Food is one of the vital elements of a romantic dinner date. A delicious meal sets the tone for your special rendezvous with your loved one.
A scrumptious meal can also be an excellent talking point you and your spouse can discuss over dinner. Moreover, it can make your date more romantic and memorable.
But aside from the food, a dinner date won’t be complete without a glass or two of wine.
Having a bottle and glass of wine at the dinner table is a great way to impress your loved one. It makes the room and atmosphere look and feel more enchanting.
Also, nothing can be more romantic than sharing a bottle of wine with your loved one. Sipping it slowly can help the two of you relax and appreciate the moment better.
Food and Wine Pairing Tips
Enjoying the best wine in Abu Dhabi during a dinner date at home means pairing it with the right food.
Below is a guide for pairing wine with food correctly to have the perfect dinner date at home:
1. Pair wine with food of a similar weight.
The first key principle you have to keep in mind when pairing food and wine is to ensure they match in terms of weight.
This means pairing light food, such as fish and chicken, with a delicate wine, such as a Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.
On the other hand, rich, filling food, such as steaks and meat stews, works well with a heavy, full-bodied wine, such as Cabernet and Merlot.
2. Consider the flavour profile of the food.
Food and wine that share similar tastes complement each other.
If you are serving a salad with vinaigrette dressing or fish with lemon sauce, choose a wine that at least has the same level of acidity. Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc are ideal for these dishes.
Dishes with bold flavours, such as pepper steaks and curries, pair well with bold and full-bodied wines, such as Malbec and Shiraz.
Lastly, rich dishes, like pasta and chicken with cream sauce, are best paired with well-rounded wines, such as Chardonnay.
3. Match the wine with the sauce.
If you are serving a dish with sauce, you won’t go wrong with choosing a wine that complements it.
Cranberry, orange, lemon butter, and other citrus sauces are best paired with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, wines that have acidic tones.
On the other hand, Shiraz complements red and meat sauces.
Shiraz and Malbec go well with foods brushed or smothered with heavily spiced barbecue sauces.
4. Choose a wine that’s at least as sweet as the dessert.
A useful rule of the thumb you can follow when pairing wine with desserts is to choose one that is as sweet as or sweeter than the food you are serving.
Desserts with fruits and spices are best paired with white wines, like Sauternes and late-harvest Gewirtztramine. Light, mild, and buttery pastries, on the other hand, go well with Riesling, demi-sec champagne, and other sparkling wines.
If chocolate and caramel are on your dessert menu, their rich and buttery flavour works well with port and red wines, such as Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Shiraz.
5. Stick to flexible wines.
Finally, you won’t go wrong with having a stock of flexible wines to avoid experiencing any difficulty creating the perfect wine and food pairings.
The most versatile wines are Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Riesling since these are characterised by their cleansing acidity. This type of flavour profile leaves you wanting to take a bite of food and sip wine afterwards. This ensures you and your loved one have a filling, satisfying meal.
Other flexible wines worth keeping in your pantry or cellar are Chianti, red Burgundy, and Pinot Noir. They have a good amount of acidity, discernible fruity notes, and do not contain too many tannins — chemical compounds that give wines a combination of bitter, herbaceous, and astringent taste.
Wines with fewer tannins, such as Zinfandel and Italian reds, pair well naturally with a variety of dishes, from simple, hearty comfort foods to more complex, modern ones.
If you want to have a truly romantic dinner date at home, don’t forget to pair your dishes with the right wine. It’s the best way to share a filling and unforgettable meal with your special someone.
