Entering the big world of wine for the first time can be daunting.

Not only are there so many varieties of vino out there, but there’s also an entire dictionary of wine terms you’ll need to learn if you want to actually understand what you’re drinking!

It’s a lot to take in, we know.

Luckily, we know where to start. If you’re just beginning your journey to wine connoisseur, before hitting the wine stores or online wine sales, consider these classic food and wine pairings that we have rounded up. These are a great way to make it look like you know what you’re doing with your wine, even if you might be new to curating perfect food and wine pairings.

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What are the rules for Rules for Great Wine and Food Pairings?

Pairing wine with food can greatly enhance your dining experience. Here are some general rules to keep in mind when pairing wine with food to keep in mind before buying your wine from the best online wine australia store:

Match the intensity: Pair light-bodied wines with lighter dishes, and full-bodied wines with richer, heavier dishes. For example, a light white wine like Pinot Grigio pairs well with light seafood dishes, while a full-bodied red like Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with a hearty steak.

Match the flavors: Consider the flavors of the dish and choose a wine that will complement them. For example, a spicy dish like Indian curry pairs well with a fruity wine like a Riesling, while a rich pasta dish with tomato sauce pairs well with a bold red like Chianti.

Consider the acidity: The acidity of the wine should match the acidity of the food. A high-acid wine like Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus, while a low-acid wine like Chardonnay pairs well with creamy sauces.

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best wine food pairing chardonnay

Consider the tannins: Tannins are compounds found in wine that can make it taste bitter. High-tannin wines like Cabernet Sauvignon pair well with rich, fatty meats like steak or lamb, while low-tannin wines like Pinot Noir pair well with lighter meats like chicken or pork.

Experiment: Ultimately, wine pairing is a matter of personal taste. Experiment with different wines and foods to find what works best for you.

Remember, these are general guidelines, and there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing wine with food. The most important thing is to enjoy the wine and the food together!

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Best food pairings for red wine

A mouth watering porterhouse steak with fresh vegetables and pasta

Shiraz and steak

Everyone knows that red wine and red meat go hand-in-hand.

When it comes to combining red with red however, this particular combination is one you’ll want to keep in mind before going to your local wine shop Melbourne.

That’s because Shiraz tends to be a more tannic wine, and is known for being full-bodied.

These attributes leave your mouth feeling drier, which makes it perfect for pairing with fattier, chewier cuts of steak like porterhouse and ribeye.

A quick sip between bites of steak clears your palate, letting you better enjoy all the flavours of your steak.

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Cabrnet Sauvignon and Juicy Lamb Dishes

The rich, bold flavors of lamb complement the tannins and structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. Roasted lamb or lamb chops are great choices.

As a General Rule: Red meat & Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic pairing

Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied and complex wine, so it pairs well with robust, flavorful dishes that can stand up to its bold flavors. When pairing with Cabernet Sauvignon, aim for dishes with rich, savory flavors, and strong textures that can balance the wine’s tannins and acidity.

Other stellar pairings with Cabernet Sauvignon include:

The rich, bold flavors of lamb complement the tannins and structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. Roasted lamb or lamb chops are great choices.

Strong-flavored cheese: The bold, tannic flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon can stand up to strong cheeses such as blue cheese, cheddar, or aged gouda.

Dark chocolate: The rich, fruity flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon pair well with dark chocolate, making it a perfect dessert pairing.

Mushrooms: Earthy flavors such as mushrooms, especially when paired with herbs like rosemary and thyme, can complement the tannic structure of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sangiovese and pizza

Who said you can’t pair pizza with wine? After all, it’s what the Italians themselves do!

And when it comes to pairing pizza with wine, the type that many Italians opt for when going out for a slice is Sangiovese.

The moderate acidity and savoury nature of Sangiovese helps it cut through the saltiness and fat that come with certain types of pizza. In particular, pizzas that use a lot of red sauce and cheese such as Margherita and Pepperoni pair excellently with sangiovese.

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best wine food pairing sangiovese vegetables

Sauvignon Blanc with Vegetable roasts

Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with grilled or roasted vegetables such as asparagus, zucchini, or bell peppers.

General rule : Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with lighter, more delicate flavors.

As it is a refreshing and crisp wine, when pairing with Sauvignon Blanc, aim for dishes with bright, fresh flavors and light textures that can complement the wine’s acidity and herbal notes like the following:

Seafood: Sauvignon Blanc pairs particularly well with seafood, especially lighter and more delicate fish such as shrimp, scallops, and oysters. Grilled fish, ceviche, and sushi are also excellent pairing choices.

Salads: Sauvignon Blanc’s bright acidity and herbal notes make it an excellent pairing for salads, particularly those with vinaigrette or citrus-based dressings.

Goat cheese: Sauvignon Blanc’s herbal and citrus notes complement the tangy flavors of goat cheese, making it a classic pairing.

Lighter poultry dishes: Sauvignon Blanc also pairs well with lighter poultry dishes such as chicken or turkey, particularly when prepared with herbs like thyme or tarragon.

Pinot noir and salmon

Generally speaking, most people recommend sticking with white wine when it comes to pairing wine with seafood.

