Pairing meals with red wine

When you shop around for a wine hamper, you may notice that different bottles are paired with different types of foods. This is not a coincidence. The sweet and savoury foods that are paired with specific wines based on common food and wine pairing guidelines. These guidelines can also help you choose the right wine hamper for a loved one even if you are not sure about their favourite type of wine but you do know what they enjoy eating.

Light Red Wines

Light red wines include Gamay, Pinotage, Grenache, and Pinot Noir. They pair best with roasted veggies, white meat (such as chicken), carbohydrates, and rich fish (such as lobster). Wine is often served before the meal and enjoyed throughout the meal too. Foods with delicate flavours, like chicken, do not overpower the wine and the wine does not overpower the food. Together, they provide the perfect balance.

Medium Red Wines

Merlot, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese are all examples of medium red wines. They are a popular choice for cheese and wine hampers. They are an excellent choice for pairing with carbohydrates and cheese.These wines are also fantastic pairings for red and white meat as well as cured or smoked meat. This is the perfect partner for that mixed platter of delicious finger foods.

Big Red Wines

Examples of big reds include Zinfandel, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Just like medium reds, these wines pair well with red meat, cured or smoked meat, and hard cheeses. They are too potent to be paired with foods that have more delicate flavours. If the recipient of your wine hamper enjoys succulent steaks, for example, then you can be sure that they will love to pair this meal with a big red.

The advantage of choosing a wine hamper online is that you can browse all of the food and wine pairings before making your choice. You also don’t have to leave anything to chance because experts have done all the careful pairing for you.