BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Wine altering tastes...

So I was having some white zinfandel before dinner tonight...it tasted fine - im not really a wine person but my brother had it out - I had some after dinner - same bottle - and it tatsed horrible it had this nasty bite. almost like the spider in a beer or the very last dregs of the bottle (which this wasnt)

Are there certain foods that can alter the chemistry in your mouth to make the taste of the wine alter that much?

Yes, absolutely. Eating food can dramatically change the way wine tastes. Some foods will change its flavor depending upon the wine you are drinking.

Often when hosting wine tastings I suggest that people taste the wine first without food, then with some specific foods.

I'm really interested in learning more about what foods to pair with what kind of wines. Any suggestions of online sites that might have "wine pairing for dummies" info for me?

Yes, there is are charts located here at Bella Wine.
Pop on over to http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1551.asp

Thanks Paula!

That is exactly what I'm looking for. I just saved that article to my favorites folder on my computer. Now I won't be embarassed when people come over for dinner and I have no idea what to serve them! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Some ways to show food and wine pairing: Try a red wine-maybe a pinot noir-you'll notice how spicy it is. you then want to take a bite of a strawberry and then sip your wine-notice how the wine really smooths out!!!
Another favorite is merlot and chocolate. Take a sip of your merlot then eat some chocolate-even M&M's will do fine. These simple food show how food and wine pairings really make a difference!!!
Of course then you can move into the grilled lamb and pair it with a shiraz or a big thick steak w/gorgonzola paired with a heavy bodied cabernet sauvignon.
And for Thanksgiving-buy a PINOT NOIR. this goes great with the turkey. In fact Pinot Noirs are the most food friendly reds-they go with chicken, duck, heavy fishes as well as the red meats. So if in doubt-going to someones house for dinner and you don't know what they are serving-choose a Pinot Noir.
Cheers!
Linda

Thanks Linda! That info is perfect. I was thinking about bringing a bottle of wine to Thanksgiving and had no idea what to get. I feel like most of my friends like red wine, so I wasn't sure what to get.

This is sort of a random question... do most people - who know a lot about wine - usually have their favorite or do they try to have what is most appropriate for their meal?

Thanks Linda! That info is perfect. I was thinking about bringing a bottle of wine to Thanksgiving and had no idea what to get. I feel like most of my friends like red wine, so I wasn't sure what to get.

This is sort of a random question... do most people - who know a lot about wine - usually have their favorite or do they try to have what is most appropriate for their meal?

I'm bad- I choose the wine I feel like drinking that night- then I choose my meal. But I do love the dinners that we do food/wine pairing. On my mother's birthday we had Cape Cod lobster and paired it with a very buttery chardonnay.
Other occasions have been pot a feu and had a red Bordeaux.
In the end it's what you like-no rules. You want to make you happy.
I'm also a red wine lover so.. if I am having fish I usually choose a/the lighter Pinot noir or if I'm having steak I choose a Shiraz or red Zin ect.
Cheers!
Linda

Hi Linda,
I think that is a good life lesson - and a great rule for wine pairing as well <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Raleigh