“What is a Sparkling Shiraz?” Goes without saying that this bright red is produced using Shiraz, or ‘Syrah’ grape variety. (It’s the same grape. While the name Shiraz is typically used in Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada and South American countries, Syrah is used in France.) For those who have never tried a Shiraz wine … Continue reading What Is The Best Sparkling Shiraz Food Pairing?→

One of the most impressive aspects of my visit to Toronto last week was the fact that almost every restaurant suggested a well chosen wine pairing against the dishes they served. Here are the ones that stood out for me: White wines There’s some good Chardonnay and Pinot Gris/Grigio in Canada but Riesling was the … Continue reading 10 Top Canadian Wine Pairings→

  You know how difficult it is to find a good wine and cheese match? Well here are five I’ve recently tasted that hit the spot perfectly. Four were at a tasting at the recent Bristol Wine Fair that was conducted by the food and wine writer Andrea Leeman. The other was a serendipitous one … Continue reading Five Great Cheese And Wine Pairings→

Scallops are some of the most delicious seafood around and some of the most flattering to a serious white wine. There’s one grape variety that will almost always see you right but also some other options Grilled or seared scallops Searing scallops enhances their sweetness and makes them a sure-fire match with chardonnay. Almost any … Continue reading Top Wine Pairings With Scallops→

People occasionally ask me my favourite cheese – an impossible question but Vacherin Mont d’Or is certainly up there in the top 5. It’s made either side of the Franco/Swiss border under slightly different names* between September and March and is a washed rind cheese with a wonderfully fluid texture. It’s always presented in a … Continue reading What Are The Best Wine Pairings For Vacherin Mont D’or/Vacherin Du Haut-Doubs?→

Properly pairing wine with food can truly transform a meal. A simple sea bass paired with a lovely Sauvignon Blanc is delightful, or even better, a beautiful steak paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon. We’ve found throughout our research that chocolate (as well as artichoke, asparagus, Brussel sprouts and green beans), despite what many people think, is difficult … Continue reading Infographic: Guide to Pairing Wine & Food→

Photo credits: Matching Food & Wine Wine and Curry. A combination that could be wonderful or disastrous. Choosing what to drink with your favourite Indian dish is a tricky business and the very best method is by trial and error. There are so many variables when it comes to Indian cooking – what meat is being used, how spicy the dish … Continue reading Pairing Wine and Curry→

Amontillado sherry has richer, nuttier flavours than a classic fino or manzanilla sherry and calls for different food matches. Think more in terms of cured meat, game and cheese than seafood and richer, meatier tapas. Which match works best depends on the level of sweetness. An inexpensive medium-dry amontillado will tend to suggest different pairings … Continue reading The Best Pairings For Amontillado And Palo Cortado Sherry→

As it’s both Bonfire Night and British Sausage Week this week there’s a fair chance that you’ll be eating bangers of some kind, so what’s the best pairing? As always it depends on the sausage but I personally find that beer and cider are just as good partners as wine. Sausage and mash The quintessential … Continue reading Top Wine (And Other) Matches For Sausages→

Even if not well-hung, as it rarely is these days, pheasant has a stronger flavour than other feathered game such as partridge or duck. And older, tougher birds are often braised or pot-roasted which calls for a more robust wine match still. Here are my suggestions: For simply roast pheasant served with its pan juices … Continue reading The Best Wine Pairings For Pheasant→