Choosing wine with food is easy when it’s a classic recipe from a wine-centric country. In traditional winelands, chefs and winemakers have plied their trades together for centuries, so everyone would have something delicious to eat and drink for dinner. Italian cuisine with Italian wine, Spanish food with Spanish wine… it makes sense.
During The Chopping Block’s upcoming sold out Night in Spain class, I recommend Gambas con Ajilo (Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Saffron) be served with:
Albarino, Bodegas Lagar de Besada, 2023, Galicia, Spain | $30.00: Shimmering appearance, dry with lemon and lemongrass flavors and endless finish, this Spanish specialty makes a vibrant cocktail and partner to a wide range of veggie, poultry and seafood dishes.
Sautèed Beef Tenderloin served with:
Garnacha, Ludovicus, 2020, Terra Alta, Spain | $27.00: Juicy berry fruit with oaky accents and pleasing tannin. Due to high elevation and limestone soil, Terra Alta Garnacha is considered Spain’s finest. Serve this chewy, medium-bodied red with meats, rich poultry and seafood and the richest tapas.
The Chopping Block's wine list is developed specifically to complement recipes you’ll prepare during class. For all wine selections, descriptions, pricing, click here or ask your Class Assistant for suggestions.
If the recipe is regional all the better. Escargots a la Bourguignonne (snails swimming in butter) is the perfect mate for a white Burgundian wine (which is 100% Chardonnay, with its affinity for butter). Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florence-style steak) is the choice for wine made close to Florence, such as Chianti. Don’t fight it.
But what about pairing wine with non-traditional wine cuisines? In these cases, look for opposite flavors that attract, like:
Sugar and Spice
Asian and Indian cuisines are associated with spicy heat from chili, mustard or other hot seasonings. While dry wine will stoke the burn in your dish and on your palate, a sweet wine soothes spicy heat.
During Indian Vegetarian while preparing recipes including Spicy Chickpea Curry, I recommend sipping on:
Vouvray Demi-Sec, Jean-Michel Gautier, 2019, Loire Valley, France | $32.00: Not too dry, not too sweet, but just right flavors of ripe tree fruit with a sprinkle of sweetness, balanced by refreshing acidity. Serve this French classic as an easy aperitif and to complement cured & lighter meats, sweeter seafood (such as scallops, crab or shrimp) and sushi, egg dishes and delicately spicy cuisine.
While practicing your sushi-making skills with Spicy Hand Rolls in Next-Level Sushi, try one of my favorite wines:
Riesling, Schloss Gobelsburg "Gobelsburger", 2021, Kamptal, Austria | $31.50: Dry but lush with nectarine flavor intertwined with mineral complexity and refreshing finish, this Austrian beauty satisfies a wide range of cuisine, including most appetizers, spice cuisine, fried dishes, seafood (including sushi), veggies and poultry.
Scrubbing Bubbles
Another culinary opposite is luxurious fat paired with sparkling wine’s refreshing bubbles.
For an easy and elegant treat at home, pair TCB's classic Baked Brie en Croute with:
Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs, Champagne Pierre Moncuit-Delos, NV, Champagne, France | $82.00: Rich, round and creamy, 100% Chardonnay matured on lees to express toasted brioche with evocative hints of truffle. A classic aperitif and elegant complement to dishes from appetizers to entrées.
The big surprise favorite during my Wine & Cheese Pairing classes is consistently blue cheese paired with:
Moscato d'Asti, Saracco, 2020/2021, Piedmont, Italy | $21.00: Soft and round with heavenly sweetness and luscious finish, this Italian bubbly is crafted to complement all dolce – from apple pie to zabaglione – as well as rich cheeses, and sweet moments.
And since our hometown team whupped the Detroit Lions, you can watch the Bears’ march to the Super Bowl with Detroit-Style Pizza Party and:
Prosecco Superiore, Adami, "Bosco di Gica",2020, Valdobiadenne, Italy | $26.00: This Italian sparkler is a world-favorite for delicate, dry, and refreshing flavors, perfect to pair with international antipasti and light dishes. Guaranteed to add festivity to any occasion, even the last days of the football season.
Bear down Bears!
