15 Rules for Great Wine and Food Pairings

Silky whites — like many Chardonnays from California, Chile, or Australia — are delicious with hearty fish like swordfish or any kind of seafood in a rich sauce.

Champagne: Perfect with Anything Salty

Many dry sparkling wines, such as brut Champagne and Spanish cava, actually have a faint touch of fruity sweetness. This makes them extra-refreshing when served with salty foods. They also cut through the richness and oil of fried dishes: Bubbly and a bowl of potato chips is terrific.

• More Champagne Ideas

Cabernet Sauvignon: Fabulous with Juicy Red Meat

California Cabernet, Bordeaux, and Bordeaux-style blends are terrific with steaks and lamb dishes. The firm tannins in Cab cut through the fat and protein, which in turn smooth out the tannins. It's a perfect symbiotic relationship in each bite.

Sauvignon Blanc: Goes with Tart Dressings and Sauces

Tangy foods — like scallops with a grapefruit-onion salad — won't overwhelm zippy wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Vinho Verde from Portugal, and Verdejo from Spain. Sauvignon Blanc also works well alongside vinaigrette, roasted or sautéed fish, and goat cheese.

Dry Rosé: For Rich, Cheesy Dishes

Some cheeses go better with white wine and some sing alongside red. Almost all, however, pair well with dry rosé, which has the acidity of white wine and the fruit character of red. Rosé also works well with grilled fish, fresh salad, and even a big plate of charcuterie.

• More Grilled Cheese Recipes

Pinot Grigio: Pairs with Light Fish Dishes

Light seafood dishes seem to take on more flavor when matched with equally delicate white wines, such as Pinot Grigio or Arneis from Italy, Chablis from France, and Vinho Verde from Portugal.

Malbec: Holds Up to Sweet-Spicy Barbecue Sauces

Malbec, Shiraz, and Côtes-du-Rhône are bold enough to drink alongside foods brushed with heavily spiced barbecue sauces — just be careful that the sauce isn't too sugary-sweet, which can throw off the wine's fruit.

Moscato d'Asti: Loves Fruit Desserts

Sweet sparkling wines such as Moscato d'Asti and demi-sec Champagne help emphasize the fruit in the dessert, rather than the sugar. Try it with these Honeyed Fig Crostatas. It's also delicious alongside a simple summer fruit salad, or even splashed into it.

• Wine Essentials

Syrah: For Highly Spiced Dishes

When a meat is heavily seasoned, look for a red wine with lots of spicy notes. Syrah from Washington or France's Rhône Valley, Cabernet Franc from the Loire, and Xinomavro from Greece are all good choices. Be careful with spice heat, however: For hot dishes like those, try to avoid high-alcohol wines, which will amplify the sizzle.

Grüner Veltliner: Pairs with Fresh Herbs and Vegetables

Austrian Grüner Veltliner's citrus-and-clover scent is lovely when there are lots of fresh herbs in a dish. Other go-to grapes include Albariño from Spain and Vermentino from Italy.

• Dishes with Dark, Leafy Greens to Pair with a Light Red Wine

Zinfandel: For Pâtés, Mousses, and Terrines

If you can apply the same adjectives to a wine and a dish, pairing them will often work. For instance, the words "rustic," "savory," or "rich" are often used to describe Zinfandel, Italy's Nero d'Avola, and Spain's Monastrell, as well as a creamy liver mousse. Spice- and fruit-driven Zinfandel also has a natural affinity for barbecued or sauce-slathered meats.

Off-Dry Riesling: Pairs with Sweet and Spicy Dishes

The slight sweetness of many Rieslings, Gewürztraminers, and Vouvrays helps tame the heat of spicy dishes and goes toe-to-toe with the lift of more aromatic ingredients. A spicy green salad is a delicious partner for any of those wines.

Rosé Champagne: Great with Dinner, Not Just Hors d'Oeuvres

Rosé sparkling wines, such as rosé Champagne, Prosecco rosé, and pink sparkling wine from California, have the depth of flavor, richness, and mouthwatering acidity to go with a wide range of main courses. Grilled tuna, lamb chops, and this Beet Risotto are all phenomenal with it.

• Best California Wines

Old World Wines: Made for Old World Dishes

The flavors of foods and wines that have developed together over the centuries — Tuscan recipes and Tuscan wines, for instance — are almost always a natural fit; it's an offshoot of the old wine-pairing advice that if it grows together, it goes together. This Pappardelle with Veal Ragù pairs well with a medium-bodied Chianti, as it has for generations.

• Cooking With Red Wine