DIFFERENT TYPES OF

WINE
AND FOOD PAIRING
RED WINE

Red wine is produced from fermenting red grapes. When the

grape is crushed, the yeast eats the sugar and alcohol is
created. Red wine has been around for centuries and even
drank by the Roman Emperors when celebrating dinner and
company with friends & family.
 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 One of the most popular red grape varietals in

the world
 One of the famous 5 Bordeaux grapes
 Full bodied & higher in tannin
 Black Cherry, blackberry, black pepper,
tobacco & licorice
 Food Pairing: Steak House Selection!
 MERLOT

 One of the famous 5 Bordeaux

Grapes
 Often used for blending with other
grape varietals
 Black cherry, Raspberry, Plum,
Tobacco, Mocha
 Food Pairing: Steaks, Chicken,
Lamb
 PINOT NOIR

 Light in color and body

 Soft subtle tannins. “Easy
Drinking”
 Very versatile with food. Goes with
beef & fish
 Cranberry, cherry, raspberry,
vanilla, licorice
 Food Pairing: Anything on the
menu!
 SYRAH / SHIRAZ
 Pronounced Shiraz in Australia & South
Africa but Syrah everywhere else in the
world
 Fruit forward with subtle tannin
 Full bodied, dark in color and “jammy”
 Blackberry, blueberry, pepper,
chocolate, tobacco, & smoke
 Food Pairing: Steakhouse selection,
Chicken, Lamb, Beef
 SANGIOVESE

 Famous grape used in the Italian wine,

Chianti
 Ruby red in color with bright burnt
orange rim
 Earth Driven, high acid, & sharp tannin
 Red fruits, bitter herbs, smoke, oregano,
espresso, tobacco
 Food Pairing: Pizza & Pasta!
 ZINFANDEL

 Most widely planted grape in

California
 Fruit forward and often high in
alcohol %
 Black cherry, plum, raisin, fig,
smoke, black pepper
 Food Pairing: Steakhouse Selection,
Chicken, Lamb
 MALBEC

 Dark purple, full bodied, magenta rim

 Known for smooth, “easy drinking”
 One of the famous 5 Bordeaux grapes,
although 75% comes from Argentina
 Black cherry, Blackberry, Coffee, Leather,
pepper, tobacco
 Food Pairing: Burgers, Steakhouse
selection, Chicken
WHITE WINE

White wine is produced from fermenting white grapes.

When the grape is crushed, the yeast eats the sugar and
alcohol is created. White wine has been around for
centuries and even drank by the Roman Emperors when
celebrating dinner and company with friends & family.
 CHARDONNAY

 One of the most popular white wines in the world.

 Produces full bodied, rich, and complex wines.
 The white grape of Burgundy. Also used in
 Champagne and other exquisite wines.
 Lemon, Apple, Honeysuckle, Vanilla Bean, Butter.
 Food Pairing: Lobster, Fish, Chicken, Seafood,
Pasta
 SAUVIGNON BLANC

 One of the white Bordeaux grapes

 Sauvignon Blanc means “Wild
White”
 One of the most widely planted white
grapes.
 Lime, Green Apple, Tropical Fruits,
Green Bell pepper, Grass
 Food Pairing: Appetizers, Seafood,
Fish, Oysters
 RIESLING

 Known for being a sweet wine which ripens

slowly and excels in cooler climates
 One of the most Aromatic wine grapes in the
world
 There can also can be dry Rieslings that are
famous in France for having high acidity
 Apricot, Peach, Meyer Lemon, Honey,
Pineapple
 Food Pairing: All spicy food!
 PINOT GRIS / PINOT GRIGIO

 Known as Pinot Grigio in Italy and Pinot

Gris in France and other parts of the
world.
 Known for being a dry, crisp, high acidity
wine
 Lime, Green Apple, Lemon, Pear, White
Peach
 Food Pairing: Light Seafood and
Shellfish
 MUSCAT / MOSCATO
 Referred to as Muscat or Moscato depending
where you are in the world
 The most famous is Moscato D’ Asti, Meaning
Moscato “From” the Region of Asti in Italy
 In most cases Moscato is sweet and slightly
bubbly (frizzante) with a lower alcohol %
 Apricot, Peach, Orange, Honeysuckle, Vanilla
bean
 Food Pairs: Light dessert options after a meal,
spicy dishes
 CHENIN BLANC

 South Africa’s most planted grape, although gained

recognition from producing the famous French
wine Vouvray
 Ranges from light to full-bodied and from dry to
sweet. Can age for a long time, especially when
produced in the Loire Valley in France
 Baked Apple, Passion fruit, Mango, Apricot,
Honeydew Melon, Honey, Orange Blossom
 Food Pairing: Heavier fish like Sea Bass and
Halibut, Scallops, and Risotto
What are some of the Famous Classic Food & Wine Pairings?

 Chardonnay & Lobster

 Champagne & Caviar
 Sauvignon Blanc & Oysters
 Cabernet Sauvignon & Steak Or Cheese
 Red Zinfandel & Barbeque Dishes
 Pinot Noir & Salmon
 Why does the Wine go well with the Cheese?

 Cabernet Sauvignon has higher “tannin” than other red wines

 You can feel the tannin on the top of your gums below your front lip
 Tannin comes from the stems, skins, & seeds of the grape
 Fat content in food, complements these tannins that we find in wine
 The fat in the cheese will balance and help make the tannins more
subtle