Food pairing suggestions for an Italian Merlot?!
Answers:
Merlot is softer tasting than Cabernet Sauvignon due to having less tannins!. It is a smooth, dry wine!. Merlot is often described as having the flavors of boysenberry, black cherry, herbs, and mocha!.
Food and Wine Pairing: Merlot is best with poultry and grilled meats, but actually goes well with most foods!. Italian merlot is surprisngly good with tomato-based pasta sauces, but comes into its own with a lamb chop!. As for cheese, either cheddar (or other similar sharp "English" cheeses) or Blue cheeses (Stilton, Danish Blue, Roquefort) are an excellent pairing!.
Origin: Merlot originates from Bordeaux in France where it is the most commonly planted grape!. You can find many great Merlots from California, Oregon, and Washington!.
(Good red wines tend to be dry and rich, sometimes with a tart or astringent quality!. They will go better with hearty or highly seasoned foods such as beef, pork, game, duck, goose and pasta dishes!. The 'red with red' rule works well because the astringency of the tannins cuts through the viscosity of the fat!. Reach for a tannic Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Petite Syrah or Zinfandel, especially if the meat is served with a heavy sauce!. Rare prime rib tastes almost sweet, so it's perfect with a lighter bodied Merlot or Beaujolais!.)
Edit: This is a list that I go by:
APPETIZERS & STARTERS
ANTIPASTO - Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Malbec
ARTICHOKES - Usually a no no with wine, but I love them with Chardonnay
ASPARAGUS - Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
CARPACCIO (beef) - Pinotage, Shiraz, Shiraz/Pinotage blend, Malbec
CARPACCIO (tuna) - Sauvignon Blanc
CAVIAR - Chenin Blanc, Champagne!
COLD MEATS - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
NUTS AND/OR OLIVES - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
OYSTERS (raw) - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
PASTA SALAD - Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
PASTA WITH CREAM SAUCE - Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
PASTA WITH SHELLFISH - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz
PASTA WITH VEGETABLES - Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinotage, Malbec
PATéS - Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
QUICHE - Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage Rosé, Merlot
SCALLOPS - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
SMOKED FISH (Trout, Herring) - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc
SEAFOOD
CRAB - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
LOBSTER - Chardonnay, Chardonnay/Sauvignon blend, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
MUSSELS - Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
RED SNAPPER - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SALMON - Pinotage Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SASHIMI, SUSHI - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SHRIMP - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
STRIPED BASS - Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
SWORDFISH - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Pinot Grigio
TUNA - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay
OTHER WHITE FISH - Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
MEAT & POULTRY
CHICKEN - Chardonnay, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage
CHICKEN SALAD - Chenin Blanc, Pinotage Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
CHICKEN (smoked) - Pinotage, Merlot, Malbec
DUCK - Pinotage, Merlot, Pinotage Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec
HAM - Shiraz, Merlot, Pinotage, Malbec, Pinotage Rosé
HAMBURGER - Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
LAMB (grilled, broiled) - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage
PHEASANT - Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
QUAIL - Pinotage, Malbec
RABBIT - Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Malbec
SAUSAGE - Chenin Blanc, Pinotage Rosé, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec
STEAK (grilled, broiled) - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
TURKEY - Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinotage Rosé
VEAL - Chardonnay, Merlot
VENISON - Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
COUSCOUS - Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage Rosé
CURRY, FISH or CHICKEN - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage Rosé
PIZZA - Merlot, Pinotage Rosé, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, Malbec
SPICY CHINESE - Savignon Blanc, Pino Grigio, Merlot, Pinotage Rosé
SPICY MEXICAN - Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Malbec
THAI - Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
CHEESES
GOAT
SOFT: Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage
HARD: Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
COW & SHEEP
MEDIUM: Pinotage, Shiraz
HARD: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Sauvignon BlancWww@FoodAQ@Com
Food and Wine Pairing: Merlot is best with poultry and grilled meats, but actually goes well with most foods!. Italian merlot is surprisngly good with tomato-based pasta sauces, but comes into its own with a lamb chop!. As for cheese, either cheddar (or other similar sharp "English" cheeses) or Blue cheeses (Stilton, Danish Blue, Roquefort) are an excellent pairing!.
