, congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing all your expertise with us!!! I would enjoy a wine like this with my dinner,