A good meal is not complete without a good wine. But what is wine? And above all, which one goes best with which meal? I have compiled the most important information about wine here:
Types of wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of grapes.
White wine
When producing a white wine, the berries must remain as undamaged and whole as possible from the harvest to the destemming. White wine is very popular in our latitudes.
Red wine
For a red wine, the grapes are not pressed, but merely destemmed and crushed, either entirely or partially, because the red pigment is located in the berry skin. High-quality red wine is created in special barrels, such as barriques.
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is the basis for the production of Sekt, Champagne, and the like.
Fortified wine
The family of fortified wines includes port, sherry, Marsala, Madeira, and many more.
Which wine goes with which food?
Chicken
Dry white wines like Riesling or Grüner Veltliner go best with chicken. Depending on the preparation, chicken dishes can also be accompanied by red wines (e.g., in a Coq-au-vin), such as a Zweigelt or a Blaufränkisch.
Duck
Duck is a very adaptable dish that goes well with a good red wine, from Blaufränkisch to Cabernet Sauvignon. However, a fine, dry Gewürztraminer also tastes excellent (especially when prepared "à l’orange").
Goose
The very flavorful meat of a goose harmonizes with a robust red wine, from Pommard to medium and southern Burgenland Blaufränkisch wines.
Pork
In addition to beer and cider, a young 'heuriger' white wine goes well with pork. For the fillet, a good red wine, from Zweigelt or St. Laurent to Pinot Noir, is also perfectly fine.
Veal
A robust Veltliner, as well as Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, or Neuburger, goes excellently with veal. Those who prefer a red wine can choose between elegant red wines like a Pinot Noir or a St. Laurent.
Steak
A red wine is served with a steak; practically all red wines fit here, with Cabernet Sauvignon being recommended as a classic.
Game
For game, the red wine should be very robust. For game birds or hare, Nebbiolo or Syrah are suitable; for venison, it is best to serve Cabernet Sauvignon or Blaufränkisch.
Fish
For fish such as char, trout, or zander, it is best to serve light white wines like Grüner Veltliner or young Riesling. If fish such as turbot, sole, perch, or catfish are served, more substantial white wines like Riesling Spätlese, Chardonnay, or Pinot Blanc are suitable. Red wines go well with heartier fish; Zweigelt, Beaujolais, or Vernatsch are recommended here. Expressive but dry white wines like Riesling, Pinot Blanc, or Morillon go well with smoked salmon.
Lobster and shellfish
For shellfish and lobster, it is best to serve a Pinot Blanc or Chardonnay, or even a Champagne. If you would like to enjoy oysters with a wine, it is best to choose a white Burgundy (from Austria or Chablis). Oysters also taste very good with Champagne.
Caviar
If you don't want to drink vodka with caviar, you should choose a Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, or Champagne.
Pasta
Pasta naturally goes well with young Italian white wines such as a Ribolla, Malvasia, or a Friulian Tocai. If you tend more towards a red wine, then reach for a Cabernet Franc or a Sangiovese. If you would rather serve an Austrian wine, then it is best to choose a Styrian Sauvignon Blanc or a Zweigelt.
Asparagus
Asparagus goes well with young, fresh, fruity white wines such as a Riesling Federspiel, a Sauvignon Blanc, or a dry-vinified MĂĽller-Thurgau.
Appetizers
For small appetizers, you are always on the right track with a light, dry white wine, such as a Steinfeder from the Wachau or a Styrian Welschriesling, or even a glass of Sekt.
Desserts
There is a huge selection for desserts; here you can choose from Auslese, Eiswein, Trockenbeerenauslese, Ausbruch, Tokaji, Sauternes, and of course port wines. Furthermore, a glass of Sekt or Champagne almost always fits.
Cheese
To find a suitable wine for cheese, you must go by the fat content and the intensity. Depending on this, you choose light or heavy red wines. An expressive white wine or a Beerenauslese also goes very well with goat cheese or blue cheese. Just be careful here, because the more flavorful the cheese is, the more it can change the taste of the wine.
Uncorking a wine bottle
You want to uncork a bottle of Sekt and can't find the opener? That's no problem if you follow this advice: Simply hold the bottle neck under running hot water. The heat will push the cork out. By the way: it also works with a bottle of Sekt!Freezing leftover wine
Simply pour the leftover wine into ice cube trays and freeze it. This way, you always have a splash of wine ready when cooking.
Posted on: 03.01.2012
Read also:Â Finding the right wine refrigerator
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
