From quick and easy mid-week meals to lovingly prepared weekend dishes, a glass of wine can elevate your culinary moments into something truly special and tasty. Amy McCudden unwraps the popular Food Matching Mixed Six to find the perfect pairings for everything from comfort food to entertaining showstopper dishes.
It can feel daunting enough in a restaurant to choose a wine, especially if you’re in the hot seat to decide for others, but what about at home? You might love cooking or you might loathe, but either way, a comforting bowl full of colour and moreish flavours can set the palate alight. And what better way to enjoy it than with a good glass of wine?
We all have our firm favourites, our go-to bottles, and that’s great – it can make choosing what to uncork, pour and enjoy very easy. But what about diving into the dishes and choosing something that creates a symphony of culinary delight – harmonious food and wine pairings that work together and bring out the best of each other. The result? A superb dish and wonderful memories made in the simplest of moments.
The Food Matching Six was curated with those moments in mind. Whether it’s a Tuesday night Lasagne, a Thursday Thai Curry or a Sunday roast lamb shared with friends and family, each day is full of opportunities for aromas and flavours to fill our homes and forks with the food we love.
Try this wine with:
Lentil, sweet potato and butterbean shepherd’s pie
Lasagne
Peppercorn-crusted roast beef
Roasted tomatoes filled with herb rice and vegetables
Séguret, Côtes du Rhône-Villages, Domaine de l’Amandine, France
A gem from Domaine de l’Amandine, Séguret is a shining example of one of the smaller named villages in Southern Rhône. With juicy black fruits, soft spice, red berry aromas and flavours, and a signature earthy character, this red will complement dishes with peppery, herb and tomato elements. If you’re ever stuck for a Sunday roast centrepiece wine, then this should be your go-to bottle.
It’s also available in a handy half-sized bottle for those meals when just one glass is enough
Try this wine with:
Fennel sausage pasta
Roast balsamic tomato, squash and barley salad
Duck with plum sauce
Moroccan roast lamb
Porchetta ragu
Terra degli Eventi, Basilicata, Alovini, Italy
This red is a mouth-watering, juicy find from Southern Italy. An Aglianico and Sangiovese blend, the Aglianico’s aromas and flavours of damson, black cherry and savoury whisps of pepper and game, as well as the cherry and herb flavours of Sangiovese, match beautifully with rich tomato or meaty dishes.
Try this wine with:
Hoisin duck pancakes
Wild mushroom risotto
Beetroot orzo
Boeuf bourguignon
Truffle macaroni cheese
Churton Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand
Lighter in style but defined by the land where it’s grown, Pinot Noir is a superb wine to tuck into alongside many dishes and you’re in for a treat with this bottle. From Marlborough, New Zealand, this red is brighter and fruiter than some of the earthier charm found in Burgundy. Bursting with ripe black cherry and raspberry on the nose and palate, complemented by warming spice on the finish, the wine is beautifully wrapped up by soft tannins. This is a superb choice to consider matching with dishes that feature mixed spices, root vegetables, as well as hearty plates of rustic stew.
Try this wine with:
Roast chicken with creamy peas & leeks
Crab linguine
Butternut squash and sage ravioli
Baked salmon with hollandaise sauce
Chicken, mushroom and tarragon pie
Kumeu Village Chardonnay, Auckland, New Zealand
Chardonnay is a fantastic food-friendly wine because it’s so versatile. Regardless of where it’s grown around the world, you’ll be sure to have happy guests if you present a bottle of it. This New Zealand white delivers bright citrus, tropical and stone fruit notes on the palate and the tiny oak influence adds excellent depth and texture. But don’t let the reference to oak put you off, the result is a superbly balanced wine, with freshness and richness in abundance. With such a delicious palate, it’s an ideal wine to match with chicken, fish or creamy dishes. The bright acidity will perk up your palate and will cut through any fat harmoniously.
Try this wine with:
Spinach and feta quiche
Creamy pesto, kale and walnut pasta
Pan-fried scallops with pea purée
Lemon and herb roast chicken
Pulled roast pork and tzatziki wraps
Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, Les Silex, Domaine Beauséjour, France
This elegant Sauvignon Blanc is a staff and customer favourite. From the Loire Valley, it’s an unmissable bottle offering quality without the heftier price tags of nearby, well-known appellations such as Sancerre; it’s a real hidden gem! With freshly squeezed citrus, ripe gooseberry, notes of cut grass and delicious minerality on the palate, it’s a tantalising match for seafood, salads and light dishes with greenery and herbs.
Try this wine with:
Honey-glazed gammon with dauphinoise potatoes
Thai green curry
Slow roast pork with cider and apple sauce
Fish cakes with mango and chilli salsa
Spiced pineapple stir fry
Moselland Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2024
A delicious aromatic grape, Riesling typically bursts with mouth-watering acidity and fresh citrus, with nuances depending on the sweetness level, where it’s grown and the age of the wine. With clean, fresh flavours of orchard fruit and bright acidity, this delicate, off-dry white is an unmissable match for Asian-inspired dishes or those with fruit elements.
From juicy reds to fresh whites, hopefully the food matching mixed six will have added a splash of inspiration to your week ahead. There are certainly more pairings to explore in future blogs, but the main takeaway point is to cook what excites you and let the pairing work its magic.
