Red wine is for red meat and white wine is for white meat, right? We are not so sure about that. For this Myth of the Month, we are going to look at this statement and let you know if it is accurate!

Rather than just assume that red wine only goes with red meat and white wine only goes with white meat, there are some of the other things to consider when deciding on a pairing.

Acidity:

Another thing to consider is the acidity and bitterness of both the wine and dish you are looking to pair with. When pairing make sure the acidity of the wine you taste, is at least equal to the acidity tasted from the dish.

Acidic wines can pair with fatty and sweet foods, but you can also pair acidic foods with acidic wine!

To try this out pair a Missouri Traminette with a spicy Asian dish, or a curry!

Fat:

With foods that have higher levels of fat, you have to even out the fat with acidity from your wine. The acidity in the wine will cut through the fat. You can also try and match the richness of the fat with the amount of alcohol in the wine.

To see how an acidic wine cuts through the fat of a dish try out a Missouri Chardonel with bacon mac and cheese.

Salt:

Food with a dominant salt taste can be challenging to pair. Try out a sweet wine. The sweetness of the wine will help cut through the salt. You can also try pairing with a more acidic wine. The acidity of the wine can clean out the salt and balance the dish.

Sweet and salty is always a winning duo. Try out a Missouri Concord with orange chicken! For the acidity route try out a Missouri Norton with a smoked meat.

Spice:

Foods that are on the spicier side can be challenging to pair with wine. A safe option is to remember that sweet cuts the heat. Next time you are pairing a wine with a spicy dish, consider finding a sweeter wine to use.

For example, a Missouri Vignoles with spicy pork ribs is sure to be delicious!

Sweetness:

If you have a sweeter dish, you have a few things to consider for pairing with a wine. If it is a dessert, be sure that the wine is sweeter than the dessert. If it is not a dessert, then a richer wine is a great option for pairing.

For pairing with sweetness in mind try out a Missouri Catawba with sweet barbecue chicken.

Red wine and white meat, white wine and red meat. It can happen! Be sure to consider these things when deciding on a pairing. Also check out our pairing guide here.

Wine is made for enjoying, and it can be enjoyed in a new and exciting way when paired with a dish. While there are definite recommendations for pairings, you can always try your own and decide how you like it.

Let us know what you like to pair with Missouri Wines using #mowine