VinoLoverWine is, without a doubt, a drink that never goes out of fashion. And drinking it is a delight for any wine lover, and even more so if it is combined with food that enhances its flavour. Would you like us to give you a brief introduction to wine pairing? No wonder, as it is a technique that, in recent years, has become increasingly popular.
Never heard of wine pairing before? Well, in the following lines we will provide you with facts about this practice, as well as its affinity, synergy and contrast. Read on!
What is wine pairing?
Pairing has become one of the most complex and elegant gastronomic sciences of recent times. The truth is that its execution involves a series of techniques and/or elements that allow the correct enjoyment of its results.
However, what does pairing consist of? This is a question that many people ask themselves in order to understand the practice. And, we must say that it is an execution or activity that consists of combining certain tonalities or varieties of wines with foods that enhance the perception of their flavours and aromas.
This is something that should not be done lightly, since it is necessary to carry out a series of considerations that allow the maximum level of enjoyment by the practitioners of wine pairing, who are generally experts, critics and wine lovers.
How is wine pairing carried out?
The truth is that it is a simple practice, but one in which many aspects of great importance have to be taken into account. Such as? Well, the type of food to be paired, the wine, the ambience, the occasion and a host of other aspects that are simply necessary to make the pairing a unique experience.
However, in itself, pairing is developed by mixing a type of food, whether it is sweet, salty or sour, with a wine that matches that palette of flavours. Because, what we will do, is to mix them in our mouth to unleash incredible flavours in our palate.
What are the basics of wine pairing?
As we have mentioned throughout the post, pairing requires a series of basic concepts or notions that allow it to work well and provide diners with a wonderful experience throughout the feast.
Among the first of these notions is that the customer must really know what he or she is doing in order for it to count as wine pairing. Some people eat while drinking wine, but are not really stopping to appreciate the flavours that are unleashed after each bite or sip.
And, although many do not agree with this, the truth is that this cannot be called wine pairing as such, since the practice is not being executed consciously and the individual is using the wine as just another drink and not as a complement.
Which foods are the most suitable for pairing?
The truth is that there is no specific food with which wines should be paired. Any food works wonderfully, as long as elements such as flavours, quality, temperature, texture and other elements that may affect the enjoyment of the wine are taken into account.
Likewise, not every type of wine goes well with every food. In general, there are certain specific rules that determine that some tones of wine go better with certain types of food.
An example of this is that white wines go great with white meats, while red wines go great with red meats, strong dishes and foods with character. Desserts can be combined with wines lacking acidity and bitterness, a pink wine may be the ideal choice, among other combinations.
What are the types of wine pairing?
Although many people think that wine pairing is reduced to this concept or name, the truth is that there are many types of wine pairing nowadays. Among them, the most popular are the ones we will mention below:
By affinity
Pairing by affinity is about bringing together organoleptic elements that are similar in nature to each other. Among which we can find the flavour, aroma, colour and other aspects that relate the food with the wine in a perfect way.
By contrast
On the other hand, pairing by contrast seeks to unite or mix two flavours that are totally different from each other. In a few words, it is about finding a balance between the drink and the food in terms of the deficiencies and enhancements that each one of them may have.
want an example? Well, for many it is a delight to combine blue cheese, which is famous for its peculiar taste, with a wine with sweet characteristics that triggers an explosion of flavours on the palate.
Rules to keep in mind before entering the world of wine pairing
Yes, pairing also involves rules that allow it to work well. These have been established by experts and wine lovers to allow all those who want to practise this science to do so in a correct and orderly manner, guaranteeing their enjoyment.
And, although they are not compulsory and it is not necessary to follow them to the letter, they are guidelines. Are you curious to know what these rules are? Well, we’ll tell you in the next few lines:
- It is said that the variables that have a direct bearing on the enjoyment of wine are the intensity, the mass of the wine, its colour and of course the chemical composition of the wine.
- Thetexture of food should never be overlooked when pairing it with a good wine. Some textures have the particularity of numbing the mouth or the taste buds and do not allow a good appreciation of the flavours of the wine.
- Savoury dishes, in general, tend to overshadow wines with a sweet taste, so it is better to avoid this combination.
- A good combination will always be an acidic food with an acidic wine, since both enhance their flavour when combined.
- If complementary sauces are to be included in the meal, this aspect should be taken into account when making the wine selection.
Useful tips for a good wine pairing
do you want to make wine pairing a ritual at the moment of eating? Well, some experts have decided to share some tips to make this act a delight for consumers, here we will mention some of them.
Service
This point is nothing more and nothing less than the moment when the bottle is uncorked and the wine is poured into the glasses. Just like the presentation of the dishes and the impression of the table in general, if we take special care in this point, we know that the beginning of your wine pairing process will be phenomenal.
Decanting
Decanting is in charge of purifying the wine, which, in a few words, tries to eliminate the possible remains of cork that may have fallen into the drink when uncorking it. In addition, this practice allows the wine to oxygenate properly, which will allow all its flavours to come to the surface.
Temperature
We all know that each wine requires a suitable temperature so that its flavours can be appreciated correctly and it is pleasant to the palate. Don’t you know at what temperature your wine should be? Then, we invite you to look for information on the web, you will surely find the right data.
Wine is a magical drink that has a lot to offer us, do you dare to try wine pairing? We know that you will love to live this new experience and world of flavours, and even more, if you enjoy it with your loved ones.
VinoLover
Claudio Comella
