If you’re keen to make an impression with your own efforts in the kitchen, it never hurts to get some advice from an expert. Elizabeth Kelly, Master of Wine and Wine Buyer at Majestic, shares some tips on choosing your wines to bring out the very best in your food.
DOES COST MATTER?
In terms of price point – there will be a great bottle to suit everyone and still impress guests, however the £8-10 mark tends to be where you can get the best value for money. Bear in mind that regions that are more commonly known – i.e. Burgundy, Bordeaux – tend to command a more premium price tag, given their popularity, but a good wine merchant should be able to suggest some wonderful lesser-known regions that offer good value for money and will certainly impress your guests this Autumn.
FOOD PAIRING TIPS
Whilst there are many suggestions around food and wine pairings, there really is no hard and fast rule because everyone has different tastes. If you don’t like a wine, even if it really pairs with a food, in theory, it might not be for you.
However, there are reasons why some food and wine pairings come about. If you have a light wine with really rich food then it’s less likely that you will be able to taste the notes of the wine. Matching similar intensity in food and wine instead helps create a balance. If you’re eating fish and only drink Red, try to find something lower in tannins and lighter, like Pinot Noir. If you like steak and only drink White – why not choose a richer, fuller bodied White – e.g. an oaked, warm climate wine or a Viognier?
High acidity in wine helps to cleanse the palate with richer foods that might be higher in fat, e.g. fish and chips which are nicely balanced by the acidity in Champagne. If you have a sweeter dish you will want to make sure that the wine is sweeter than the food otherwise it can seem quite thin.
Rosé is also a great wine to pair with food, often it has more weight than White wine, but more freshness and acidity than Reds. It goes well with ‘in between’ dishes, such as roast pork, Asian dishes or Mediterranean vegetarian food.”
For a full range of wines this festive season visit www.majestic.co.uk
Photos courtesy of Majestic wines. This article was published in the Autumn issue of My Soho Times. CLICK HERE to view it online!
Read more from My Soho Times:
Share your thoughts in the comment box below!
Get social with us – follow and tag us! @mysohotimes #MySohoTimes
Sign up to receive the latest issue of our magazine straight to your inbox!
Plus, we’ll share the latest news, events, and discounts from our partners in and around Soho in a MONTHLY newsletter… Ready to join the club?
MY SOHO TIMES 
One thought on “Preparing for the Dinner Party Season: Wine & Dine | My Soho Times”