Choosing the right wine is essential if you care about being a host. Some prefer white, others red. Some will tend to go for an Alsace wine, while others would instead opt for a Loire wine. So how do I choose the best wine for my evening and satisfy everyone? The best bet is to consider the occasion and food and wine pairings – although planning to buy Bordeaux wine is always a good option.
Of course, wine is always a matter of personal preference, but to taste it and appreciate it at best, you might as well associate it with the dish that corresponds to it.
Basic guidelines to follow
For shellfish and seafood, choose a dry white or a crémant (or why not go the whole hog and serve Champagne!). For example, Pinot Blanc d’Alsace, or a Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Blanc. For fish, turn to full-bodied white wine, such as a Chardonnay or a Roussanne.
If you are planning to serve white meat (chicken or turkey), opt for a light red like Pinot Noir, while for red meats, you may prefer a relatively robust red wine. And for desserts, choose a sweet wine. Each beef and fish have a wine that will go perfectly with it, do not hesitate to ask your wine merchant for advice.
Aperitif
Before the meal, it is advisable to choose a sweeter wine so that your taste buds stay awake to taste the dinner to come. It is therefore recommended to choose a dry or intense white, or for lovers of red, a reasonably light red. Why not choose a wine from the Loire Valley (Chenin), a wine from the Jura (Poulsard), or even a wine from Alsace (Riesling)?
For Asian meals
Asian meals, whether Chinese, Thai, or Japanese, are associated with spices and a sweet/salty flavor combination. Sake is an excellent choice for Japanese food, but wines high in acidity work very well with most Asian cuisines.
Choose a semi-dry white, such as Vouvray (Loire Valley) or Jurançon, for a wine from the South-West. An excellent Chablis de Bourgogne will also do the job very well.
To serve with snacks
If you’re not planning to eat a lot but serve appetizers and hors d’ oeuvres with good wine, we recommend turning to a crisp dry white such as Crémant d’Alsace or Chardonnay.
To avoid a hangover the next day, it is advisable to choose natural wines, that is to say, without sulphites and rather sweet wines. And above all, alternate wine and water, it’s a good remedy!
With a limited budget
If you don’t have much money, you can still enjoy a good bottle of wine from time to time. You can find good bottles for under £10, so spending a fortune is unnecessary.
Good advice, do plenty of online research, and don’t hesitate to use a wine merchant who will be able to advise you according to your budget.
