#rulesareforbreaking

With Valentine’s Day & weekend right around the corner I thought it might be fun to think of some quick and easy food parings for you and yours. Nothing can be more impressive than a meal or dessert paired with what you explain as the perfect match!

I know what you are thinking…Valentine’s Day food parings that’s easy! The biggest candy and chocolate marketed holiday of the year screams for a sweet and savory wine to go with.

You are absolutely correct…chocolate and wine make a marvelous pairing. They can be a great complementary union no matter what your wine preference is! Dessert wine on one hand would go well with a sweet and simple creamy milk chocolate. I on the other hand prefer a darker chocolate with my dry reds. The complement is still there because you are coupling a “bitter” chocolate with a non-sweet wine. Try a dark rich chocolate and a deep bold red such as Shiraz, Cabernet, or Chianti.  

Keep it simple when it comes to dinner! The most popular choice for Valentine’s dinners is probably steak and seafood.

If you are going with a bold flavor such as steak, pair your wine to match. A delicate white probably wouldn’t hold its own to the strong flavors, but an equally intense red wine with its complexity and full body certainly would. Try a robust Cabernet, Merlot, or Zinfandel.

When it comes to seafood the traditional route is to serve white. But I really think it depends on the type of fish, the sauce, and other components of the meal. With a buttery and creamy based fish I fall into an oaky classic like Chardonnay or our Country Heritage Oaked LaCrescent. Again we are going back to complementing flavors. Flaky white fish with simple flavors like lemon or light breading I would pair with an equally dainty wine such as Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc. With tuna or salmon I would go a little darker like a soft rose.

 So don’t be scared of the “food and wine pairing rules.” Rules are meant to be broken! And at the end of the day the best pairing will always be eating what YOU like with what YOU like to drink.

 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

 Salute!