MATCH IT

The exciting thing about matching food and wine is that there are endless possibilities and no right or wrong answers. Yes, some combinations are going to enhance the food or wine better than others but we definitely encourage experimentation and improvisation. Our food pairing section is not to demand you have one of our chardonnays with blue sea bass braised with leek but instead, make this fun and interesting and in the process give you a few basic pointers so you can start your own food and wine pairing journey.

Pointer 1. The first thing to remember is that wine should always compliment the dish rather than dominate it. So keep in mind the simple idea of light food pairs with a light wine and heavy food with a heavy wine. White wines are of course lighter than reds in flavour and go better with lighter more summery meals. On the other hand, heavier more robust winter meals can handle big, strong red wines better. Listed below are the varieties Seller Door Wines deal with and some individual pairing basics.

Pointer 2. If you like your everyday red or white wine, don’t worry about trying to match the food you are eating with that particular wine. What matters most is that you like how your wine tastes. Not every meal requires the perfect match with a wine.

Pointer 3. For that special bottle of wine, whether it be a gift, an expensive wine, a highly-rated wine, or sentimental wine, plan the meal around that bottle of wine. Let’s say it is a Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Check out our pairing list for Cabernet and then plan your meal. The pairing list is below.

Sauvignon Blanc – white or light fish, mild cheese, fruit
Chardonnay – grilled chicken, salmon, shellfish, and grilled fish, anything with a cream sauce.
Pinot Noir – light meats, chicken, grilled anything, salmon.
Merlot – pasta, red meat, duck, smoked or grilled foods
Zinfandel – tomato pasta dishes, pizza, pesto, red meats, chicken with heavy sauces
Cabernet Sauvignon – red meats, especially a juicy barbequed steak, grilled and smoked foods.
Shiraz – red meats, spicy pizzas, herbed sauces on red meat, turkey, smoked meats
Dry Rosé - salads, pasta salads, BBQ chicken or fish, light spicy foods

Below is a varietal chart for more information on the weights of each wine variety.