Food & Wine

With Almaden's wide selection of wines, we are positive that you will find the perfect wine to serve with your next meal. Pairing food and wine together can seem like a daunting task but with these simple hints, you can be sure you will serve the proper wine with each course.

The old rule of thumb is, serve red wine with red meats and serve white wines with white meats. This is a helpful tip, but there are so many different types of sauces and dishes that this rule only skims the surface of pairing the right wine with your dish.

Here are some simple tips to help you pair wine with your favorite dishes and a few of our favorite recipes.

If the dish is full of spice and strong flavors, such as Cajun, Mexican, or Caribbean, select a wine that has elements of sweetness but is crisp and refreshing. We suggest Almaden Moscato. For heavier dishes, we suggest Almaden Merlot or Burgundy. Try our Simple Spiced Salmon.

If the dish has strong citrus flavors, such as garlic-lime halibut or salmon with lemon sauce, serve an unoaked white wine. We suggest Almaden Chardonnay or Chablis. Try our Fire Roasted Prawns with Grilled Pineapple recipe.

Pair full-bodied reds with rich red meats. Dishes that contain beef or wild game are accompanied nicely by Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon or Burgundy. Try our Italian Beef Stew recipe.

Serve Almaden White Zinfandel or White Merlot as an aperitif paired with a light appetizer such as a crudities platter or with dessert. Try our Fresh Spring Rolls recipe.

When serving lighter meats, such as chicken, turkey or Cornish hens, pair your wine selection with the sauce instead of the meat. The different sauces which are used can greatly change the varietal of wine best served. For lighter sauces, serve with Almaden Chardonnay, Chablis or Moscato. Try our Classic Chicken Dijon recipe.

Pair pastas according to the sauce. For light sauces, such as pasta with olive oil or Linguine with Clams, we suggest a Almaden Chardonnay. For heavier sauces, such as pasta with a spicy tomato sauce or stuffed pasta dishes including Lasagna, we suggest an Almaden Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. Try our Wild Mushroom Fettuccine with Chicken recipe.