1. FOOD AND WINE
MATCHING
6 MAIN
PRINCIPLES

2. MATCHING THE WEIGHT OF THE
FOOD WITH THAT OF THE WINE
• Rich heavy food like game, red meat, beef, barbeque, lok lak, need
a full body wine.
• Lighter food such as white meat ( pork, chicken) or fish and seafood
is complemented by white wines and light bodied, low tannin red
wines like the New Zealand Pinot Noir.

3. MATCHING THE FLAVORS
INTENSITY
• Light dry white wines with simple flavors ( Sauvignon Blanc,
Semillon ) go well with food without too many complex aromas :
seafood dishes, raw or cooked vegetables, grilled fish, goat’s
cheese.
• Fruity dry white wines ( full body, intense fruit aromas like
Chardonnay, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc ) complement a wide
range of dishes but without too many complex flavors : raw or
cooked shellfish, sea food pasta, simple cooked or grilled fish, ham
salad and chicken.
• Full bodied dry white wines ( Chardonnay, Semillon ) pair with
flavorsome dishes, chicken mushroom, scallops, fish in cream,
amok fish and amok chicken.

4. MATCHING THE FLAVORS
INTENSITY
• Light fruity red wines, with light tannin and compensated with
pleasant acidity ( Pinot Noir ) match uncomplicated food : quiches,
pork, feta, and even fish.
• Full body, red wines, full of fruit flavors and alcohol with high tannin
content ( Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz ) need full flavored
dishes with high fat content like red curry, barbeque, grilled or
roasted meat, all the dishes in sauce.

5. MATCHING THE ACIDITY
• Acidity found in food must be matched by the acidity in the
accompanying wines ( tomatoes high in acidity pair very well with
Italian red high in acidity. ) Pizza, tomatoes salad, pasta
(carbonara.)
• The acidity cut the sharpness of the fatness.

6. MATCHING THE TANNIN
WITH READ MEAT
• Tannin in read wine reacts with protein molecules. Food with high
protein content, particularly read meat will soften the effect of the
tannin. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz go well with roast meat and
stew.
• Tannin with oily fish can result in an unpleasant metallic taste !

7. SPICE
Hot spices reduce the sweetness in the wine. A good match for
spicy food : French and Chilean Gewurztraminer, Australian and
New Zealand sauvignon blanc ( really ripe/juicy), ripe chilean merlot
and carmenere. They are particularly well adapted and their
smoothness and richness will balance the fire of spices.

8. SALT
• Salty food are enhanced by a touch of sweetness. Fish and chips
complement with Sauvignon Blanc
• Avoid tannic wines as the salt brings out the bitterness !