We’re all familiar with the general rules for wine pairing – white wine for white foods like fish, chicken and pasta, and red wine for red meats like beef and lamb. I’ll confess, I’ve never been much of a rule follower, so while these traditional rules may be a great starting off point, here are a few more ideas to cut your wine experience loose!
Pizza Night
Wine might not be the first drink you consider when it comes to pizza night, but give your beer a break and opt for a crisp and refreshing rosé instead. My pick? Cambridge Winery’s Rosé of Syrah (Cambridge, Wisconsin; $25). Enjoy its light, pink champagne-like flavors (strawberry, cherry and cranberry) with a slice of pepperoni pizza for an unexpected and unforgettable flavor party in your mouth!
Money-Saving Girls’ Night In
Looking for caviar tastes on a cornflakes budget? Give Contadino Pinot Grigio Vivace (Available at Trader Joe’s; $5.99) a try! It’s a sparkling pinot grigio with a fun little fizz to it, and the fruity flavors of grapefruit, apple, plum, lemon, lime and peach. This crisp, clear sparkling dry white wine is an excellent low-budget (yet fancy-feeling) choice for entertaining friends for a fun night in, toasting to the stars at awards season parties or ringing in the New Year!
Entertaining the In-Laws
Got a visit from your in-laws coming up soon and not sure which wine you should buy? I’ve consulted a local wine expert (my mother-in-law), and we’ve got your solution! My mother-in-law, Pam, and I love unwinding over a bottle of red wine, and she has two suggestions for you to try. Her first pick is Bogle Vineyards’ Petite Sirah (in stores nationwide; $9), a full-bodied red wine boasting the rich flavors and aromas of blueberry, vanilla and nutmeg. She also recommends 14 Hands Winery’s Hot to Trot Red Blend (in stores nationwide; $12). This blend of red varieties (including Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon) from Washington features flavors of black cherries and plums, with a soft, velvety finish. Both of these wines are smooth and easy to drink – and at these price points there’s no need to hesitate when it comes to opening a second (or third) bottle!
Dessert Night in December
This is the perfect time to try an ice wine! Ice wine is a dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. My pick? Wollersheim Winery’s Ice Wine (Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin and available online; $49). Wisconsin’s blustery winters create the perfect conditions for ice wine – something Wollersheim Winery knows all about. They hand-pick their ice wine grapes (native to Wisconsin) in mid-December when the grapes are completely frozen and outdoor temperatures are between 10 and 12 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the water in the grapes to freeze while the sugars do not, producing an intensely sweet and concentrated dessert wine reminiscent of liquid honey and maple syrup – the nectar of the vines. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this unique, specialty wine is worth the splurge.
Because it’s Monday (or any day of the week, really)
Chardonnay! Chardonnay is the United States’ most popular wine, and the world’s most widely planted white wine grape. Thanks in part to its abundance; its easy to find a good quality chardonnay at a low price point, making this a great weekday drinking wine. Consider Toasted Head Chardonnay (in stores nationwide; $8) known for its signature toasty vanilla flavor combined with peaches and pears for a crisp yet oaky style.
Cold, Snowy Nights
Cedar Creek Winery’s Cedarburg Spice (Cedarburg, Wisconsin and available online; $8) is an unforgettable sweet red wine that tastes like Christmas in a cup. Packed with aromatic spices (orange peel, lemon peel, cinnamon, cloves and allspice), this versatile wine can be enjoyed at room temperature or served warmed, making it a unique and comforting choice on those cold winter nights.
Wine is wonderful at enhancing whatever situation you’re in, so have fun with it! Relax and let go of the pressure of taking your wine selection so seriously. The best wine pairing? Whatever wine you love, enjoyed with the pleasure of good company.
Dusty Rogers is the blogger, mother, maker, decorator and drinker of the wine at All Things G&D - a lifestyle blog where home décor, DIY and organization, healthy meals and kid-friendly snacks, party planning and entertaining all happily play together in the sandbox. Dusty lives in Madison, WI with her husband Greg and their daughter Kate, and she spends her days balancing high maintenance tendencies with a desire to keep things simple.