The right food and wine pairing will enhance your dining experience. While you might be partial to a particular grape or region, it’s best to keep an open mind when ordering. Whether you’re on a date or entertaining guests at home, consider the following guidelines to make the most of your meal.

3 Tips for the Perfect Pairing

1. Consider the Richness of the Food

Pair the richness of the food with the wine. For instance, red meats, such as duck legs and sausages, are best complemented by full red-bodied wines, such as cabernet and syrah. For lighter meats, like chicken and pork, choose a light-bodied wine such as a chardonnay.

2. Pair Similar Flavors

Consider the most prominent ingredient in a dish and choose the wine to match and heighten the flavor. For example, a buttery fish like halibut or butter-based sauces match well with a California chardonnay. Meals with earthy ingredients, like wild mushrooms and potatoes, can pair with a pinot noir. 

3. Choose Wines With Low-Alcohol Content for Spicy Dishes

While it depends on the style of the spicy dish you are eating, it’s best to choose a high-acid, low-alcohol white wine. For Asian spices in Thai and Szechuan cuisines, aromatic off-dry whites such as German rieslings and pinot grigio are common choices. Merlot and sauvignon blanc both pair well with hot Indian curries.

Oeno Winemaking is the premier winery in Kailua, HI, offering a wide selection of reds, whites, and sparkling wines. In business for 10 years, they’re dedicated to matching their customers with personalized wines that fit their flavor profiles. They also offer tastings and an exclusive wine club membership. Call (808) 263-6366 to learn more about their extensive inventory or visit their website for a list of products and upcoming events.