How to Choose Wine for Your Food
A clear guide to choosing wine to go with your meal: meat, fish, sushi, pasta, cheese or vegan dishes. Make a quick decision and get it right without any hassle.
You sit down at the table. The food is ready. You’re in the mood. And then the question arises: which wine should I open?
The good news is that you don’t need to know anything about wine to get it right. With two or three simple rules, you can make the right choice in seconds.
Here’s a straightforward guide to help you decide quickly and get it right, both for yourself and for whoever you’re dining with.
Which wine goes well with red meat?
A full-bodied red. Don’t hold back here.
Red meat is robust, juicy and rich. If the wine is light, it gets lost. You need something that can keep up.
What works:
- Ribera del Duero
- Rioja Crianza or Reserva
- Priorat if you’re looking for more intensity
Which white wine should you choose for fish?
A crisp white wine that leaves your palate feeling clean.
Fish is a more delicate dish. The wine should complement it without overpowering it.
What works:
Quick tip: If the dish is simple, go for Albariño or Verdejo. If it has a sauce or is more substantial, a Godello is better.
What wine goes well with sushi?
Freshness is key here.
Sushi is subtle, but it has acidity and contrast. If the wine is too heavy, it upsets the balance. If it’s too light, it falls short.
What works:
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Albariño
- Cava Brut Nature
Quick tip: If you don’t know what to order or there’s a bit of everything, open a bottle of cava. It goes with almost anything and takes the pressure off.
Which wine should you choose for pasta and pizza?
It’s not the pasta. It’s the sauce.
You can have the same dish and need different wines. It all depends on how it’s prepared.
What works:
- Tomato → light reds (Garnacha, Chianti)
- Cream or cheese → fuller-bodied whites (Chardonnay)
Quick tip: If you see red on the plate, think red wine. If it’s creamy, better to go for white.
What wine to drink with an aperitif?
Something simple. Something you can enjoy without thinking too much about it.
The aperitif is that moment when you say “just one…” and it drags on. The wine should complement the food without demanding attention.
What works:
Quick tip: If there’s a bit of everything on the table, open a bottle of cava. It goes with almost anything and lets you focus on what matters.
Which wine to choose for cheese?
It depends on the cheese. Always.
Not all cheeses are in the same league. A mild cheese gets lost with a powerful wine. A mature cheese needs something that can keep up with it.
What works:
- Mild cheeses → white or light reds
- Mature cheeses → full-bodied reds
- Blue cheeses → sweet wines
Quick tip: If you’re putting together a mixed cheese board, open a bottle of sparkling wine. It goes with everything without any fuss.
Which wine goes with vegan food?
Forget the label. Look at the dish.
It’s all about how it’s cooked. A roasted vegetable is a world away from a curry or a stew.
What works:
- Roasted vegetables → light reds
- Spicy dishes → aromatic whites
- Legumes → smooth reds
Quick tip: Think about the flavour, not whether it’s vegan. That’ll get you to the right wine faster.
You’ve now got a clear idea of what to go for based on what you’re eating. Now comes the best part: opening the bottle.
If you want to speed things up, go for selections by type of food and choose wine without overthinking it.