Wine Pairing for Grilled & Smoked Foods

People have been pairing foods such as cheeses, meats and vegetables with wines for hundreds of years. Wines are also a common ingredient called for in many kitchen recipes because of its robust flavor that it can add to your dish. These same principles can be applied to incorporate wine in the preparation of a grilled or smoked dish and also when you serve it to your guests.

The general rule for pairing wines with your grilled foods is your lighter wines go better with smaller portions, lower calorie or light meats such as poultry. This is because white wines offer a light, crisp and refreshing flavor that balances well with these types of foods.

Red wines are generally what wine connoisseurs drink and offer a more dry and richer flavor profile. Red wines are less sweet and are better when paired with desserts or red meats that have a more robust flavor profile.

Reisling - Riesling wines are much lighter than Chardonnay and provide an apple aroma. Rieslings should taste crisp and fresh, even if they are an older year. These wines go great when paired with grilled or smoked fish, chicken and pork dishes.

Moscato, Pinot Grigio & Pinot Gris - These wines are famous for their sweet flavor from pear, peach, orange blossom and nectarine fruits. Pinot Grigio and Gris are generally more dry than Moscatos and may even have hints of lemon. These medium bodied white wines are best when paired with light foods such as appetizers, seafood, quiche and white poultry meats.

Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay - Both Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are light white wines that possess a range of sour green fruits of apple, pear and goosberry to even melon and mango. They both feature bright aromas with Sauvignon Blanc being generally lighter than Chardonnay. Their fruity and light flavor makes them pair well with grilled fish and poultry dishes.

Rose or Blush Wines - These wines come in a variety of blends and typically have a hue of a vibrant, hot pink color, depending how long the grape skins were allowed to make contact with the juice. Roses can be made in a sweet, off-dry or bone dry style and typically offer strawberry, cherry, watermelon and raspberry tones. These wines go great with almost anything off the grill during the warm summer months.

Zinfandel - Zinfandels can come in a wide variety of flavors from fruity and easy drinking to medium-bodied with a fuller flavor. This style is technically classified as a red wine but makes for a good transition wine if someone likes white and is trying to acquire a taste for reds. to start drinking reds. These wines go great with light cheeses, red meats, wild game and soups.

Syrah & Shiraz - Syrah and Shiraz wines can range from a mild red color to deep red. These wines can have a bold flavor and aroma of black fruits such as blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry. These flavors are best when served next to a hearty and flavorful dish such as steak, beef, wild game and hearty stews.

Malbec - Due to its deep, dark red color, Malbecs are sometimes referred to as “the black wine.” They feature dark fruit flavors of blackberry, black raspberry, and blueberry followed by an underlying tone of toasty oak in the more expensive aged versions. Malbecs are sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah to add complexity and balance. Malbecs make a great sangria drink and pairs perfectly with grilled meats, wild game and spicy dishes.

Cabernet & Merlot - Cabs and Merlots are full-bodied red wines with a dark hue. They are robust and dry in flavor. These wines are best when aged in oak barrels that produce a smoky and vanilla note to them. Black cherry and herbal flavours are typical in these blends. The best meals that go well with Cabs and Merlots are beef, pork and other hearty, warm dishes.

Pinot Noir & Port - Pinot Noir and Ports offer a very distinct, dark red color. Pinots have a delicate and fresh flavor with a cherry, strawberry and plum taste. Port is a more firm, full flavored wine that is extremely high in alcohol percentage (typically 12-20%). These wines go best with paired along with grilled salmon, chicken, lamb, red meats, Japanese dishes and desserts.