Food and Wine – a Match Made in Heaven!

 Enjoying fresh summer flavours with excellent seasonal wines is what festive entertaining is all about – check our top tips to match food and wine this holiday season... 

 According to winemaker Nadine Worley from Mud House Wines, the key thing to remember when it comes to matching food and wine is to balance the flavours and weight of the dish with the flavours and weight of the wine. “The so-called rules of food and wine matching have relaxed a lot, but basically a great match should bring out the best in the wine and the food.” 

 

If you love...  Fish & Shellfish 

Lovers of seafood should try matching the fresh crispness of a seafood salad with the fresh, crisp flavours of a Sauvignon Blanc. Or try matching your favourite Sav with a delicate Ceviche dish (fresh raw fish marinated in lemon or lime juice) – it’s the perfect starter for a summer dinner party!

 

If you love... Chicken

One of the most versatile meats around, chicken is a popular choice for the barbecue or the wok – whatever takes your fancy! Bring out the best in your chicken dish by matching it with a gutsy Chardonnay –  try your favourite chicken fettucine recipe with the 2009 Mud House South Island Chardonnay – with hints of ripe tropical fruits, ripe peach and a citrus twist finish, it’s sure to be an instant hit! 

 If you love.. Beef & Lamb 

Got a big crew coming for dinner? Get the slow cooker fired up and create a hearty braised beef dish or a tasty lamb casserole. “A heavier, richer wine like the 2009 Mud House Hawke’s Bay Merlot will go perfectly with heavy, rich food like slow cooked meat dishes such as these,” says Worley. Or if you’ve got the barbecue raring to go, try a Cabernet Sauvignon blend to complement a meaty scotch fillet steak or lamb kebab. Delish!

 

 If you love... Pork & Ham

Free range pork and ham are fantastic meats to have on hand during the summer season – both for the Christmas table – and the barbecue. These tender meats work well with slightly sweet, refreshing wines such as Riesling. Why not try whippng up a spicy barbecue pork salad and match with the 2009 Mud House Waipara Riesling – it’s both refreshing and flavoursome with its touch of fruity sweetness – the perfect complement to a tasty pork dish!

 

 If you are... Vegetarian 

Create beautiful, rustic platters filled with cheeses, fruits – both dried and fresh – crackers, breads, chutneys and dips and match with a richly flavoursome Gewürztraminer such as the 2009 Mud House Marlborough Gewürztraminer. The fruity notes of fresh pear and floral will really bring out the flavours in your platter – it’s a vegetarian match made in heaven!