The Perfect Pairing: Combining Wine with Fruit Flavors and Fresh Fruits

Dear Dr. Vinny,

Recently I was drinking a red wine with aromas and flavors of black and red berries. I had blackberries and raspberries at home and decided to try them with the wine. I was pleasantly surprised by how well they went together! Yet no one talks about this type of match. Why is that?

—Michael, Newport Beach, Calif.

Dear Michael,

You made a keen observation! Pairing wines with fruit flavors and aromas with actual fruit aligns with a fundamental principle of food and wine pairing: matching the flavors and intensity of the wine to the food’s characteristics. Conversely, contrasting flavors can also create delightful pairings.

For example, strawberries often pair wonderfully with sparkling wines that exhibit similar notes. Fresh or dried fruits can enhance salads—typically challenging to pair with wine—making the overall dish much more enjoyable. I personally relish including fruit on my cheese boards, favoring accompaniments like apples, grapes, and guava paste. These elements enhance the wine’s fruit flavors and elevate the fruit’s taste.

When considering fruit with wine, it’s crucial to keep sweetness in mind. Fruits usually have high sugar and acidity levels, and sweet foods are best paired with wines of equal or higher sweetness. For instance, pairing a sweet and tart berry with a very dry, tannic wine could extract bitterness in both the wine and the fruit. Still, if you find joy in a particular pairing, it’s worth embracing—don’t let anyone dissuade you!

Discussions about wine pairings often focus more on entrées than on snacks or specific ingredients like fruit. This tendency is understandable, but it’s worthwhile to explore how wine can enhance smaller bites or solitary components of meals, too.

By appreciating the berry pairing you experienced, you’ve tapped into a kind of wine pairing strategy. Think about the fruit elements in various dishes—from sauces accompanying duck breasts to fruit salsas paired with fish. These details can reveal unexpected pairing opportunities. Rather than concentrating solely on proteins, consider the other flavors that can transform your wine pairing from ordinary to extraordinary. Clues for pairing wine with food exist everywhere around us.

—Dr. Vinny

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!