A Beginner's Guide to Wine Pairing

Last updated 10 months ago

No meal is complete without a refreshing beverage! The right drink does much more than just keeps you refreshed during a meal; it can also accent and highlight different flavors offered by your food. Wine is a popular choice because its different types feature a variety of elements that pair perfectly with a meal. Use this guide to pick the perfect wine for your meal the next time you enjoy the upscale restaurant atmosphere here at Hotel Chantelle:

Use color as a pairing element. It is important to remember that personal preference should be your deciding factor when pairing wine and food. But if you are new to the pairing process, you can keep it simple by looking at colors. Typically, red wines work best with red meats, while white wines are better at enhancing flavors found in chicken, fish, and pork. We offer an assortment of both reds and whites here at Hotel Chantelle, making it easy to find the perfect pairing for your enticing meal.

Consider the intensity of the flavors. The type of wine that you drink should match the intensity of the tastes found in your meal. If you are enjoying a rich, flavorful, or hearty meal, you should have a wine that matches those qualities. If you are enjoying a meal that features lighter or subtler flavors, then you will want to choose a lighter wine to enjoy with it. Matching these qualities creates balance in a meal, while mismatching these qualities can lead to either the meal or the wine being overpowered.

Think about which flavor is most dominant. You just ordered a chicken dish—but that doesn’t mean you have to stick with a white wine! The meat may act as the star of the meal, but it does not necessarily provide the most dominant flavor. This can come from sauces, spices, or even side dishes. Make sure you choose a wine that complements this dominant flavor.

Try these tips the next time you are in the mood for a meal from Manhattan’s top Mediterranean restaurant—Hotel Chantelle! You can find out more about our menus and wine options by checking out our website or calling us at (646) 783-3654.