1. 1
MATCHING FOOD AND WINE
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Listed below are some of the general guidelines for matching food and wine. While these
guidelines give a broad idea of what wine goes well with what food, and vice versa, it is
no way final and binding. These guidelines provide knowledge enough to avoid
disastrous combination when one is setting a menu. The individual taste of the guest is
always primary to the choice of wine, and the guest should have a final word on what he
chooses to drink with what food.
1. White wines before rose wines, followed by reds.
2. Light bodied wines before full bodied.
3. Dry wines before sweet.
4. White and rose wines with white meats.
5. Rose and red wines with red meats.
6. Sparkling wines before still, except for dessert.
7. Wine to complement the character of the food, and vice versa.
8. Do not serve red wines for food cooked in white wine, and white wine with food
cooked in red.
9. Avoid heavy character wines with delicately flavored food.

2. 10. Avoid wines with tangy foods, including vinegar, lemon and sour tomato.
11. Avoid wines with chocolate as it coats the tongue, and deadens the character of the
wine.
12. Vintage and rare wines are had best by themselves.
MATCHING FOOD DRINK
DISH WINE & SPIRIT
Before dinner Brandy
Campari
St. Raphel
Vermouth
Pernod
Hors d’oeuvre
Caviar Vodka
Champagne
Oysters Chablis
Champagne
Smoked salmon Moselle
Graves
Charcuterie Rose d’Anjou
Escargots Aligote
Crab Riesling
Pate de foie gras Alsace whites
Sherry
Sauternes
Grapefruit Oloroso sherry
Melon frappe Oloroso sherry
Asperges Chardonnay
Hors d’oeuvre varies Bordeaux whites
Soup
Consommes Dry sherry
Turtle soup Dry Madeira
Gazpacho Manzanilla sherry
Cream soups Burgundy whites

3. DISH WINE & SPIRIT
Bisque Medium sherry
Bouillabaise Provence reds
Meats
Roast beef or lamb Clarets
Burgundy reds
Roast pork or veal Hock
Roast chicken Clarets
Roast duck Burgundy reds
Poached chicken Burgundy whites
Roast suckling pig Burgundy reds
Roast game birds Burgundy reds
Shiraz
Pheasant Rhone
Valpolicella
Amarone
Grilled steak Clarets
Bardolino
Grilled pork chop Alsace
Moselle
Grilled lamb cutlet Bordeaux whites
Fried veal escalopes Moselle
Tournedos chasseurs Burgundy reds
Game bird pies Rhone reds
Beef Wellington Clarets
DISH WINE & SPIRIT
Sweets and Desserts
Peach Melba Sauternes
Charlotte Russe Sauternes
Omelet souffle Asti Spumante
Gateau Sauternes
Apple Tokay
Grapes Sweet Madeira
Peaches Sauternes

4. DISH WINE & SPIRIT
Cheshire Burgundy
Strawberries Sauternes
Clarets
Champagne
Stilton Port
Nuts Vintage Port
Christmas pudding Muscat Chianti
de Beaume Venise
Cheese
Brie English Beaune
whites
Coffee Brandy
Graves
Liqueurs
Port
Camembert English whites
Graves
After dinner Benedictine
Roquefort Sancerre
Kirsch
Cognac
Armagnac
Creme de banane
Creme de cacao
Creme de menthe
Drambuie
Galliano
Kummel
Tia Maria
Triple Sec
Cointreau
Peter Herring
Anisette
Maraschino
Tokay
Gruyere Beaune
Sauternes
Moselle
Cheddar Burgundy
Clarets