Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier's Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food

As thousands of wines from around the globe enter the marketplace and the American palate continues to adopt flavors from a range of cultures, the task of pairing wine and food becomes increasingly complicated. No longer is the choice simply red or white, or wines from California, France, or Italy. The typical shopper today has access to wines from those regions plus South Africa, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia. If that isn't confusing enough, Asian, Latin American, and Creole dishes might find their way onto the same table. Perfect Pairings, by well-known Master Sommelier and respected restaurant industry veteran Evan Goldstein, provides straightforward, practical advice for choosing the right bottle for each meal. The quintessential resource for matching wine and food, this book includes 58 companion recipes developed by celebrated chef Joyce Goldstein that showcase each type of wine.

Perfect Pairings combines in-depth explorations of twelve grape varietals, sparkling wines, and dessert wines with guidance about foods that enhance the wide range of styles for each varietal. Whether the Chardonnay is earthy and flinty; rich, buttery, and oak-infused; fruity and tropical; or aged and mature, Goldstein explains how to match it with dishes that will make the wine sing. His clear, educational, and entertaining approach towards intimidating gastronomical questions provides information for all readers, professional and amateur alike.

* 16 full-color photos

* Six seasonal and special occasion menus

* Tips for enhancing food and wine experiences, both at home and in restaurants

* Glossary of wine terminology

* Overview of the world's primary wine-growing regions

* Recommendations of more than five hundred wines, ranging in price from everyday to splurge

"Goldstein, a James Beard Award — winning sommelier and author of Five Star Service, tackles the tricky task of pairing wine with food. His practical guide for learning about the different styles of wines (varietals) encourages experimentation and offers hints on how to taste with discernment. Comprehensive chapters on 12 common varietals and sections on sparkling and dessert wines contain the most pertinent facts: regions, top producers, key flavors to look for and ideas for food pairings. Goldstein's mother, Joyce, a noted chef and cookbook author (The Mediterranean Kitchen) shares complementary recipes for simple yet flavorful dishes. Sample menus suggest, for instance, pairing an austere merlot with Tuna with Rosemary and Citrus Tapenade; or an aged, developed syrah with Korean Short Ribs. A thorough glossary of everyday wine terms rounds out a useful primer for those who like wine but don't have extensive knowledge of the subject. 16 color photos." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"The best wine and food pairing book ever written. Required reading for all who love to cook and entertain but are fearful of choosing the final ingredient of the recipe, the perfect wine."--Kevin Zraly, author of Windows on the World Complete Wine Course

"Inspired yet down-to-earth, this book will make your life easier, your food more enjoyable, and the conversation around the table more spirited."--Jacques Pépin

"I was crushed when the seminal California restaurant Square One closed its doors in 1996. The animated culinary dialogue between Evan and Joyce Goldstein--he with the corkscrew, she with the whisk--was always surprising, generous, and delicious beyond belief. Perfect Pairings revives that spirited magic so that any of us can learn to do it at home. I'm feeling better already!"--Danny Meyer, coauthor of The Union Square Cafe Cookbook

"It doesn't get much better than this. One of the most important wine educators of our time and one of America's most influential chefs conspire on the glorious subject of wine and food pairing. Perfect Pairings is valuable for the professional and layperson alike, with expansive information presented in straightforward terms. This book will be mandatory reading for all of my staff!"--Charlie Trotter, restaurateur and author

"Groundbreaking and very user-friendly. I really, really, like it."--Sara Schneider, Senior Wine Editor, Sunset Magazine

A practical, accessible guide to basic principles of cooking for wine provides pointers on matching food with different styles of wine made from twelve popular varieties and 58 recipes tailored to distinctive styles of each kind of wine.

List of Recipes

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Creating Pairings That Work

Overview of the Wine Journeys

1. A Sparkling Wine Journey

Sparkling Wines

2. The White Journeys

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Riesling

Pinot Gris

Gewürztraminer

Viognier

3. The Red Journeys

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Pinot Noir

Sangiovese

Syrah

Zinfandel

4. A Dessert Wine Journey

Dessert Wines

Pairing at Home: Tips and Menus

Pairing When Dining Out

The Hall of Fame

Principal Wine-Growing Regions

Glossary

Recommended Reading

Index