It’s easy to become overwhelmed by pairing rules when selecting a wine to serve at dinner parties. You may need to buy a cellar full to find the perfect match for your meal. A simple way to simplify your selections is to ask yourself if the wine will complement or contrast the food.
A crisp, white wine can be paired with light foods such as salads and white fish, but it will also contrast nicely with heavier food such as goat cheese.
By understanding wine pairing this way, you can order a few good-quality wines that go with anything on the menu.
As part of the Independent Wine Club, we have teamed up with award-winning online retailer Honest Grapes to make your life easier. This case includes a variety of wines that go with many different foods.
When it comes to wine, South Africa is considered a new world. However, the Rustenberg Estate, whose farmhouse can be seen on its label, has a long history dating back to 1682. It’s now listed as Grade-I Heritage Site.
The vineyards are located in the foothills, where the Simonsberg mountain range is, elevating the grapes and tempering the effects of a Mediterranean climate. This results in a restrained style, similar to the Loire Valley’s, and maintaining the grapes’ characteristic acidity.
The wine is a complex blend of lime, green apple, and passion fruit. It also has a subtle smoky note from the lees aging for three months.
Domaine du Bicheron macon-peronne
Burgundy is one of the world’s most expensive wine regions, and finding good value has become increasingly difficult.
The family-owned estate began small but has grown into one of the largest in the Maconnais. It’s achieved this without compromising sustainability ideals. This wine is HEV (High Environment Value) certified.
This wine is a white Burgundy that’s still affordable. It comes from Macon-Peronne, which borders Saint-Veran and Pouilly-Fuisse to the south and Vire-Clesse to the east. This wine is fresh and light with apple, pear, and citrus flavors.
Astoria caranto’ pinot ne noir
This wine, named for a precise location – a layer of clay at the bottom of Venetian Lagoon — is classified in the broadest category of Italian wine: IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica).
The grape used is pinot noir. It is an international grape and, therefore, cannot be classified under regional classifications that only allow for traditional grapes.
The wine is no exception. The wine has a light body, as you’d expect from a good pinot noir. However, it doesn’t have the typical fruity taste you might expect.