However, salmon is the exception.

At I Like Wine, we like to think of salmon as the steak of the seafood world.

That’s because compared to other types of seafood, salmon has a stronger flavour and heavier oil content, which can overwhelm a white wine.

As such, we recommend pairing it with a red, just like you would for a steak.

Pinot noir is a great choice, as it has all the attributes of a red wine, only less so. It’s one of the lighter red wines around, taking up a space between white wine and heavier reds, just like how salmon sits between seafood and red meat.

General rule: Pinot Noir pair excellently with Earthy Flavors

Red wines like Pinot Noir and Dolcetto, which are light-bodied yet full of savory depth, pair particularly well with dishes made with earthy ingredients like mushrooms and lentils. Salmon and pinot are frequently good together, demonstrating the excellent compatibility of red wine and seafood.

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Best food pairings for white wine

Grilled salmon fish fillet with vegetables mix. Top view on dark stone table.

Sauvignon blanc and seafood

Sauvignon blanc is the default variety of white for most people.

And frankly, it isn’t hard to see why – it’s crisp, refreshing and versatile. If you ever hear someone suggesting that a certain food pairs best with white wine, they’re probably talking about trusty old sav blanc.

In particular, seafood stands out as the perfect complement to “sauv blanc”.

Thanks to its versatility, sauvignon blanc can be enjoyed with almost any seafood dish barring stronger fish like ocean trout salmon (see above).

Click here to buy sauvignon blanc online.

Chardonnay and chicken

Cooking up a chicken dish like a juicy pollo valentino or parma? You can’t go wrong with this tried-and-true combination!

You can’t just choose any bottle of chardy however – with the sheer number of chardonnay varieties and chicken dishes out there, it’s important that you choose the right pairing before purchasing wine from wine stores Melbourne.

For example, richer chicken dishes like roast chicken pair best with a richer chardy – oaked chardonnay (meaning it’s been aged in an oak barrel) with fruitier flavours are good choices.

For lighter chicken dishes with less in the way of sauce and oil, you’ll do best with a lighter chardonnay. Choose a bottle that hasn’t been oaked, as one which is too strong can overwhelm the main course.

General rule: Pair Fatty, Rich dishes with Chardonnay.

Aside from chicken, here are several options you can consider. Here are a few suggestions:

Creamy pasta dishes: Chardonnay’s buttery and oaky flavor notes complement creamy pasta dishes such as fettuccine alfredo or carbonara.

Seafood: Chardonnay pairs well with seafood such as shrimp, lobster, and scallops. Grilled or roasted fish, particularly salmon, also work well with Chardonnay.

Poultry: Chicken and turkey dishes that are roasted or prepared with cream sauces or herbs such as thyme or tarragon complement Chardonnay’s flavor.

Soft cheese: The buttery, creamy flavour of Chardonnay pairs well with soft cheese such as Brie or Camembert.

Overall, Chardonnay is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of foods, so feel free to experiment with different dishes to find your own favourite pairing.

Click here to buy chardonnay online.

best wine food pairing campagne caviar

Champagne and Caviar

The nutty and salty flavours of caviar pair well with the acidity and bubbles of Champagne, making it a classic pairing for a reason. Overall, Champagne is a versatile wine that can pair well with a variety of foods, hence, When it comes to pairing food with Champagne, there are a few options you can consider:

Oysters: Champagne’s effervescence and crisp acidity are perfect for cutting through the rich, briny flavours of raw oysters.

Light appetisers: Champagne pairs well with light appetisers such as smoked salmon, sushi, or shrimp cocktail. The effervescence of Champagne helps to cleanse the palate between bites.

Cheese: Champagne is also an excellent pairing with cheese, particularly with soft, creamy cheeses like brie or camembert.

Fried foods: The crispness and bubbles of Champagne complement the crunchy textures of fried foods like tempura or fried chicken.

General rule: Champagne pairs best with lighter, more delicate food that lean towards the salty side.

This is because such flavors that won’t overpower the wine’s delicate bubbles and acidity.

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There are literally hundreds of wine and food combos out there – this is only a brief introduction to some of the more popular combinations.

Hopefully, that should be enough to convince your guests that you know what you’re talking about!

Of course, knowing which wines to pair with which foods is just step one. You’ll need to learn (and taste) a lot more if you want to hold your own against other wine connoisseurs.

Fortunately, I Like Wine can help.

We’re one of Australia’s biggest online wine stores, and a beloved wine shop Melbourne selling everything from chardy and cab-sav, all the way to boutique blends. Our range of wine is expansive – combined with Australia-wide delivery and our great online wine sales, you can experiment until you find a wine that suits your taste.

Best of all, each online listing features a handy breakdown of the wine you’re looking at, including:

  • Taste and flavour
  • Vintage
  • Strength
  • Cellaring potential

We not only provide an extensive selection of wines but also offer a diverse range of beverages, including various types of beers and spirits like whisky.

Want to buy wine online? Start browsing our catalogue!

Be sure to check on our wine sale page as well for great prices on amazing vintage finds.