How to Pair French and Italian Wines

It can be a bit intimidating trying to choose a fine wine while dining in a fine restaurant. However, with a little bit of wine knowledge, you can easily pick a wine that will go well with just about any fine meal. While the general rule of thumb calls for full-bodied red wines to accompany rich, red meat meals and white wines with lighter, white meat meals, there are some wines that go better with certain dishes than others. Take a look at the following suggestions and feel confident in ordering the right wine to compliment any meal the next time you’re dining out.

French Red Wines

Beaujolais is a light-bodied red wine that comes from the Beaujolais region of France. It is made from the Gamay grape and is fruity and a bit acidic. It often smells of pears or bananas and can taste more like grape juice than wine. It’s a perfect wine for cheeses.

Pomerol is a dark red wine that comes from the Bordeaux region of France. It mainly uses the Merlot grape to produce a full-bodied, thick, rich wine that is low in acidity, yet ripe with tannins. It can produce aromas of black cherry, leather, vanilla, and fruitcake. Pomerol pairs well with venison.

Saint-Emilion wines come from the oldest wine areas of the Bordeaux region of France. It is a full-bodied red wine that this known for its robust nature and quick maturity for a heavy red wine. It has earthy aromas that pair well with lamb, spare ribs, and sauerkraut.

Italian Red Wines

Amarone comes from the Venitian region of Italy. It is a dry red wine that has a bold body. While some Amarone wines are bitter in taste, others are quite fruity. It has flavors of fig, licorice, and tobacco. It pairs well with beef and wild game.

Barbaresco comes from the Piedmont area of Italy and is closely related to the Barolo. It is a strong red wine made from the Nebbiolo grape that has rich aromas and elegant flavor combinations. They are extremely tannic and are known for their lingering tastes. It pairs well with grilled meats and veal.

Barolo is made from the Nebbiolo grape and comes from the Piedmont area of Italy. Barolo is a full-bodied red wine with a deep rich color, thick texture, and complex flavor. There are a variety of different flavors that come from different areas of Piedmont that can result in floral, fruity, oak, or licorice blends. It pairs well with lamb, pork, and stew.

Chianti comes from the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy. Only wines made in this area can be labeled Chianti. It is a strong and bold red wine that pairs well with any red sauced, well-seasoned pastas and meats.

Gattinara is a dark, full-bodied wine that comes from the Piedmont region of Italy. It is made from Nebbiolo grapes which produces a wine rich in the aromas of blackberry, plum, and licorice with a touch of vanilla or leather. Its flavors are a rich and intense blend of cherries, raspberries, and spices which go down smooth. It pairs well with steak, wild game, and hard cheeses.

Grumello is produced in the Lombardy region of Italy. It’s a dry, red wine that is velvety and mildly tannic. It pairs well with wild game and hard cheeses.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano comes from the Tuscany region of Italy. It is often referred to as “the king of all wines.” It has a strong, fresh, fruity taste with a smooth finish. It pairs well with pheasant.

French White Wines

French Chardonnay grapes are grown in the Chablis, Burgundy region of France. Chardonnay is a crisp, dry white wine that is known for its wide variety of flavors, typically those of apples, lemon, lime, tangerine, melon, and oak. It pairs well with chicken, lobster, and scallops.

Muscadet comes from Nantes, France in the Loire Valley. The Melon de Bourgonge is a hardy grape that is nearly flavorless. It is left to sit out during the winter months in hopes of gaining flavor before it is bottled. Very light, tangy, and somewhat sparkling in nature, it can taste like green apples or citrus. It goes well with shellfish, oysters, and fish.

Pouilly Fuisse is a good quality white wine that comes from the Macon section of Burgundy, France. It ages well and can be stored for more than 20 years in a cellar. The wine is rich and dry with a nutty aroma. It goes well with pork or shellfish.

Pouilly Fume comes from the Loire Valley of France. It is a thick, dry white wine that has an unusually strong taste of musk and smoke. It pairs well with duck, veal, salmon, and chicken.

Riesling grapes actually hail from Germany, but they are also grown in the Alsace region of France, as well as others. It is a complex white wine that can be bitter or sweet, depending on the quality of the wine. It ages well and can have a fruity, floral, or musky taste to it. It pairs well with Sauerbraten, Asian foods, seafood, and makes a great dessert wine.

Saint-Veran is a white wine that comes from the Macon section of Burgundy, France. It is made from Chardonnay grapes and has a fruity, flowery aroma with crisp and refreshing flavors. It pairs well with oysters, mussels, and pate.

Italian White Wines

Gavi is a dry white wine that comes from the Piedmont area of Italy. It is made from the Cortese grape and is the most expensive Italian wine that is exported to the United States. It is mild in aroma and very acidic and fruity in flavor. It pairs well with fish and shellfish.

Pinot Grigio is an Italian white wine. The same grape in France is called Pinot Gris. The grape is unusual because it is the white mutation of the pinot noir red grape. Italian Pinot Grigio wines are dry and light with a bit of a mineral taste to them. It goes well with ham and white sauce meals.

Soave is one of the most popular white wines in Italy and comes from the Venice area. It comes in three different styles: dry/still, spumanti/sparkling, and recioto/sweet. It’s a smooth, mild wine that tastes of mild perfumes or flowers with a hint of almonds. It actually goes well with Chinese food or can be used as a before dinner drink.

French Rose

Tavel (or French Rose) is a dry rose wine from the southern Rhone region of France. It is a very dry wine that can have a hint of sweetness, depending on grape used. It pairs well with cold meats.

French Sparkling

Champagne can only be labeled as such if it comes from the Champagne region of France. Those that come from other areas of the world, such as California, can only be called Sparkling Wine. It pairs well with clams and oysters.