Red Wine Food Pairings!

DipWSET | Wine Educator

What type of foods should you eat with light, medium, and full-bodied RED wine styles? Here is a starter list...

The secret to food and wine pairing is to find a combination that enhances how a wine tastes. Some foods make your wine taste acidic or astringent, others make your wine taste amazing!

Here are a few examples of foods you can pair with different red wine styles:

Light Reds

Pinot Noir pairs well with chicken, turkey and duck dishes, pastas, salmon, pulled pork, stew, lamb and cheeses. It also compliments rustic and earthy vegetables.

Gamay (light styles) pairs well with an array of meats, such as juicy steak, sausages, and meatloaf. As for seafood, it is a great partner for grilled cod, salmon, shrimp, calamari and sushi. It also compliments savory entrees like roasted vegetables, tomato-based pastas, and Portabella mushrooms. It is often enjoyed along soft cheeses like Brie, mozzarella, goat cheese, and mild cheddar

Medium Reds

Merlot (medium styles) pairs well with an array of flavorful and savory dishes including roasted vegetables, meaty lasagnas, aged cheeses and marinara pastas. Its rich fruit flavors and soft tannins exceptionally compliment roasted chicken, duck, beef, pork loin, grilled lamb, blue cheese, garlic and mushrooms.

Full Reds

Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with heavy and savory foods like steak, lamb, mushrooms, burgers, stews, roast beef, beef short ribs, red-sauce pastas, and strong cheeses. Every once and a while, it pairs well with certain chocolates.

Dolcetto pairs well with an array of meats, such as BBQ ribs, burgers, roasted chicken, Prosciutto and sausages. It also compliments tomato-based entrees like spaghetti, lasagna, and pizza. It is often enjoyed along savory dishes such as mushroom pasta, roasted eggplant and enchiladas.

Grenache/Garnacha pairs well with smokey and grilled foods, like BBQ meats, grilled lamb chops, or fire-roasted veggies. It also compliments savory dishes like roasted poultry, slow-roasted pork, braised meats, sweet Italian sausage, salmon, trout, and vegetable stews. Many people enjoy it along side of Asian cuisines, spicy herbs and rosemary spices.

Malbec pairs well with hearty and savory meat entrees, including cured and smoked sausages, steaks, pork tenderloin, burgers, short ribs and lamb chops. It also pairs well with lighter dishes like salmon, chicken and rice, hearty pastas, hard cheeses, and mushrooms. In addition, it compliments foods that contain flavorful onion and garlic.

Sangiovese pairs well with Central and Southern Italian food. It integrates exceptionally well with red sauces found in pastas, pizzas, and other tomato-based cuisines. Sangiovese also compliments hard, aged cheeses like Parmesan and Romano. It can also be enjoyed with many meat entrees, including lamb chops, baked chicken and roasted pork. Internationally, its found alongside Spanish paellas, savory Asian cuisine and an array of Italian inspired American dishes.