Food pairing guide for mexican food

Pairing wine with Mexican food may seem a somewhat intimidating task. However, as with any other pairing, the ingredients can provide us with enough clues to decipher the most appropriate wine for our dish.

Traditional Mexican cuisine is composed of basic ingredients such as corn, beans, chiles and spices, and each of them will allow us to think of the ideal wine to accompany them.

Type of wine according to each ingredient

For example, beans, tomatoes, onion and garlic, very common in Mexican dishes, go best with medium-bodied red wines, while chili peppers can go well not only with medium-bodied reds but also with rosés. The same happens with spices such as oregano or thyme.

On the other hand, other ingredients such as coriander or avocado go best with light white wines, while cinnamon, vanilla, cumin and cloves can go well with sparkling wines, full-bodied whites, or medium-bodied reds and rosés.

Corn, on the other hand, is a more neutral ingredient, so it is advisable to pay more attention to other ingredients when choosing the type of wine.

 

Dish by dish

Sometimes it is difficult to think of combinations according to the predominant ingredients, especially when we are not very clear about what each dish contains. Let’s take some examples of specific dishes, which you can find in any Mexican food menu.

Quesadilla

The quesadilla is a kind of corn or flour tortilla filled with cheese, guacamole, salsa, onion and sometimes chicken. In this case, to cut through the heaviness of the cheese and complement the other ingredients, a wine with high acidity and minerality, such as Riesling or Chardonnay, will do well.

Fajitas

Fajitas usually have beef (although we can also find them with chicken), peppers, and onion, all inside flour tortillas.

In this case, the ideal complement will be a medium-bodied, fruity red wine, which can go well with the powerful flavors of this dish and, due to its high tannin content, can cut the spiciness. A Mencía or a Tempranillo can fulfill this function to perfection.

Tacos

When it comes to Mexican street-food, tacos are an emblem. Corn tortilla, pork with chiles, spices, onion, cilantro… a full-bodied rosé is the ideal candidate to complement the flavors without overflowing.

Chili con carne

Beef with beans and chilies, tomatoes, onion and cumin. This kind of stew deserves wines that know how to complement its spicy flavors. A suggestion: a medium-bodied red wine from Bordeaux.

 

Guacamole

Guacamole is a classic Mexican dip made from mashed avocado, onion, tomato, cilantro and lime juice. It is ideal for a wine with high acidity that contrasts with the fat of the avocado and at the same time brings out the citrus notes, such as a Sauvignon Blanc.

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