Wine pairing can be a fantastic activity in both experimentation to discover one's preference, or to enjoy a classical moment also steeped in tradition. The best part is that there are both white wine and red pairings, so there is something for everyone. Here are ten great wine pairings in no particular order.
1) Fruits
Since wines tend to have fruity flavors, undertones, and bouquets, fruits is naturally a good companion to wines. More often than not, it is not just a matter of flavor combinations, but textures as well, for example, dried fruits such as raisins or figs make excellent partners for heavy red wines, and berries and bananas go really well with light-bodied red wines.
2) Crab Cakes
This particular pairing is a recent phenomenon, but a welcome one, nonetheless. When the crab cake is crispy, and sweet from the natural flavors of the crab, it pairs great with a medium-body white wine (such as unoaked Chardonnay or a dry Riesling), or a sparkling wine of any kind.
3) Popcorn
A classic movie snack that goes surprisingly well with wine, especially when the flavors complement each other. For example, cheesy popcorn make for a great accompaniment to a full-bodied Zifandel, whereas plain popcorn go hand-in-hand with a nice Chardonnay.
4) Nuts
A bar staple snack, but not necessarily limited to a bar. Even in the comfort of one's own home, pairing certain nuts such as cashew or pistachio with a zesty Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc makes for an excellent evening of relaxation.
5) Chocolate
Some may find this an odd pairing, but it is an excellent choice for a great wines. This is one of the instances where it is a good idea to match the intensity of the chocolate with the intensity of the wine. If you feel like snacking on dark chocolate, it would go really well with wines such as Merlot of Cabernet Sauvignon.
6) Pizza
Unless you are watching your carb intake, pizza is just as classical as wine is. Bonus points is that, while pizza was created there, a lot of great wines also come from Italy, so it is almost a meant-to-be pairing. Unlike chocolate which is determined by the type, pizza pairing is all about the toppings. Fruity wines go well with meat-based pizzas, light-bodied and dry rosé wines with tomato-based pizzas, and white wines accompany cream-based pizzas.
7) Bread
Bread is just a staple food item from most cultures, but pairing with wine can be seen as unusual. Unlike intensity-matching with chocolate, or flavor-matching with fruits, it is all about density for breads. In other words, denser and heavier breads match well with more complex wines, whereas light and less dense breads go nicely with lighter wines.
8) Potato Chips
A combination probably more commonly seen with beer, wine still makes for a great pairing with it. The combination of the saltiness of the chips and the acidity of the wines makes for a great experience.
9) Cupcakes
At this point, this is just indulgence, but it is great. Nothing bad ever came from doing things in moderation. Pairing here can be similar to chocolate, so wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon go well with chocolate cupcakes, and vanilla cupcakes are in harmony with a wine such as a Riesling.
10) Cheese
Perhaps the most classical of pairings: cheese and wine. Unlike others in this list, the combination one looks for is both flavor and texture, or either. Soft cheeses go well with sparkling wines and white wines, and sharper cheeses such as Parmigiano go together nicely with a Zinfandel or a Pinot Noir.
Ultimately, taste is subjective, so feel free to match whatever foods and snacks you want with whatever wine you want. The combinations are nigh-endless!
