Food & Wine Pairing Tips

  • A slice of red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and mint garnish on a green cake stand, next to a glass of red wine on a restaurant table.

    Red Velvet Pair

    For those that do not enjoy traditional dessert wines, pair a Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France (Bourgogne, France) with Red Velvet Cake. A wonderful pair to enjoy at the end of of a meal.

  • The Ideal Pair with Mussels

    Mussels from Galicia (Northwestern), Spain can be a fantastic pair with Cava from the Penedès region in Cataluña, Spain. A wonderful pair to enjoy in the Summer as well as the Winter.

  • A glass of red wine on a wooden bar counter with two pieces of a baked pastry on a glass plate in the foreground, and a blurred background with people and restaurant setting.

    Hornazo Wine Pair

    Tempranillo red wine from the Toro region of Spain with Hornazo. Hornazo is a local favorite in Salamanca, Spain with a breaded exterior. Inside depending on the recipe there is bacon, chorizo, and hard boiled egg.

  • Plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce on a white table with a glass of red wine, a water glass, a white teapot, a cup of soup, and a plate of flatbread.

    What to Pair with Spaghetti Bolognese

    A great pairing with a traditional Spaghetti Bolognese is a Montepulciano red wine grape variety from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy.

  • Elegant dinner setting with a white textured plate holding a gourmet dish of a scoop of ice cream or similar topped with crispy crackers, surrounded by a yellow sauce or broth. In the background, there are two glasses of white wine and a person in a striped shirt eating, along with a glass of water and an orange cocktail.

    What Wine to Pair with Scallops

    Scallops that are from Scotland, the Northeastern part of the United States in Maine, Croatia, and the Galicia region of Spain are my favorites.

    For an interesting pair with these scallops, my personal favorite is a Chenin Blanc white wine from South Africa.

  • A table at an outdoor café with a bowl of colorful chopped vegetables, a glass of white wine, a cup of coffee, and utensils, set against a historic city wall with a gate, some people, and a statue.

    A Great Pair for Grilled Red Pepper & Tuna Salad

    Verdejo white wine from Rueda, Spain with grilled peppers and tuna with olive oil produced in Andalucía. A wonderful pair to enjoy particularly in the Summer heat.

  • Two plates of escargot, or cooked snails, with shells, served in a butter or herb sauce, along with two glasses of red wine on a wooden table.

    Wine Pairing TIp for Escargot (Snails)

    Escargot (snails) are one of my favorite dishes in French cuisine. With this dish, one of my favorite wine pairings is a Pinot Noir from Bourgogne (Burgundy), France

  • How to Pair Wine with Tomato Salad

    How to Pair Wine with Tomato Salad

    I love to pair cold salads with a rosé wine from the Navarra region in Spain. Particularly, tomato salads, infused in artisan olive oil, with a hint of olive juice, topped with olives, and salt.

Expert Wine Pairing Advice

We hope that you get delicious recommendations from the food & wine pairing tips part of our website. Each recommendation has personally been created by our founder Jacquelyn García Vadnais, WSET Level 2 in Wines.

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Jacquelyn García Vadnais smiling and holding a glass of wine at a crowded indoor event with warm lighting and decorated walls.