Selecting the right wine for a meal can be a pretty difficult task. Often times a great glass of wine can be ruined or made spicy when sipped next to the a meal with competing flavors. This quick guide for how to pair wine with food is a good resource to checkout before your next dinner party so you can be sure to use the right vino while cooking, and serve the best option to your guests.

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Sparkling

A crisp glass of Champagne, Prosecco or Sparking Wine is the perfect compliment for mild fish, starches, vegetables (not roasted), as well as soft and hard cheeses. Many associate a glass of Champagne with dessert, and while theres not a bad time for a glass of bubbly, sparking wines reach their fullest potential when paired with something salty.

Sweet White

Some of the sweeter wine selections including Riesling and Moscato are a nice compliment to soft and hard cheeses or cured meats which is why sweet wines are often served with appetizers like charcuterie and cheese plates. Sweet white wines are also excellent with spicy foods.

Dry White

White Table Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio pair well with any vegetable regardless of it’s preparation, starches and mild fish. Dry white wine is typically good for cooking as well since you want a wine with very little sugar, you might try cooking with dry white wine when preparing lighter foods like chicken, veal, pork and seafood.

Rich White

Chardonnay and other rich white wines are a good choice with seafood since they go nicely with everything from flakey tilapia to shellfish. In addition to fish you wont be disappointed when you pair a rich white wine with soft cheese, starches, white meat, or any creamy dish.

Light Red

Lighter red wines like Pinor Noir are a really nice choice when indulging in crab, lobster or any other savory seafood. These wines also taste great with cured meat, white meat, starches or roasted veggies – especially mushroom driven dishes.

Medium Red

Red Table Wine, Zinfandels and Merlots are great with heavier and full-flavored foods including cured meat, red meat, white meat, starches, hard cheese and roasted vegetables. Opt for a medium red with almost any roasted food and you won’t be disappointed.

Bold Red

Generally speaking, Cabernet Savignon and Malbec are the best choices for rich, hearty meals like a big steak dinner with loaded mashed potatoes. You can count on a bold red wine to taste great with any red meat, starches, and hard cheeses.

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