Wine Pairings - Large Plates Edition
WINE PAIRINGS
Wine Pairings – Large Plates Edition
Do you consider yourself a ‘winer and diner’ yet never quite actually know what wines go well with what foods?
Well, this is where we come in. Never feel intimidated again by that long list of wines that greet you as you sit down to enjoy your meal.
We want you to release your inner wine snob and to be as confident as a wine connoisseur, after reading our tips and pairings below:
So, let’s start with the basics, for when it comes to food parings:
1. White wines such as a Chardonnay or Pinot Noir pair best with light-intensity meats such as fish or chicken
2. Bitter red wines such as a Cabernet Sauvignon are best to be balanced with fatty foods
3. Red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Sangiovese for example pair best with bold flavoured meats (e.g., red meat).
4. It is always best to match the wine with the sauce rather than the type of meat.
Here’s a bit more information on the different types of wines:
1. Chardonnay has more body, and is usually not too acidic
2. Pinot Noir is a lighter bodied wine (for a red) and isn’t too bitter
3. Sauvignon Blanc is a light-bodied wine however has a higher level of acidity
4. Cabernet Sauvignon has more body and has a higher level of acidity
If you are looking at ordering our Ora King Salmon
A general rule for pairing salmon with wine is to opt for a full body white wine such as our very own Pocketwatch Sauvignon Blanc or Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay. As our Salmon is paired with a lemon dill yogurt dressing the best option to pair with this dish would be a Chardonnay such as our Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay. Not to mention that a Chardonnay also pairs well with the corn in this dish.
Or if you’re not a fan of white wines you can easily pair some salmon with a rose such as our Days of Rose, or a light-bodied red wine such as our Stonier Pinot Noir or Josef Chromy Pinot Noir.
If you are looking at ordering our 300GM Scotch Fillet
This cut of meat is one of the richest and tastiest cuts of steak however tends to have a higher fat content. To help balance out the fatty content this requires a wine that has bitter/ acidic tones to it. A great pairing for this dish would be a Rymill Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon.
If you are looking at ordering our Prawn Spaghettini
This is a job for the white wines as usually middle-weight white wines are the way to go for most seafood-based pastas, unless there is tomato as well, then a nice rose is best. A few white wines that could pair well with this dish include Taku Pinot Gris or Grant Burge East Argyle Pinot Gris.
If you are looking at ordering our Potato & Parmesan Gnocchi
Most wines pair beautifully with a cheese-based sauce, so instead think of this as an opportunity to try some more texture-based wine pairings. For example, a white wine such as our Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige will help bring out the creaminess in the dish. A brut champagne works especially well with this dish as it is a drier wine it will help enhance the flavours.
Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life's most civilized pleasures. We would love all our customers to be able to enjoy the balance of a good wine with our beautifully curated menu. We hope that this guide has helped you gain more understanding of the best wines to pair with your meals but if not, our friendly staff will be more than happy to share their expertise.
