Appetizer/Brunch/Courses

Almonds, nuts, olives

Chilled Sherry

Antipasti

Pinot Grigio

Artichokes

Vegetable to avoid (or eat separately) when pairing with wine. Makes wine taste acidic.

Asparagus

Vegetable to avoid (or eat separately) when pairing with wine. Gives wine a sour note.

Canapes

Champagne/Rosé Champagne/rosé sparkling wine

Caviar

Champagne/sparkling wine

Crab Salad

Chardonnay or Riesling

Cucumber Salad

Sauvignon Blanc

Egg Dishes

Champagne

Eggplant — Grilled and Tomato Salad

Merlot or Pinot Noir

Fava Beans (or Cannelli Bean course)

Chardonnay or Riesling

Figs with Prosciutto

Champagne or sparkling wine

Fish Pâté

Sancerre or any white Burgundy

Foie Gras

Champagne/sparkling wine or Gewürztraminer, Sauternes

Fruit course

Riesling

Greek Salad

Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, or Albarino (Spanish white)

Mushrooms (Fresh)       

Champagne/sparkling wine

Omelettes

Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, Champagne

Oysters

Champagne, Chablis, and Pinot Gris

Pâté

Champagne/sparkling wine, Sauternes, Gewürztraminer

Prawns

Riesling

Prosciutto

Chardonnay

Quiche

Gewürztraminer, Riesling

Ragout

Chardonnay

Ratatouille and herbs

Zinfandel or Syrah

Salads

None. Beware of trying to pair with wine: vinegar and dressings do little for salads.

Salmon — Smoked

Champagne/sparkling wine, Riesling

Shellfish

Champagne/sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, White Burgundy/Chardonnay, Albarino (Spanish white wine)

Snails

Champagne/sparkling wines

Soups

None. Wine does nothing for soup.

Sushi

Champagne/sparkling wine

Tapas

Champagne/sparkling wine or chilled Manzanilla Sherry

Entrées and Cuisines

Asian

Champagne/sparkling wine, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Riesling

Beef Dishes

Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux, Rhône, Syrah, Zinfandel

Beef Stew

Red Burgundy/Pinot Noir/Red Rioja, Barolo

Chicken — Fried

Barbera, Syrah, Zinfandel

Chicken — Grilled

Chablis, Champagne, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Chicken — Roasted

Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, Viognier

Chicken Stew

Champagne/sparkling wine, or Pinot Noir/Burgundy with some crusty French bread

Chilean

Malbec

Coq au Vin

Red Burgundy/Pinot Noir/Red Rioja

Crab

Champagne/sparkling wine/Pinot Noir/Chardonnay/Pinot Gris

Dover Sole

Chablis or any white Burgundy

Duck

Pinot Noir, Red Rhône, Red Rioja, Zinfandel

Duck — Peking or Szechuan

Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir

Fish Stews

Champagne/sparkling wine

Fish — Grilled

Champagne/sparkling wine, Chablis, Chardonnay

Fish — White

Chardonnay, Chablis

Fondue

Champagne or sparkling wine

Halibut

White Burgundy/Chardonnay or Pinot Noir

Ham

Viognier, Gewürztraminer

Hamburgers

Merlot

Indian

Chenin Blanc, Fume or Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino (Spanish white)

If hot, avoid wine and drink beer or water
If medium, Chardonnay or sparkling wine

Kangaroo

Grenache, Syrah

Lamb — Roasted

Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux, Merlot, Syrah

Lamb Chop

Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux, Pinot Noir

Lamb Stew

Merlot, St. Emilion, or Pomerol

Lobster

Chardonnay or any white Burgundy, Champagne

Lobster — Poached

Champagne or Pinot Noir

Macaroni with blue cheese

Sauternes or Late Harvest Sauvignon

Meatballs and Pasta

Merlot

Meatloaf

Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux

Mexican

Chenin Blanc, Fume or Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino (Spanish white)

If hot, avoid wine, and drink beer or water
If medium, Chardonnay or sparkling wine

