While there are genuine experts in the art of matching
wine and food, tastes vary and there's lots of room for innovation, and
individual preferences. Just the same, there are some basic guidelines
which are often helpful in getting off on the right foot.
There's an amazing variety of wines from Spain, with wines to go with just about
anything. When looking for wine-food combinations don't forget to include
young reds, sherry (especially fino and manzanilla), moscatel sweet dessert
wines, and of course cava, Spain's splendid bubbly.
The Basics
| Type of Food |
Recommended Wines |
Wines to Avoid |
| Fish and shellfish |
Dry white, cava |
Aged reds |
| Pasta, casseroles, rice |
Rosés, light reds |
Full-bodied reds |
| Chicken and veal |
Rosés, light reds, cava |
Aged reds |
| Meat, stews and cheese |
Aged reds |
Young, fruity whites |
| Appetizers |
Cava, dry sherry |
Aged Reds |
| Vegetables |
Young, fruity whites |
Aged Reds |
| Soups and cold cuts |
Semi-sweet whites |
Most Reds |
Spanish Combinations
| Food/Dish |
Recommended Wines |
Comments |
| Paella |
"crianza" & young reds, rosés |
Reds are probably best, but rosés are fine with lighter paellas |
| Roast lamb |
Medium-aged "crianza" reds |
Typical dish in Rioja and Ribera del Duero |
| Tortilla |
White wines with body, rosés |
This is the genuine Spanish omelette |
| Serrano ham, chorizo sausage |
Semi-sweet whites, dry sherry |
Also try cava or oloroso sherry |
Problem Foods
| Food/Dish |
Why |
Some Ideas |
| Salads |
Vinegar "fights" most wines |
Use lemon instead of vinegar. Cavas, aged whites and dry sherry can work
with vinegar. |
| Spicy, hot food |
Spiciness overpowers most wines |
Fino or manzanilla sherry holds up to the spice |
| Artichokes and asparagus |
Flavor incompatible with most wines |
Young whites or rosés are OK with asparagus. Avoid artichokes. |
Spanish Wines to Match
| Type of Wine |
Producing Regions |
| Young, fruity whites |
Rueda, Albariño, Penedès, Somontano |
| Semi-sweet whites |
Alella, Valencia (moscatel) |
| Rosés |
Navarra, Penedès, Valencia |
| Young reds |
Rioja, Penedès, Somontano, Valencia |
| "Crianza" reds |
Rioja, Penedès, Somontano, Ribera del Duero |
| "Reserva" reds |
Rioja, Penedès, Somontano, Ribera del Duero, Navarra, La Mancha |
PS: Enjoy!
