Wine Pairing with...?
- alessiabizzarri
- Jun 20
- 4 min read
🍷 Food & Wine Pairing: When the Glass Meets the Plate – And Beyond
Welcome to a new chapter of our journey through taste. Whether you're planning a summer garden dinner or simply want to elevate your next aperitivo, understanding how to pair wine with food unlocks a deeper dimension of pleasure. It’s not about rules, but relationships—like a perfect duet between voice and piano.
What Does “Wine Pairing” Really Mean?
At its core, wine pairing is the art of enhancing both the wine and the food (but not only) by matching them in ways that bring out the best in each other. A well-paired dish can make a wine sing, revealing aromas and textures that might otherwise remain muted. The goal isn’t just harmony—it’s interaction, creating a new experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. Just like a great dance, the rhythm between flavors must feel natural, exciting, and balanced. The wine pairing is the main subject covering the third level of the Professional Sommelier course and it builds on the knowledge of the wine, its flauvors, tactile sensations and taste.
🧭 Techniques of Pairing: Concordance & Contrast
There are two classic techniques in the sommelier’s toolkit: by concordance and by opposition.
Pairing by concordance means matching similar elements: creamy pasta with an equally soft, buttery Chardonnay; or a sweet dessert with a late-harvest Moscato. Think of it as a mirror—wine and food reflect each other’s character.
Pairing by opposition, on the other hand, thrives on contrast. A fatty duck breast calls for the freshness and tannin of a young Barbaresco. The saltiness of Parmigiano finds harmony in the sweetness of a Vin Santo. It’s like pairing velvet with leather—contrasting textures that enhance one another.
Both approaches work beautifully when used thoughtfully. The secret lies in balance, not symmetry. The above graphical image is an example of the pairing, where some specific characteristics of both wine and food are considered.
A food and wine pairing, in this case represented as a card, serves to guide the choice of the most suitable wine for a given dish, taking into account the characteristics of both. The card, usually visual, uses a concordance or contrast approach to match the sensations perceived in the food with those of the wine.
Key elements of a pairing card:
Sensations in food and wine:
The card represents the sensations perceived, such as sweet, salty, acidic, bitter, spicy, fatty, etc., in both food and wine.
Principle of concordance or contrast:
Some sensations can be paired with each other (concordance), such as the sweetness of the wine with the sweetness of the food, while others must be contrasted, such as the sweetness of the wine with the spiciness of the food.
Levels of perception:
The sensations can be represented in increasing levels, to indicate the intensity of the perception in the food and wine.
Reference to the preparation of the dish:
The card can include suggestions on the preparation of the dish to optimize the pairing.
Examples:
Sweet:
If the dish features a sweet ingredient (like fresh fruit or jam), a sweet wine could create a harmonious pairing.
Spicy:
On the other hand, a spicy dish (like a dish with chili peppers) requires a wine with strong tannins, which can counteract the spiciness and cleanse the palate.
Fat:
A fatty dish (like a ragù) requires a wine with good acidity to counteract the heaviness.
🍽️ Classic & Creative Pairing Examples
Let’s explore some pairings that showcase both method and imagination:
Wine
Barolo + Braised beef cheek → the tannin cuts through the richness, while earthy notes mirror the meat’s depth.
Gewürztraminer + Thai green curry → floral sweetness tempers the heat and spices.
Etna Bianco + grilled octopus → mineral freshness echoes the volcanic terroir and briny seafood.
Beer
Amber Ale + aged cheddar → maltiness and sharpness meet in a flavorful handshake.
Pilsner + fried chicken → crisp meets crunch: refreshing and irresistible.
Spirits
Rye whiskey + smoked ribs → spice and smoke in perfect synergy.
Aged rum + dark chocolate → molasses warmth complements cocoa bitterness.
And for dessert? Try Sauternes with foie gras or Recioto della Valpolicella with blue cheese—a bold balance of sweet and savory.
🎨 Beyond the Plate: Pairing Wine with Art, Music, and Place
Why stop at the table? The newest frontier in pairing is synesthetic: connecting wine with other senses and cultural forms.
Wine & Music: A structured Barolo might pair with Beethoven’s Fifth, while a playful Lambrusco dances with jazz. In fact, some sommeliers create full tasting experiences guided by soundscapes.
Wine & Art: Imagine sipping a delicate Pinot Noir while observing a Monet. The brushstroke lightness mirrors the wine’s elegance.
Wine & Geography: Serve volcanic Nerello Mascalese while tracing the silhouette of Mount Etna on a map. Taste becomes topography.
Wine & History: Recreate Garibaldi’s route through Italy using regional wines—from Marsala to Lombardy—and toast to Unità d’Italia.
🥃 Pairing Spirits with Cigars: Smoke Meets Spirit
For those who enjoy contemplative indulgence, pairing cigars with spirits is a refined ritual. Here’s how to match power with elegance:
Cognac + Cuban cigar: deep oak and floral notes soften the cigar’s robustness.
Peated Scotch + Maduro cigar: smoky on smoky—a bold, lingering match.
Grappa + Toscano cigar: a true Italian moment, rustic and intense.
Always consider intensity, texture, and finish—like with food and wine, balance reigns supreme.
✨ Conclusion: Taste as a Dialogue
Whether you're blending flavors on a plate or mixing emotion and geography in your glass, pairing is about creating connection. It’s storytelling with your palate. Let this be your invitation to experiment, to break rules (when you know them), and to celebrate the beauty of taste.
📬 Join the conversation! Share your favorite pairing in the comments or tag us with your #winepairingmoments. Don’t miss the next edition—subscribe to our whatsapp channel
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7gn5oDeON4U8chB745 and follow us on Instagram @clubaisbelgium for fresh insights, pairing guides, and stories from the vineyard.
Cheers to discovering what fits your taste—and your soul. 🥂
Comments