RPCookin
Executive Chef
I almost always enjoy wine with dinner, either out or at home and I am pretty open to different wines, but I do have several premier pairings.
If I have having rich bold beef such as a thick steak or a beef roast, they definitely require Malbec from Argentina. California Malbecs are a good subsititute.
For Italian fare I prefer a chianti or other Sangiovese.
For rich fish dishes I want a Torrontes, also from Argentina.
Milder fish I will have Pinot Grigio or Savingnon Blanc.
With pork and lamb, a good merlot, syrah (except Australian Shiraz, which I despise!) or a pinot noir.
Goat is best with Zinfandel or Tempranillo
I am bored to death with both Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon so I only drink them if my cellar is low or they are getting close to their Best By date.
Thankfully I'll never have the stress of picking a wine to serve to you. It would be bound to be either despicable of boring. I prefer friendlier wines that happily pair with more than just one type of food or occasion. I do happen to like Cabernet Sauvignon and in the right circumstances, a dry Chardonnay.
I'm not terribly fond of the more acidic Chiantis from Italy- the tannins don't play well with my taste buds unless perfectly paired with the proper food. I did get to sample some really good Italian wines from Montalcino and Montepulciano and liked them except for the price (these were aged 10-12 years in the bottle to let the tannins mellow a bit).
Not a big fan of the merlot, or pinot noir that I've had, but then I may never have tried a particularly good vintner or vintage of those.
I do like some of the vin ordinaire that I've sampled - an everyday French red table wine, usually bought in bulk at the winery. I had the pleasure of tasting some of it years ago that my mother brought home from from St. Cyr sur Mer on the Cote d'Azur.
I'm working right now on a similar type of blended red from Chile - Fronterra Vintage Red - quite inexpensive and for me and my friends it's great with food or just for a glass out on the veranda on a summer evening - what I think of as a social wine that requires no particular event or food pairing. I also like their Cabernet Sauvignon.
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