How to Drink Red Wine with Food

Red wine has been a popular mealtime drink for centuries, but with so many varieties, choosing the right wine may seem challenging or overwhelming. Fortunately, by recognizing the basic flavor profiles of different types of red wine, you can pair the right wine with the right food for an even more enjoyable dining experience. There are also a few tricks and strategies you can use to help enhance the flavor of the red wine even further.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Pairing Wine with Food

1. Choose a rich red Bordeaux for heavier, fatty dishes. Rich, bold-flavored red wines such as red Bordeaux go well with hearty dishes such as beef stew, a bacon cheeseburger, or pasta with a meaty sauce. The strong flavors correspond well together and the red wine may even help aid the digestion of fatty foods.^[1]
   
   • A dry Shiraz or a Cabernet Sauvignon blend would also pair well with a rich, hearty dish.
2. Go with a Cabernet Franc or Xinomavro for spicy food. Well-seasoned, spicy dishes, like Mexican or Thai food, are best served with a glass of a light, acidic red wine. The acidity in the wine will balance out the heat and wash the strong flavors down to cleanse your palate.^[2]
   
   • A red Zinfandel would also work well to balance the heat of spicy food.
   • A light red wine would also pair well with some spicy chicken or even a spicy soup.
3. Put Barbera together with a tomato-based dish. Barbera is an Old World wine from Italy that goes really well with tomato-based dishes such as pasta or lasagna with a red sauce or even a tasty pizza. It also goes well with classic Northern Italian dishes, such as polenta and risotto.^[3]
   
   • The balanced flavors of Barbera aren’t overpowering, so they don’t compete with either the bold or the subtle flavors of Italian dishes.
4. Match a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec with juicy red meat. A well-cooked steak like a ribeye, sirloin, or filet mignon is best paired with a deep, rich wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a glass of Malbec, which will enhance the richness of the hearty meat. The rich notes and aromatics of these reds also go well with other savory meats such as lamb, venison, or even goat.^[4]
   
   • Cabernet Sauvignon comes in a variety of blends but is always rich in flavor.
   • If you’re having grilled veggies as a main course or as a side dish to your red meat, a nice, full-bodied Syrah would add an extra layer of depth to your meal.
5. Pick a Pinot Noir for cheese plates and dishes with earthy flavors. Pinot Noir is a dark red wine with a magical balance between a light body and rich, savory flavors, making it a perfect companion for dishes with earthy ingredients such as mushrooms or truffles. It won’t overpower the delicate flavors but will add another layer of depth and richness to the meal. It also brings out the umami flavors of a variety of cheeses, making it a great choice to pair with a cheeseboard.^[5]
   
   • Pinot Noir also features light fruit notes and a smooth finish, making it ideal for cheeseboards.
   • The earthy flavors of many vegetarian dishes are also well served by a Pinot Noir.
6. Select Merlot for lighter meats such as turkey or chicken. Merlot is a red wine with a dark color, but a light body and flavor, so it won’t weigh down or overpower meals with lighter proteins such as chicken, turkey, and even fish. If your main dish isn’t red meat, Merlot is a great wine to accompany the meal.^[6]
   
   • Merlot would go great with a classic Thanksgiving or holiday turkey.
   • Because of its light body, Merlot is usually a safe wine choice for most meals.

[Edit]Enhancing the Flavor of Red Wine

1. Use a wine glass with a large, rounded bowl and a stem. Red wine needs lots of room to breathe and open up, so choose a glass with a large bowl that’s rounded so you’re able to swirl the wine around inside of it. Go with a glass that has a stem so you’re able to hold it without the heat from your hand warming the wine, which can make it taste more bitter.^[7]
   
   • Though red wine isn’t meant to be chilled, if it’s warmer than room temperature, it can affect the flavor of the wine.
2. Fill your glass about 1/2 of the way full. Pour less than half of a glass of red wine whenever you serve it so the extra space inside the glass will help the wine breathe and make it easier for you to sniff the subtle aromatics released by the wine. Pouring less than half a glass also makes it easier to swirl the wine around.^[8]
   
3. Sniff and swirl the wine around your glass to take in the aromatics. The aromatics released by the wine are an integral part of the richness of the wine, and sniffing the glass to take them in will enhance your wine drinking experience. To help the wine release its aromatics, gently swirl it around the inside of the glass before you sniff and take a sip.^[9]
   
   • Swirling the wine increases the oxygen present in it, which opens up the flavors and helps to release the aromas.
4. Avoid drinking more than 3 glasses during a meal. Always drink wine in moderation so you’re better able to pick up on the subtle flavors and aromas, and so you’re able to get home safely. Even with a meal, try not to drink more than 3 glasses of wine so you can avoid drinking to excess.^[10]
   
   • Well drinking red wine in moderation has been linked to many health benefits,^[11] heavy drinking can lead to serious medical issues such as cardiovascular disease.^[12]
   • If you plan to drink wine at your meal, always have a designated driver.

[Edit]Tips

• If you’re in doubt, a Merlot is generally a safe choice of red wine for many meals.
• If you’re serving wine at a large dinner party or event, go with cheap plastic cups instead of expensive stemware.

[Edit]Warnings

• Drink responsibly and avoid driving if you’ve been drinking red wine.

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.winetraveler.com/wine-pairing/food-pairing-red-bordeaux-wines/
2. ↑ https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/15-rules-great-wine-and-food-pairings?slide=53e0667c-cc3a-42aa-8c72-24d52a794992#53e0667c-cc3a-42aa-8c72-24d52a794992
3. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/match-red-wine-food
4. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/match-red-wine-food
5. ↑ https://honestcooking.com/make-cheese-board-pair-wine/
6. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/match-red-wine-food
7. ↑ https://guides.wsj.com/wine/wine-tips-and-tricks/how-to-select-a-good-wine-glass/
8. ↑ https://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/wine_etiquette/wine_serving_etiquette/hold_and_pour_wine.html
9. ↑ https://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/wine_etiquette/wine_serving_etiquette/hold_and_pour_wine.html
10. ↑ https://www.winespectator.com/articles/for-maximum-health-benefits-have-your-wine-with-a-meal
11. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29997312/
12. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28735784/