Local Foods & Local Wines

When considering which wine to pair with a specific dish, make sure to keep the food as the priority in the pairing. Cultures and countries all have their own unique food offerings and spices that give even similar dishes a new flavor twist. The local food may be based on a nearby ocean, river or elevated growing zone, but the food is created for a culture first and then the wine is grown to complement the local cuisine.

So when wine enters the pairing picture, it is truly the secondary contender in the equation. If you can think of wine as an intermediate sauce to be matched with the food, instead of giving it full "drink" status, then you will be well on your pairing way. When it comes to picking the right wine, start with the meal's cultural origins.

Italy's Local Wine and Local Food Combos

Is the dish full of flavorful cooked tomatoes from central Italy? If so, then opt for an Italian Chianti. What about a zesty pesto sauce originally from Liguria? Consider a white wine from the Cinque Terre region.

Local Wine and Local Food Pairings from France

Move on to France, a traditional quiche is an amazing match with a white Burgundy (sans oak!). For pâté, opt for a Beaujolais.

Local Wine and Local Food Options from Germany

A German Wiener Schnitzel with sauerkraut calls for a German Riesling that lies on the drier side.

Mexican Flare and Flavor with "Local" Wine

When checking out Mexican cuisine with the traditional meat, heat and spice, opt for a wine originating from similar roots, like a Malbec from Argentina.

You get the general idea here. Next time you are at a restaurant and the waiter wants to take your wine order before you've decided on the meal, ask for a few more minutes and select your food first, then if it's got clearcut cultural roots, opt for a wine of the same or similar heritage. It is one of the easiest pairing tricks that delivers great results the vast majority of the time.