Food - Wine Pairing Tips For French and Italian Wines

Many people are intimidated by the task of selecting wine in a fine restaurant. This article is intended to provide a simple guide that will enable anyone to feel confident enough to choose a wine that will impress their dinner guests. The focus is on French and Italian wines.

While there are no set rules for pairing wine with food, generally a full-bodied red wine should accompany rich and seasoned food. White wines are better suited for lighter fare.

These are some of my personal favorite wine and food pairings for French and Italian wines:

Beef = Amarone,
Cheese = Beaujolais,
Chicken = Chardonnay,
Cold Meats = Tavel,
Chile = Grumello,
Chinese Food = Soave,
Clams and Oysters = Champagne,
Duck = Pouilly-Fume,
Fish = Muscadet,
Ham = Pinot Grigio,
Lamb = Saint-Emilion,
Ossco Bucco = Barbaresco,
Pate = Saint-Veran,
Pheasant = Vino Nobile di Montepulciano,
Pork = Pouilly-Fuisse,
Red Sauce = Chianti,
White Sauce = Pinot Grigio,
Sauerbraten = Riesling,
Shell Fish = Gavi,
Steak = Gattinara,
Stew = Barolo,
Veal = Soave, and
Venison = Pomerol

In the end, it is really a matter of personal preference and what suits your palate. If your restaurant does not have these particular recommendations in their wine cellar, you can always ask the sommelier to recommend something comparable.

These suggestions should enable you to at least buy or order to the proper wine to accompany dinner. Of course, there is a lot more to know about ordering wine, wine tasting, wine production, and wine conversation.

Please feel free to email me at sales@thewinebook.com with questions on French or Italian wine. You may also visit my website at www.thewinebook.com for more information.

Angelo Cataldo is an avid wine collector with over 20 years experience in Italian and French wines. He has also travelled extensively in the wine producuing regions of Italy and France.

For those interested in learning more, Mr. Cataldo's book, The Wine Book, is the perfect beginners wine guide: short, easy to read, and small enough to take with you. In addition to food wine pairing examples, it includes wine descriptions you can use in conversation or at wine tasting parties, wine tasting tips, and information on Italian and French wine regions and production. The Wine Book is small enough to carry to a restaurant and refer to discreetly.

The Wine Book also includes checklists for tasting notes. This has made it a favorite give-away for wine tastings and events. Fine New Jersey Restaurants, such as Aldo's, The Brickhouse, and Pane and Vino have provided it to their customers for just that purpose.

---

The Curious History Of Wine Consumption In America

The history of wine consumption in America has been frought... Read More

Beer, Wine and Your Bones

If you like the taste of a good brew, then... Read More

Uses of Mirror Tinted Contact Lenses

Mirror tinted contact lenses have become a topic of interest... Read More

Chablis Wine

Chablis is thought to have originated in northern Spain and... Read More

Beer and The Commodities Market

Most branded products and agricultural products are not commodities. However... Read More

Whisky Syndicates

Whisky syndicates are groups of private owners and many have... Read More

If You Plan On Drinking, Do These Critical Things Before You Leave The House

Buy a BreathalyzerA Breathalyzer is a portable hand-held device in... Read More

Bordeaux Wine

Bordeaux is a region in France that produces some of... Read More

Australian Wines

Australia's wine industry has boomed in the past ten years.... Read More

The Origin of the Cocktail

The cocktail has the distinction of being an original American... Read More

Carignane Wine

The Carignane grape variety is one of the most widely... Read More

Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting Component I: LookThe first step you have to... Read More

Guide To Tasting Wine

The basics of tasting wine are relatively simple to learn.... Read More

Ideal Wine Temperature

The ideal temperature to store wines is between 55ºF and... Read More

Overcoming Red Wine Spills

Red wine spills can be a disaster whether they occur... Read More

White Zinfandel Wine

White Zinfandel wine is a blush wine made in California... Read More

Wine Tasting -- The Traditional Way

Wine tasting is properly known as 'Wine Degustation'. It is... Read More

How To Open Champagne

I manage a highly regarded web community for corporate flight... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon is the grape responsible for the wines of... Read More

A Private Owners Guide to Bottling Fine Whisky

The majority of private owners of whisky casks are looking... Read More

Champagne

Champagne is without question the finest sparkling wine made in... Read More

The Old Fashioned: Two Recipes of an Underrated Classic

Like many mixed drinks, the Old Fashioned has a number... Read More

Merlot Wine

Merlot wine is a rich, soft wine with the flavor... Read More

Start Your Wine Cellar The Right Way

One of the great joys of wine is to be... Read More

Australia Is More Than Jacobs Creek

The Jacobs Creek Brand of wines have taken the world... Read More

Hosting A Wine Tasting Party

As your love and knowledge of wine grows, it is... Read More

The Ten Most Important Wine Label Terms

For the average wine consumer, there is a plethora of... Read More

How Sparkling Wine is Made

There are three methods that may be used to make... Read More

Choosing a Wine Gift Basket

During the holiday season, most of us are in a... Read More

An Idiots Guide To Wine Tasting

Have you ever seen those stiff upper-lipped types doing a... Read More

Who Made the First Wine Anyway?

Although details are understandably sketchy, it is believed that, around... Read More

Tempranillo?s Role As A New Varietal Wine In Australia

Tempranillo is the premium red wine grape variety from the... Read More

How to Order Wine in a Restaurant

Ordering wine in a restaurant is not much different than... Read More