Origin: Merlot originates from Bordeaux in France where it is the most commonly planted grape!. You can find many great Merlots from California, Oregon, and Washington!.
(Good red wines tend to be dry and rich, sometimes with a tart or astringent quality!. They will go better with hearty or highly seasoned foods such as beef, pork, game, duck, goose and pasta dishes!. The 'red with red' rule works well because the astringency of the tannins cuts through the viscosity of the fat!. Reach for a tannic Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Petite Syrah or Zinfandel, especially if the meat is served with a heavy sauce!. Rare prime rib tastes almost sweet, so it's perfect with a lighter bodied Merlot or Beaujolais!.)
Edit: This is a list that I go by:
APPETIZERS & STARTERS
ANTIPASTO - Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Malbec
ARTICHOKES - Usually a no no with wine, but I love them with Chardonnay
ASPARAGUS - Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
CARPACCIO (beef) - Pinotage, Shiraz, Shiraz/Pinotage blend, Malbec
CARPACCIO (tuna) - Sauvignon Blanc
CAVIAR - Chenin Blanc, Champagne!
COLD MEATS - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
NUTS AND/OR OLIVES - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
OYSTERS (raw) - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
PASTA SALAD - Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
PASTA WITH CREAM SAUCE - Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
PASTA WITH SHELLFISH - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz
PASTA WITH VEGETABLES - Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinotage, Malbec
PATéS - Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
QUICHE - Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage Rosé, Merlot
SCALLOPS - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
SMOKED FISH (Trout, Herring) - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc
SEAFOOD
CRAB - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
LOBSTER - Chardonnay, Chardonnay/Sauvignon blend, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
MUSSELS - Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
RED SNAPPER - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SALMON - Pinotage Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SASHIMI, SUSHI - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SHRIMP - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
STRIPED BASS - Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
SWORDFISH - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Pinot Grigio
TUNA - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay
OTHER WHITE FISH - Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
MEAT & POULTRY
CHICKEN - Chardonnay, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage
CHICKEN SALAD - Chenin Blanc, Pinotage Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
CHICKEN (smoked) - Pinotage, Merlot, Malbec
DUCK - Pinotage, Merlot, Pinotage Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec
HAM - Shiraz, Merlot, Pinotage, Malbec, Pinotage Rosé
HAMBURGER - Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
LAMB (grilled, broiled) - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage
PHEASANT - Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
QUAIL - Pinotage, Malbec
RABBIT - Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Malbec
SAUSAGE - Chenin Blanc, Pinotage Rosé, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec
STEAK (grilled, broiled) - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
TURKEY - Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinotage Rosé
VEAL - Chardonnay, Merlot
VENISON - Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
COUSCOUS - Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage Rosé
CURRY, FISH or CHICKEN - Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage Rosé
PIZZA - Merlot, Pinotage Rosé, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, Malbec
SPICY CHINESE - Savignon Blanc, Pino Grigio, Merlot, Pinotage Rosé
SPICY MEXICAN - Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Malbec
THAI - Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
CHEESES
GOAT
SOFT: Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage
HARD: Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
COW & SHEEP
MEDIUM: Pinotage, Shiraz
HARD: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Sauvignon BlancWww@FoodAQ@Com
Any tomato based pasta dish would be great!. I think it goes well with some cheeses so a nice vegetable lasagna maybe!? But my personal wine mantra is that any wine you like will go with any food you like!. So make your favorite dish!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Red wine, red meat, red sauce etc!.
White wine, white meat, white sauce!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
White wine, white meat, white sauce!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Try some with a nice grilled Langoustine!. Magnifique!Www@FoodAQ@Com