For those who like to cook at home and are looking for something new to spice up their food and wine collection, this article will go through some great pairings for light meals. Most of these pairings are things you may already have in your kitchen, so you don’t need to go shopping. San Simeon Wines would be a great accompaniment to anything you cook at home.
What are some food and wine pairings for a casual meal at home?
1. Wine and Potato Soup
This is an excellent meal for cool fall nights, as it is perfect for keeping you warm. When preparing this soup, it is good to use some medium-bodied red wine such as Pinot Noir or Merlot. The soup’s spiciness will bring out a more citrusy flavor in the wine, making it a great pairing.
2. White Wine and Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is one of those things that can go with almost anything—even peanut butter and white wine! Many people enjoy this pairing. It is excellent hot or cold, although cold peanut butter and white wine are superior.
3. Wine and Grilled Bread
A great wine to pair with grilled bread is a dry rose, especially if you add a slice of tomato on top to make it look beautiful. Although this particular pairing sounds simple, there’s a lot of taste in it; the cheese from the grilled bread (especially some Parmesan) and the salt from the tomato topping are perfectly complemented by the flavor notes from red wine.
4. Chile Peppers and Merlot
This is excellent food and wine pairing for spicy fans. For this pairing, it is recommended that you use Merlot. Merlot is a grape that has a nice spicy edge to it. If you find the Chile peppers taste too intense, try a Riesling instead of Merlot; the sweetness in Riesling will help cut some of the spicinesses.
5. White Wine and Cheddar Cheese
This is a classic pairing for white wine. What is excellent about this pairing is that you can use almost any type of white wine, from light to heavy, sweet to dry. The best wine to use is Sauvignon Blanc, as its flavor characteristics (such as peach and grapefruit) will match perfectly with the sharpness of the cheese.
6. Sparkling Wine and Pork Chops
For this pairing, it’s recommended that you choose a light sparkling wine such as Prosecco or Cava. Choose a pork chop with an applesauce topping, or make your own using applesauce instead of cream, brown sugar, and spices. The fizziness of the sparkling wine will go well with the apple sauce. If you want to, try adding a splash of Bourbon whiskey to your glass for an extra kick.
7. Sparkling Wine and Chicken
This is a simple pairing but will surely be loved by anyone who enjoys chicken and sparkling wine. On Champagne will tell you that the drink goes excellent with this pairing because its fizziness balances the taste of chicken as if it were a piece of candy. The best part about this pairing is that there are many ways to prepare the chicken: fried, roasted, or grilled. It’s up to you.
8. Red Wine and Pasta
This is a classic food and wine pairing that everyone knows about… The best wine to pair with pasta is red wine. It is suggested that you use a Chianti, which has a rich taste from the Sangiovese grape and will go well with almost any pasta.
9. Red Wine and Beef
Cabernet Sauvignon is a great red wine for this pairing because of its spicy nature. If you are looking for something milder, try some pinot noir; it’s lighter in flavor and body but still has a little spice. These wines go great with a nice steak; this pairing practically screams itself at you.
10. Red Wine and Sweet Potatoes
This is a simple pairing that will surely hit the spot. Use a vintner’s red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Meritage, or Zinfandel for this pairing. The sweetness of the sweet potatoes can be complemented with an excellent dry Cabernet Sauvignon; the woody flavor notes in the wine work well with sweet potatoes’ natural sweetness.
Some of the best food and wine pairings involve food that you have in your kitchen already. It always works to try new things, but it is sometimes okay to stick with what you know. For the food and wine pairings discussed in this article, you will use items in your kitchen, so it’s essential to be prepared.
