One of the things I do at my place of work is pair the foods we sell in our tasting room with the wines that we pour. I have had questions about what to pair with the recipes that I post. So, I thought that I would give to you what wines goes with what foods. My knowledge comes from trial and error and study on the topic. And, my experience is mostly from California wines. This is the first part of a series.
This blog will focus on what foods will go with a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc. So let’s step into the world of wine and food, shall we?
What are the characteristics of a good Chardonnay? I can tell you what to look for but if you find a wine that you like, buy it and enjoy it. Keep in mind that this is just my opinion, and your tastes might be different. A typical Chardonnay will have buttery, creaminess with a balance of oak that is not overpowering. Buttery means that the feel in your mouth will be smooth. Oak is the wood flavor in the wine that the barrel imparts. These two qualities should be well balanced. Here is the list of food pairings with Chardonnay.
Chardonnay
A butter based sauce
Chicken, whether baked, fried, roasted or in a cream sauce
Crab, Dungeness or soft shell
Cream sauce dishes
Creamy cheese like a Brie
Mushrooms
Pork
Risotto
Seafood, White fish, Salmon, Shellfish (lobster, scallops, clams) that is grilled or sauteed, in a cream sauce or salt encrusted
Tropical fruits
Turkey
Veal
When serving a Chardonnay avoid any dishes with chiles, cilantro, dill, oily fish like catfish, and red meat.
Next let’s take a look at Sauvignon Blanc. One of my most favorite recipes involves a good bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and clams! When looking for a Sauvignon Blanc, and again, this is my opinion, should be wine that is grassy, or tastes like citrus, particularly like grapefruit. Look for a wine that is herbaceous, or tastes “green.” The wine should show little oak, if any at all. And, it should have a crisp clean feel in your mouth. Try pairing Sauvignon Blanc with these foods.
Sauvignon Blanc, or Fume Blanc
Beef, braised or stewed
Cheese
Chicken, braised or stewed
Duck, roasted
Fruit, peaches are really good
Indian Food
Mushrooms
Pasta with a simple tomato sauce
Pizza, chicken as a topping
Sausage
Seafood
Shellfish, clams and scallops
Squab
Steak, grilled
Tomatoes and tomato sauces
Veal chops
Now I mentioned the term “Fume Blanc.” A little history on this name: Robert Mondavi created this name to boost the sales of Sauvignon Blanc in the 1960’s, when interest in this wine was declining. So if you see a Sauvignon Blanc sitting near a Fume Blanc, know that they are made with the Sauvignon Blanc grape and that the characteristics will be the same!
I hope that you benefit from this information today! If you have questions, please leave a comment and I will try to answer your questions!
Raise your glass, make a toast, and savor the flavors of these wines with these foods!
Life in the Foothills 