Pairing Wine and Food

Question 1

Sweetness in food:

1. Sweetness in dish can make wine seem what?
2. So you should select a wine with higher levels of what?

Answer 1

1. More drying and bitter, and more acidic, while less sweet and fruity
2. Sugar. More sweet than the dish itself.

Question 2

What does umami do to wine?

Examples of umami in foods

Answer 2

More drying and bitter, more acidic, while less sweet and fruity.
Mushrooms, air-dried meats, aged cheeses, and miso

Question 3

Why is acidity in food a good thing for wine? When is it not?

Answer 3

It can balance a wine with very high acidity and enhance it’s fruitiness.
If the acid level in the wine is low, then high acid foods can make the wine seem less fruity.

Question 4

What does salt in food do to wine?

Answer 4

Less drying and bitter, less acidic, while more fruit and body. Can also soften the tannin in red wines.

Question 5

What does chili heat in food do to wine?

Answer 5

Alcohol in wine becomes more noticeable. Chili heat becomes more intense.