Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Cabernet Franc/Malbec.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Cabernet Franc/Malbec.

Mediterranean

The good fruit structure and moderate to high tannins of these wines can stand up to full-flavored dishes with moderate spiciness. Tomato-based sauces, pizzas, French dishes with hearty sauces.

Grilled Meats

Pepper steak, wild game, BBQ pork, sausages.

Intensely Flavored

Meats with wine reductions, cassoulet, roast pork with fruit sauce.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Cabernet Sauvignon.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tomato-Based Sauces

The sharp flavors of the tomatoes balance the acidity of the wine. Bolognese sauce, Puttanesca sauce.

Chinese

The high fat levels and slightly sweet hoisin or soy flavors in these foods bring out the fruits in this wine. Peking duck, mu shu pork, braised soy pork.

Intensly Flavored

Richly flavored foods soften the tannins in this wine. Grilled meats, braised dishes like lamb shanks or pot roast, strongly flavored cheeses.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Merlot.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Merlot.

Mild to Intensely Flavored

Grilled salmon, roasted lamb, wild game, and balsamic or tomato-based sauces work well with the jammy flavors of Merlot.

Chinese

Merlot has a softer taste that lends itself to the flavors of Chinese food. Peking duck, mu shu pork, braised soy pork.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Pinot Noir.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Pinot Noir.

Grilled Seafood

This lighter-bodied wine with fruit character matches well with grilled seafood like salmon or tuna.

Smokey Flavors

Smoked duck with cherry sauce, smoked salmon, dishes with bacon.

Asian

The tannins and slight pepperiness of this wine makes it work well with braised pork, fermented black beans and Chinese mushrooms, or Chinese BBQ pork ribs.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Red Blends.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Red Blends.

Grilled Meats

Foods with complex flavors match the complexity of red blends. Pepper steak, well seasoned beef or lamb.

Rich Stews and Wine Reductions

The bold flavors of cassoulet or bordelaise stand up well to these blends.

Pâtés and Strong Cheeses

Foie gras, any pâté, blue cheese, stilton, any other pungent aged cheese.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Sangiovese.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Sangiovese.

Salty

The medium tannins, lighter body, and high acidity in this wine pairs well with salty, strongly flavored foods. Cured meats, pancetta, salami, prosciutto, sausages, parmesan cheese.

Soups, Stews and Sauces

Bean and bread soup, minestrone, Tuscan bean soup, wine-based meat sauces and marinades, balsamic vinegar.

Meats

Grilled steak with seasoned with strong herbs like rosemary or sage, wild game with ragu sauce, grilled steak with mushrooms.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Syrah/Shiraz.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Syrah/Shiraz.

Barbeque

This fruit-forward wine with a spicy characteristic on the palate, has a clean finish that balances wild game venison or elk, duck, classic American BBQ, kalbi short ribs.

Spicy & Salty

Italian sausage, aged cheeses, pastas, pizzas, grilled seafood, salty olive condiments.

Tex Mex

Chili verde, chicken mole, fajitas, burritos.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Zinfandel.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Zinfandel.

Southern Mediterranean

The rich dried fruit flavors and complex but soft tannins of Zinfandel lend itself to stronger flavored foods. Spicy tomato sauces, pastas, pizzas, grilled seafood, salty olive condiments.

Barbeque

Grilled lamb or other meats, Chinese BBQ, classic American BBQ, meats with berry sauces.

Intensely Flavored

Typical holiday foods like baked ham, strong cheeses, beef stews, cassoulet, Tex Mex, Chinese, prune sauces.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Chardonnay.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Chardonnay.

Sauces

With characters of vanilla, butterscotch, toffee, tropical fruits, and high oak flavors, Chardonnay pairs well with rich foods, but does not lend itself to salty, spicy, or smoky foods. Buerre blanc (citrus and butter), cream sauces, mushroom sauces, tropical fruit salsas, cooked fruit sauces.

Seafood

Lobster, crab, fresh Dungeness crab with lemon, scallops, fish stew with saffron and lemon, grilled salmon.

