Have you been pairing your wines wrong? Experts reveal EXACTLY which food should be matched with white and red wine - and why you should be drinking from a specific glass
- Experts from Australian-owned wine label Jacob's Creek have compared notes
- They have deciphered the best ingredients and flavours to pair with each wine
- From mussels with Rose to Kingfish with a Riesling, these were the winners
- Chief Winemaker Dan Swincer is in charge of the creation and distribution
Chief Winemaker at Jacob's Creek, Dan Swincer (pictured)
Most wine drinkers believe that red wine should be paired with a hearty beef meal and dainty whites couple well with barramundi and seafood dishes.
But according to the experts at Australia's favourite wine brand, Jacob's Creek, that would be oversimplifying the process - and you're much better off pairing flavours, rather than colours, to get the most out of your wine experience.
Chief Winemaker Dan Swincer, who is in charge of filling 1.7 million glasses of wine daily, works with the company to deliver premium quality wine to over 80 countries.
Alongside Head Chef at Jacob's Creek, Nik Tucker, the duo have pinpointed exactly which wines work with what core ingredients, so you can be the star of the show at your next dinner party.
Steingarten Riesling
It's one of the most iconic wines Jacob's Creek has on offer and is a testament to the crisp flavours Australian grapes can produce.
'Made in a pure, elegant and restrained away Steingarten ($49.99) is a wine that ages effortlessly and shows how delicious it is if only you have the patience to let it,' Dan told FEMAIL.
For a fresh pairing, oysters, caviar with abalone and avocado or a King George Whiting would be appropriate, but those aren't the only options.
'We look to fatty fish, like a Kingfish, or even a fatty meat like pork to cut through the acid in the wine,' Nik said.
It's one of the most iconic wines Jacob's Creek has on offer and is a testament to the crisp flavours Australian soil can produce
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Reserve Chardonnay
Sourced from the cooler climate of the Adelaide Hills, this wine is a representation of all that is loved most about the humble Chardonnay.
'Fresh, balanced with varietal characters of white peach and citrus interplaying with integrated creamy cashew oak held together by taught acidity,' Dan said.
At $9.90 it's a bargain for just about anyone who wants to include a solid white at their dinner table, and 'it's a regular' at Dan's home.
'We love to toast our kitchen garden carrots but add in a creaminess with a remoulade,' Nik said.
'Heavier' tastes like chicken and lobster would be best suited to match the Chardonnay.
Sourced from the cooler climate of the Adelaide Hills this wine is a representation of all that is loved most about the humble Chardonnay
Barossa Signature Shiraz
This range of wines represent the home and heritage of Jacob's Creek and winemaking in general.
'It shows all the hallmarks of what people love about the region and variety. There are clove, spice and dark fruits on the nose with velvety, medium weight tannins and a layered, lush fruit palate,' Dan said.
Nik would happily pair this $14.95 bottle with a dry aged scotch fillet cooked slowly over charcoal to bring out those deeper flavours.
This range of wines represent the home and heritage of Jacob's Creek and winemaking in general
Which wine glass should be used when drinking which wine?
Choosing to use just one glass for all varieties of wine means you are compromising on the wine's bouquet (scent), taste, balance and finish.
They are all affected by the shape of the glass from which you drink them from.
Master stemware brand Riedel create specific glasses for Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Choosing to use just one glass for all varieties of wine means you are compromising on the wine's bouquet (scent), taste, balance and finish
For lighter-bodied white wines like Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc they create glasses with a smaller bowl that helps to keep the wine cool and to concentrate the delicate aromas.
For fuller-bodied whites like Chardonnay, the glass has a larger bowl to enhance its boldness and creamy texture.
Reds tend to have larger bowls that allow you to get your nose in to smell the aromas and also bring more air into contact with the wine, releasing the flavours and softening the tannins.
For sparkling wines, there are two types of glasses, the flute shape for younger light styles or the tulip shape to allow more air in to open up the aromas and flavours of a more aged or complex sparkling wine.
St Hugo Wines partnered with master stemware brand Riedel, who create specific glasses for Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the best tips for wine drinkers?
* Avoid storing the glasses upside down in the cupboard because this can create a musty smell.
* Red wines should be drunk at just below room temperature and white wines shouldn't be 'chilled' because this will disrupt the palate. For example, Merlot should be consumed at 16.5 degrees, Shiraz at 17.2 and Chardonnay at 11.
* Use white vinegar to remove stains from your red wine glasses.
Double Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a classic example of Jacob's Creek testing the boundaries of winemaking by reinventing a much-loved taste.
'This Cabernet Sauvignon has been aged in traditional French and American oak wine barrels, then blended and further aged in Irish Whiskey barrels,' Dan said.
'It gives the wine a richer, deeper and smoother flavour that might surprise the drinker.'
At $22.95 a bottle it's still very well priced for the range and the perfect companion to a late lunch.
'Lamb shoulder roasted in chicken stock with a fresh herb salad would make for a delicious supplement,' Nik said.
This is a classic example of Jacob's Creek testing the boundaries of winemaking by reinventing a much-loved taste
Le Petit Rose
A stunning deal at $12.95 a pop, this Rose is the ultimate in 'dry, crisp and lightly coloured' varieties.
Appealing for a number of occasions, the Le Petit Rose has gentle aromatics on the nose, Dan said.
'The palate balances fruit, acidity and light tannin, making it a refreshing and lively wine.'
Perhaps surprisingly, mussels with a rich fish stock would pair well with this modern icon.
But Nik's secret ingredient involves adding a 'little fat' to carry the flavours, so he tends to add chorizo to the meal.
A stunning deal at $12.95 a pop, this rose is the ultimate in 'dry, crisp and lightly coloured' varieties
