All Purpose Wines for Food Pairing

 By Linda Bramble

There are three types of wine that will pair with just about any food and can take you through any meal:  For the first course start with a wine that is low in alcohol with a touch of sweetness. These go especially well with barbecued dishes basted with a sweet sauce. Look for off-dry Rieslings, Chenin Blancs or Muscats.  

A red wine for the entrée?  Look for reds that are low in tannin --- Gamay Noir or Beaujolais , Pinot Noir, Valpolicella, Sangiovese or Chianti, Grenache or Tempranillo.  

For dessert go Port side.  Port and port-styled wines are rich and sweet, fortified with enough alcohol to stand up to anything decadent like truffles or crème caramel.  

So next time someone hands you the wine list, don’t panic, you can’t go wrong letting these types of wines get you through the meal and please at the table.