Two easy rules for food and wine-pairing beginners, and some vegetarian selections to start tasting.
Wines bottles usually mention the flavour and sweetness of the wine, along with a brief note about food pairing; something like “serve with red meat or lamb” or the more modern “brie cheese and fruit”. Rarely are vegetarian dishes mentioned, and vegan recommendations are rarely, if ever, included.
Guest writer Chris Inns is Assistant Winemaker at Stonechurch Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Chris has agreed to lend his wine pairing expertise to the vegetarian bunch, noting “The goal is simple: you want the wine to taste good with the food.”
The First Rule: Strength
Imagine the taste of a fresh garden salad with light dill dressing. Now imagine the same flavour consumed with espresso or very strong coffee; the coffee would dominate the taste of the salad and overpower the elegant dressing.
The first rule of wine pairing is strength. The food and wine should have roughly the same strength of flavour. Many big, full-bodied red wines are so powerful that they would crush a light salad. Try a light to medium bodied white, or a light, fruity red.
The Second Rule: Synergy
Now imagine sipping a tall icy glass of lemonade while munching on slices of white bread dipped in mustard. Why the bad taste?
Despite similar strength, these flavours do not match. Matching flavours is more difficult because it requires practice and that the taster knows both the flavour of the dish and of the wine. This ability comes with time and experience, but it is not difficult. Cooks have already started to develop this skill. An experienced chef would never put mustard in a pan of brownies, but might try adding a touch of cinnamon for a change. With practice, the same intuition will develop for wine.
Vegetarian Foods
Tastings conducted at wineries tend to offer limited or no vegetarian fare. When hosting a wine party, then, be sure to include plenty of vegetarian foods for everyone to try. This is a fantastic opportunity for non-vegetarians to test their palates in more ways than one!
Try a variety of appetizers or light options, like:
- Vegetarian Antipasto
- Barbecue Tofu
- Chipotle Chili (served in individual ramekins or cups)
- Sun-dried Tomato Olive Oil Pasta
- Gnocchi with Fresh Tomatoes
- A simple selection of cheeses, greens, and crackers
Mastered the basics? Learn the next steps in choosing a vegetarian wine.
Chris Inns welcomes additional questions about vegetarian food and wine pairing. He can be reached via email at c.inns@hotmail.com.
