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Creating Flavor Connections & Bridges

Anyone can discover flavors in a wine. You can do this by tasting and savoring the aromas, reading the label on the bottle or checking the winery's tasting notes online.
The next step in making a great pairing is to build a 'flavor bridge.' This is simply a connection between flavors in the wine and flavors in the food. For instance, a tart, 'grapefruity' Sauvignon Blanc pairs nicely with a crisp salad sprinkled with grapefruit sections. A full-bodied Pinot Noir with hints of plum could be paired with pork loin and a plum reduction sauce. Anyone can discover flavors in a wine. You can do this by tasting and savoring the aromas, reading the label on the bottle or checking the winery's tasting notes online.

You can also find other connections between wine and food.

Photo: Chris Berggren/Sonoma Custom Image
A Chardonnay with aromas of pear works well with a simple pear salad, but pears also go well with ginger. So choosing a recipe that incorporates ginger - a halibut with ginger butter, for instance , is another option. By adding a bit of the Chardonnay you'll be serving to the ginger butter, goes one step further to balancing the food and wine. (Pan-Seared Halibut with a Chardonnay-Ginger Butter)


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