Choosing the right wine is often considered a fine art. Pairing fine wine with sharp foods creates   indescribable taste combinations. Usually my blog posts are about weight loss, and we all know alcohol is not recommended while trying to shed extra pounds.  

So for this post I’m thinking back to my waitressing days, which consisted of studying nutrition by day and serving fine wine and fancy meals by night. Restaurant servers are responsible for taking care of the paying customer’s meal requirements.  Servers may make food recommendations, which may also include a fine wine to compliment the meal.

When pairing wine, think white wine for lighter tasting dishes and red wine for heavier ones. This simple rule will help you easily pick a wine to accompany your favorite dish. Here is a general guide for wine pairing:

The Meal                         The Wine                          Color-Tastes Like

Red meat, pork, lamb     Red Zinfandel, Merlot     Red-Tastes berry like and dark, oaky 

Chicken                            Chardonnay                      White-Tastes mild, oaky, light

Meaty Strong Fish         Pinot Noir                          Red-Tastes berry and citrus like

Lighter White Fish         Sauvignon Blanc             White-Tastes tropical and citrus like

Pasta Tomato Sauce       Chianti, Sangiovese         Red-Tastes dry, bold, tart

Pasta Cream Sauce         Pinot Grigio                       White-Tastes light, crisp and fresh

Asian/Indian                   Riesling                             White-Tastes sweet, light and crisp           

Not only does wine vary in color, but country and price as well. Explore the wine section of your local liquor store and try wines from different countries. Through experimentation I’ve learned that I enjoy Italian red wine the most, especially when eating seafood! Canada has some great wine producers too, including some new Organic Vineyards and Wineries in BC and Ontario. I also enjoy the Prince Edward Island winery,  www.rossignolwinery.com .

Fine wine requires good conversation.  To cut back on calories, never open a bottle of wine alone. Invite a friend over to share the calories with you. Drink extra water before and after drinking alcoholic beverages. The best cure for a hangover is Vitamin C, which is abundant in oranges, carrots and tomatoes.  Another trick is sports drinks, which work to rehydrate your body quickly.

If you’re invited to a dinner party, ask the host what they are cooking. Once you find out the main course, use the wine chart above to choose the right bottle. Experiment with different countries and never be afraid to try a new kind. After all, it is thoughtful to bring wine to your dinner host, but curtsey to choose one that will compliment the meal!