Food and Wine Pairing

"What grows together goes together" - Sean Buckland, Sommellier and Co-Owner of Valley Wine Tours

Food and wine pairing can seem a difficult task.  Just remember a few simple guidelines and rules of thumb and the task will become a pleasure.

1)  Forget the rule of white wine with fish and red wine with meat.
2)  Rememember that almost all wines are good but some may be better in certain situations.
3)  Wines with acidity help enhance food (the same way salt does).   Nova Scotia wines are perfect for this!
4)  It is important to balance the structure and personality of the food with the wine.

So...

• Pair light food with light wine
• Delicate fish like sole or haddock, light salads and oysters with delicate wine like Seyval Blanc
• Enjoy heavy food with heavy wine
• The richness of lamb needs to pair with a weight of a Reserve Marechal Foch
• Join intense food with intense wine
• Thai and Indian cuisine are always very flavourful and should be matched with the intensely floral and fruity New York Muscat.
• Match personalities
• Fresh flavours, like scallops and herbs like dill are accentuated by L'Acadie Blanc.
• Pair acidic food with acidic wine
• Vinagrettes or tomato dishes will make an acidic wine taste fruitier and less dry.
• Join sweet food with sweet wine
• Dishes with sweetness need a similar level of sweetness in the wine.  Icewines are a perfect match for most desserts.

Classic Nova Scotia Food and Wine Pairings

Seafood:
Haddock- Seyval Blanc
Halibut (Poached)- L'Acadie Blanc
Halibut (Grilled)-Chardonnay
Lobster- Chardonnay
Mussels (Steamed)- Seyval Blanc, New York Muscat or L'Acadie Blanc
Oysters (on the half shell)- Seyval Blanc, Cote de Bras D'Or Cayuga
Oysters (Thai style)- NY Muscat
Salmon (Roasted)-Pinot Noir
Salmon (Poached or Steamed)- L'Acadie Blanc
Salmon (Grilled or Plank)- Chardonnay
Chowder-  L'Acadie Blanc and Chardonnay
 
Meats:
Game- Baco Noir
Lamb- Reserve Marechal Foch
Pork- Luci Kuhlmann, Leon Millot or Trilogy
 
Vegetables:
Salads- Seyval Blanc
Tomatoes- Leon Millot
Corn- L'Acadie Blanc
 
Cheese:
Quark- L'Acadie Blanc
Havarti- Leon Millot
Gouda- Marechal Foch Reserve