Meats

Chicken breast with a mushroom sauce, veal piccata, roast chicken, grilled pork chops.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Chenin Blanc.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Chenin Blanc.

Sauces

Slight residual sugar, crisp acidity, and notes of grapefruit make this wine pair well with soy-based sauces, fruit-based sauces, light cream sauces, citrus flavored sauces for fish and poultry.

Asian

Thai, Chinese, Southeast Asian, Curries, Indian, Malaysian.

Flavorful

BBQ, strong cheeses, beef stews, cassoulet, Tex Mex, Chinese.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Dessert Wine.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Dessert Wine.

Appetizers

Ironically, dessert wines, with their lush, syrupy flavors and notes of dried fruits, lend themselves very well to salty appetizers. Foie Gras, salty cheeses like stilton or blue cheese, cured meats like prosciutto, olives.

Desserts

Bread pudding, fruit crepes, custards, apple, pear, or peach dishes. Avoid serving with overly sweet deserts like chocolate or fresh fruits.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Dry Riesling.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Dry Riesling.

Salty

The fruit and floral notes, and crisp finish of this wine make it a good pair with briny oysters, smoked salmon, soy-based Chinese dishes, smoked and cured meats.

Spicy

Thai dishes, Indian curries, Creole dishes, and Chinese dishes — especially pork, fish, and duck.

Intensely Flavored Condiments

Curries, chutneys, dried fruits, chilies, salsas.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Gewürztraminer.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Gewürztraminer.

Salty

The pronounced spice notes and slight residual sugars of this wine make it a good match with soy and fish-sauce based Asian dishes, Thai and Chinese dishes, Southeast Asian and Indian curries, and cured meats.

Spicy

Szechuan Chinese dishes, Thai dishes, spicy curries from India and Southeast Asia.

Fruit and Citrus

Tropical fruit salsas for Asian foods and Mexican dishes, fruit-flavored sauces for pork and seafood, curries with lime or vinegars, salsa with lime or lemon, Chinese dishes with rice vinegar, Coastal Mexican dishes with lime.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio.

Mediterranean

With a medium to light body and fresh acidity, this wine lends itself to grilled fish, pastas, cured meats like prosciutto or salami, alfredo sauce, salty cheeses like parmesan or Fontana, and Ciopinno seafood stew.

Asian and Tex Mex

Mildly spiced Asian foods and Tex Mex dishes.

Seafood with Citrus Sauces

Mexican seafood dishes, ceviche, Mediterranean seafood stew, lemongrass soups or pastas.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Riesling.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Riesling.

Spicy

The slight residual sugar and crisp acidity of Riesling lends itself to spicy, smokey, salty flavored, or high fat foods. Thai, Chinese, Southeast Asian, Curries, Indian, Malaysian, Cajun.

Rich

Braised meats, charcuterie such as liverwurst or sausages, Alsatian and German dishes, smoked fish.

Acidic

This wine balances out the acidity for foods flavored with citrus and rice wine vinegar. Thai, Ceviche, Chinese, BBQ.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Sauvignon Blanc.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Sauvignon Blanc.

Seafood

With intense flavors, high acidity, and notes of grapefruit, this wine balances smokey or salty foods. Smoked fish, raw oysters, shellfish, curried seafood dishes, sushi and sashimi, grilled salmon, halibut, tuna.

Rich

Fried foods, cream or butter-based sauces, Mexican foods.

Asian

Indian or Malaysian dishes with their more acidic curries, Vietnamese or Thai dishes with clean flavors and moderate to high spice.

Flavor Profile

Foods with these flavor characteristics pair well with Viognier.

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These are examples of food styles that match well with Viognier.

Rich flavors

With a highly floral bouquet, lighter body, less crisp finish, this wine pairs excellently with cream-based chicken, lobster, scallops, and Asian seafood noodle dishes or pork.

Non-Complementary Foods

The characteristics of this wine does not make it a good match for cured meats, smoked fish, or highly spicy dishes.