Full disclosure: I’m a self-proclaimed “foodie” with an equal passion for great tasting wine.
Wine, when coupled with the right food, can interact, compliment, and truly enhance the entire dining experience.
As a ten year old girl living in Spain, I benefited from an early and unique introduction to the custom of drinking wine. My parents and I would frequent a Spanish family-style restaurant where it was common for children to be included in the entire dining experience. We were often given a tiny glass of Rioja (a dry red table wine) with our meal.
When we returned to the United States, of course, my childhood wine appreciation days were over. (For a few years, anyway.)
As an adult, I began hosting dinner parties and followed the basic rule —“reds go with red meat, and whites with anything light.”
But soon I started to realize — food itself could take on an entirely different taste and feel just by pairing it with a particular wine. Suddenly, the wine became just as important as the food itself.
I began studying the backgrounds of different wine regions around the world, learned the significance of the various varietals, and the challenges of wine-making itself.
I hope you enjoy my series on wines and their best pairings. Feel free to login below with ideas of your own!