What criteria do you use when choosing a dish to pair with the wine you have prepared?
Pairing wine and food is always a challenge, even for experts.
You may find that a dish you made that you thought would go well with this wine didn't go well with it, or that a combination you tried without expecting that it wouldn't go well with it turned out to be unexpectedly delicious. It happens often.
The marriage of wine and food is profound and difficult. Moreover, there is no "correct answer" to marriage. That's why it's fun to think about things your own way and go through trial and error.
However, for those who don't often have the opportunity to pair wine with food, it can be difficult to know what to focus on when choosing a pairing.
Here, for those who are wondering, ``I want to pair food with the wine I have at home, but what kind of ingredients should I choose?'', here are some helpful ``tips for pairing'' that you should know. Masu.
This time, let's focus on the ``grape variety'' of wine and choose the ingredients to pair it with.
Choose ingredients to match based on “characteristics of grape varieties”
Wine is made from many different grape varieties.
Each grape variety has its own unique characteristics, so if different grape varieties are used, the taste of the same red or white wine will be completely different. Grape varieties have a huge influence on the taste of wine.
Therefore, understanding the characteristics of each grape variety is an important point when pairing food and wine.
Here we will explain the characteristics of typical grape varieties and the ingredients that go well with them.
Marriage with white grape varieties
White grape variety ① Sauvignon Blanc
Characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc
The most distinctive feature of Sauvignon Blanc is its refreshing, herbal aroma and taste.
Sauvignon Blanc, which is grown in particularly cool regions, has a refreshing, green feel with herbs and young grass. On the other hand, Sauvignon Blanc produced in warmer regions has strong flavors of tropical fruits such as papaya and passion fruit.
Ingredients that go well with Sauvignon Blanc
I think it would be a good idea to take advantage of Sauvignon Blanc's unique "blue color" and pair it with herbs such as dill, mint, and cilantro.
For Japanese cuisine, we also recommend dishes using shiso leaves and mitsu leaves.
A light-tasting Sauvignon Blanc that is not made from oak barrels can be paired with vegetable dishes or fish dishes that use herbs, while a Sauvignon Blanc that has a strong oak barrel flavor can be paired with meat dishes that use herbs. Also recommended.
White grape variety ② Chardonnay
Characteristics of Chardonnay
I mentioned that each grape variety has its own characteristics, but Chardonnay is actually a variety that is said to have no individuality.
The taste of Chardonnay varies greatly depending on the region where it is made and the different brewing methods used. For this reason, it is difficult to list the characteristics of the Chardonnay variety itself, so let's focus here on the flavor characteristics that come from the region of production and whether or not it has been aged in barrels.
Characteristics that arise from differences in production area
Chardonnay, which is produced in areas with warm climates such as California, is characterized by its fruity flavor because the grapes are fully ripe. In cool production areas, it has a rich acidity and a crisp flavor. For example, ``Chablis'', made from Chardonnay from the Burgundy region, is characterized by a mineral taste and a strong acidity.
Characteristics that emerge from the presence or absence of barrel aging
Chardonnay that has not been aged in barrels has a relatively refreshing taste. On the other hand, Chardonnay that has been aged in barrels develops vanilla and buttery flavors, giving it a richer flavor.
Ingredients that go well with Chardonnay
A light Chardonnay that has not been aged in barrels is easy to pair with light dishes such as salads with avocado. The buttery, oily flavor of the avocado matches the fruity flavor of the Chardonnay. As the barrel flavor and fruit flavors become more intense, it goes well with dishes that use aromatic ingredients such as nuts, and cream-based dishes such as stews and gratin.
Marriage with black grape varieties
Black grape variety ① Pinot Noir
Characteristics of Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a red grape variety representative of the Burgundy region of France, and is now one of the international varieties grown in countries around the world. It is characterized by a floral and gorgeous aroma, and among red wines, it is often a relatively elegant and delicate type. It has a light color and a cute flavor of red fruits such as strawberry and cherry. It has a strong sour taste and a thin line.
Ingredients that go well with Pinot Noir
You may have the impression that red wine = meat, but Pinot Noir has a beautiful, pure fruit flavor that goes well with red meat dishes such as tuna. Also, when it comes to meat, delicately seasoned meats go better than rich types. The lighter type of Pinot Noir goes well with dishes using pork, while the heavier type, which is often made in New World, goes well with beef dishes.
When it comes to Japanese ingredients, we also recommend pickled plums. The fresh acidity of Pinot Noir matches the sourness of Umeboshi. It also goes well with dishes using green fish, such as sardines boiled in plums.
Black grape variety ② Cabernet Sauvignon
Characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon
In contrast to Pinot Noir, which has a strong image of delicateness, Cabernet Sauvignon is a black grape variety that has a strong and heavy flavor. Cabernet Sauvignon is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of dark red wines, with strong tannins, a firm structure, and a meaty feel. It has flavors of black fruits such as cassis and prunes, with hints of herbs and green vegetables.
Ingredients that go well with Cabernet Sauvignon
As you might imagine, the rich flavor of red wine goes well with meat dishes. For Cabernet Sauvignon, meat with a strong flavor such as beef is especially good. In addition to meat, it is also recommended to take advantage of Cabernet Sauvignon's unique vegetable flavor and pair it with vegetable dishes that use green vegetables such as green peppers and garland chrysanthemums.
Black grape variety ③ Sangiovese
Characteristics of Sangiovese
Sangiovese is Italy's signature red grape variety. It is softer than Cabernet Sauvignon and has a richer flavor than Pinot Noir. It is characterized by many strong tannins and strong acidity.
Ingredients that go well with Sangiovese
Sangiovese, which has a strong sourness, goes well with dishes using tomatoes, which are vegetables with a sour taste. Sangiovese is a variety made in Italy, so it goes well with Italian dishes such as pizza and pasta that use tomatoes, as well as dishes with sour seasonings such as balsamic vinegar. If you want to pair it with a meat dish, pairing a lighter type of Sangiovese with pork and a heavier type of beef with a dish makes it a better match.
Marriage of wine and food may seem too difficult to think about, but just by understanding the characteristics of the grape varieties used in wine and the key ingredients that go well with them, you should be able to get closer to the ideal marriage. The ones listed here are just a few examples of mariages, so please feel free to enjoy various mariages in your own way.
