Simple Pairings for Any Diet

Most people have heard of those standard formulaic meat-based pairings. Fish, seafood and lighter meat dishes are typically paired alongside a white, while reds will bring the flavors of red meat to life. While this is certainly great information to have, it definitely is only surface-level advice, and more importantly, doesn’t apply to a lot of different types of diets out there.

Meanwhile, there is a lot less general knowledge floating around out there about vegan and vegetarian pairings. A sustainable winery in Rutherford will be interested in accommodating all types of dietary preferences and needs and offer plenty of perfect picks for any type of meal, whether there are animal products or not.

With this in mind, this article is going to cover some of the basic cornerstones of basic pairings so that everybody and anybody can show up to their next visit to a Napa Valley winery armed with the knowledge to make the perfect picks for their palates.

Here are the basics.

Pairing Fundamentals for Any Type of Food

When it comes to enjoying a Rutherford wine tasting, it is all about knowing what types of flavors go with what types of varieties.

The trick, as with anything in life, is all about finding the ideal balance between qualities and flavors. The gorgeous full-bodied red should complement and bring to life the foods on the plate and not overpower them, or get overpowered by them. The food and the wines shouldn’t taste the same, but they should be able to complement each other in a way that positively highlights the differences in the flavor profile. Omnivore, vegan or vegetarian, it really doesn’t have to be more complicated than that.

Here are five characteristics to consider when visiting a Napa Valley winery.

1. Sweetness Level

Sweet and dry are often terms that come up during a Rutherford wine tasting. People might be able to detect how wines taste either more or less sweet, but what does this actually mean in terms of the fermentation process?

Basically, the relative sweetness level just refers to the amount of sugar that is left over after the fermentation is complete. The level of sweetness doesn’t necessarily have any bearing on the quality of the selection as a whole; it is just one of the elements that define a holistic tasting profile.  

2. Acidity Level

As a general rule, the riper a grape is, the higher the sugar levels and the sweeter it will taste. Of course, there are plenty of different nuances between varieties and growing regions here, but this is a broad perspective.

Conversely, younger, less mature grapes will have fewer naturally occurring sugar and more acidic-tasting components like citric, tartaric and malic acid that lend themselves to flavor profiles often referred to as crisp or tart. If a region has a shorter growing season, it will naturally produce more acidic wines than one with a longer growing season.

Once again, there is no inherent value relative to levels of sweetness and acidity. They are just flavors used to define the overall profile of the selection.

3. The Amount of Tannins

Tannins are derived from micronutrients known as polyphenols which are found in the seeds and skins of grapes. These elements are filtered out in the making of white varieties, while red varieties are made with the skins fermented into the batch, giving them their characteristic darker colored appearance.

This also means that white varieties don’t have tannins, but red varieties do. They lend themselves to a unique dryness and a mouthy feel, which can be great for cleansing the palate after a meal. The amount of tannins in a red will vary according to a number of factors including the variety, region and fermentation process.

4. The Alcohol Content

During the fermentation process, yeast works to convert grape sugars into ethanol alcohol. The alcohol contents of wines will vary from bottle to bottle and according to the fermentation process and sugar levels of the grapes.

The flavor of alcohol tends to lend itself to a more full-bodied feel, which means that heavier bodied wines tend to also have a higher alcohol content.

5. The Body

The heavier the body, the more sweet and tannic it is likely to be. As previously mentioned, it will also be likely to have a higher alcohol content. Meanwhile, lighter options will be more acidic, have fewer tannins and lower alcohol content.

A sustainable winery in the Napa Valley will offer a full selection of choices to accommodate any taste profile.

Pairing Pointers

Pairing with any food is easy once a person knows how to recognize the profile. Here are some basic matching rules to live by.

1. Match Acidic with Acidic

Anything with a lot of citrus or tomato-based flavors needs a similarly sharp selection from a Rutherford winery that won’t be overpowered by sharp tastes.

2. Match Tannins (Reds) or Acidity (White) with Rich Food

Sharp acidic whites and tannin-rich reds will cleanse the palate and balance out high-fat foods.

3. Match Sweet or Low-Alcohol Selections with Spicy

A light-bodied or sweeter flavor profile will provide a pleasing contrast to heavy, sharp spices.

4. Match Sweet, Low Tannin Choices to Bitter Food

Bitter taste profiles like those found in arugula and dark chocolate will be downplayed by a sweeter choice, while tannins will make them taste more bitter.

5. Match Sweet with Sweet

Sweet foods will bring out the flavors in a sweeter selection. Meanwhile, a drier choice might end up tasting bitter in contrast.

6. Match Acidic or Fruity Tastes to Salty

Fruity choices will taste sweet and salty without going over the top while acidic will help enhance the flavor of the food.

The Takeaway

Choosing the right pairing for the right food is really not that complicated once people understand the basic taste profiles and how they fit together.

Remember, pairing is a lot more of an art than a science, and everybody will have their preferences in terms of the specific pairings they prefer. The best way to learn more about both the qualities of a selection and the foods they taste great with is to visit a local Napa Valley winery for a Rutherford wine tasting, so don’t hesitate to reach out today to find out more.