Monkfish

Riesling, Pinot Noir

Omelette

Champagne, Beaujolais or any light red Burgundy/Pinot Noir

Osso Buco

Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, Zinfandel

Pasta with cheese

Chianti Classico

Pasta in cream

Chardonnay

Pasta with meat sauce or meatballs

Chianti Classico, Merlot, Amarone, Barolo

Pasta with pesto

Fume Blanc/sauvignon blanc

Pasta with salmon

Champagne/sparkling wine or Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir

Pasta with seafood

Champagne /sparkling wine or Pinot Grigio

Pasta with Tomato & Basil

Sauvignon Blanc

Pizza with fish and cheese topping

White wine, like Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc; otherwise beer, soda or water

Pizza with meat topping

Red wine, Zinfandel; otherwise, beer, soda or water

Pork

Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, red Rhônes, Syrah, Zinfandel, Riesling, Beaujolais

Pork Chop

Riesling

Pot Roast

Barolo

Quail and Pheasant

Red Burgundy

Rabbit

Cabernet Sauvignon/red Bordeaux, & Red Rhone, Pinot Noir

Red Snapper

California Red blend/Meritage

Risotto

Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, Amarone

Risotto with truffles

Italian reds, like Barbaresco or Barolo

Salmon

White Burgundy, Pinot Noir/Red Burgundy, Pinot Gris

Scallops

Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris

Sea Bass

Chardonnay/Chablis

Shrimp Curry

Sauvignon Blanc or Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

Soufflés

Champagne or sparkling wine

Spicy Foods

Riesling — this wine loves any pork, especially grilled pork chops

Squab

Pinot Noir

Steak au Poivre

Red Zinfandel, Rhone, or Syrah

Thai

Chenin Blanc, Albarino (Spanish white), Riesling, Fume, Sauvignon Blanc or sparkling wine, Viognier

Tuna — Grilled

Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, Rioja

Trout

Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Soave, Albarino

Trout — Smoked   

Riesling, Gewürztraminer

Tuna Dishes

Chablis, Champagne/sparkling wine, or Sauvignon Blanc

Turkey — Roasted

Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, red Zinfandel, Shiraz

Veal

Pinot Noir/red Burgundy, Chardonnay

Vegetarian

Chardonnay or Champagne, Sparkling wine

Venison

Syrah/French Red Rhône

Cheese

Note: Cheese and wine seem like a natural pairing, but they are actually hard to marry. Texture and smell of many cheeses can overmatch wine.

Brie or Soft Cheeses

Champagne/sparkling wine/Chablis/Chardonnay

Camembert

Champagne/sparkling wine/Chardonnay

Cheddar

Port, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel

Feta

When not a part of a salad, Champagne or Rosé wine marries well.

Fontina

Red Burgundy or Pinot Noir, or Rioja.

Goat’s Cheese

Sancerre

Gorgonzola

It needs a sweet wine, like Sauternes, Barsac, or a late-harvest Sauvignon Blanc.

Gouda

White Burgundy, Champagne

Gruyere

Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or Sancerre. Also try a young Pinot Noir/Burgundy or a Rosé wine.

Munster

Never an easy match, but Gewürztraminer, Riesling and even a fruit brandy, like eaux de vie.

Parmesan

Sangiovese, Amarone, Barolo

Roquefort

Sauternes, Late-Harvest Riesling, Madeira

Stilton

Port

Desserts

Apple Dumplings

Late Harvest Chardonnay or Riesling

Cakes with Jam or Raspberry

Late Harvest Riesling or Chardonnay

Dark Chocolate

Red wine, like Port, works well; Champagne often also used

Dark Chocolate Truffles

Red Blend/Meritage or Cabernet Sauvignon or Port

Figs (fresh)

Champagne, preferably Rose Champagne

Ice Cream and Meringues

Champagne/sparkling wine

Plum Desserts

Late Harvest Riesling or Chardonnay

Rich tarts, crepes, pecan pie

Sauternes, Late-Harvest Riesling, Madeira