Wine and Meat: the Right Combination

There is an obscure thought about having red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat. But we are going to prove you wrong. You can have as many combinations as possible. The main idea is to balance the tastes of the wine and meat combination and enjoy your dish. 

Of course, we are not resenting the fact that the rule above always works. But everyone has different tastes, and there are so many ways to experiment. Let’s say, you are having a beautifully marbled steak, but you don’t know what wine to have with it. You can choose an acidic wine since the meat is already dense, and you should make it taste less heavy. However, it is not only about the meat type, but you should also consider how you cook it, what sauces you use, or what side dish you are serving with the meat. For you to understand the idea, imagine having a dish with creamy sauce and a tomato sauce. With a more creamy sauce, you can use white wine like Chardonnay. And with tomato sauce, Chianti wines go perfectly. In any case, it is always best to experiment and remember the combinations you personally like. At the end of the day, you eat and drink, and combine everything together according to your taste.

Beef

Beef dishes always go well with wines such as Merlot or Shiraz. But you should consider the fat content in the dish, based on which you can choose the richness of the wine. If it is on a fattier size, you should have richer wine such as Merlot. Another point to consider is the roasting level. With a medium-well beef, Shiraz goes best. But with rare dishes, you can choose Rioja, as they bring the tastes of the meat to the maximum.

Veal

Wines with a medium body such as Sangiovese can be served with veal and not be miscalculated. Choosing a wine with rich tannin would not be the best choice with a dish made with veal. The thing is that the tenderness of the veal is much softer in comparison to beef, so having richer wines will not allow you to taste the true flavors of your main dish. 

Lamb

You can have almost all kinds of wines with lamb. For instance, Cabernet wines greatly complement the flavors of the lamb as a main dish. If your dish is flavored with herbs such as rosemary, Chianti wines can complement the flavors of the herbs.

Rabbit

Rabbits have tender meat. So you should choose the most suitable wine for it. But with rabbits, you should also consider the sauces. With creamy sauces, rabbits go well with white wines. The combination of the creamy sauce and a glass of Chenin Blanc can bring the most delicate tastes to your dinner. Tomato sauces go perfectly with red wines that have a medium body.

Chicken

From the first view, you might think that chicken is the easiest dish to choose wine for. However, it is not always the case. Everything depends on your served dish. A fried chicken with vegetables, textured wines like Chardonnay can be the best choice. Or pasta with creamy sauces is perfect with White Bordeaux. Chicken served with spices such as curry is great with Riesling, as these wines can balance the flavors of the spices you use in the sauce.

We can talk about wines and meats they are served with for days. But there is one thing for sure. There are no rigid limitations regarding the selection of meat and wines, and the possibilities detailed in this article are only recommendations for you to try and see if you like it or not. And you can always do it your way and mix and match the combinations you like. You can always test and try diverse wines with the exact dish to find the best mixture to your taste. You can always have dinner with your friends and ask their thoughts about your choices as well. It is always a fun activity to share your experiences with your friends and arrange friendly dinners with a glass of your favorite wine and delicious meat.