They say there’s no time like the present, right? So how about using this time we’ve been given to do something you’ve maybe thought about often but didn’t have the time for? That’s right…we’re talking about Wine Pairing, and if you’ve ever wanted to know what wine went with what food, you’re in luck with Wine Pairing 101.

Common Sense Goes a Long Way

Luckily, wine pairing really isn’t as complicated as it may seem. Maybe you’ve been afraid to even look into what food goes with the wine you’re drinking because you’re concerned about the complexity or amount of expertise you need. The good news is that with a few basic pieces of knowledge (and a nice dose of common sense) you should be a wine pairing pro in no time!

Most importantly, remember that these days…rules seem to be evolving and that works in your favor! Common sense is key. You know that a nice cool pinot is probably not the best to pair with your famous three-alarm chili, and you’re probably not interested in pairing a heavy Chianti with a Cobb Salad. (Though new rules also say if it’s just you eating and drinking, you do what makes you happy!)

The Basics

If all you ever know is a few things, remember this:

• Red wines are more bitter than whites
• Whites, rosés and sparkling wines are more acidic
• Sweet wines are best with sweeter foods

So when you’re looking at pairing wines, you want to take food and break it down to basic dominant tastes. Think salty, sweet, spicy (even with some acid) and fatty. Green salads are typically bitter/acid while creamy dishes typically range on fatty/sweet sides.

A good basic rule for pairing is to serve high acid foods with high acid wines. Additionally, match light-bodied, dry, low-alcohol wines with lighter dishes and full-bodied, higher alcohol and creamy-textured wines with heavier foods–your creamier, fattier dishes.

Tannic wines (like Cabernet Sauvignons or Malbecs) shouldn’t really go with fatty or oily fish but you can soften a tannic wine when you serve it with a salty or protein-rich food (hearty beefs seasoned well).

Here are a few other general pieces of helpful, basic information:

• Sauvignon Blanc is a higher acid, but lighter wine
• Chardonnay is not too acidic but is more full-bodied
• Pinot Noirs are lighter bodied red wines and they’re lower in tannins (bitterness)
• Cabernet Sauvignon is more full-bodied and has high tannins

So just tuck this away in your memory…generally speaking, red wines go with red meats, white with fish and poultry when in doubt. It’s also important to note that how you cook the main ingredient matters too.

For instance, fried chicken is very different from chicken parmesan which is very different from a creamy mushroom chicken. Consider matching textures of foods with wines as well, not just the meat type. Creamy foods often pair nicely with smooth, dry white wines (maybe a chardonnay or chenin blanc?) while for something along the lines of a chicken parmesan, may consider a traditional red burgundy or chianti. And if you’re pairing fried chicken with a wine, a crisp and aromatic white like a pinot grigio or Riesling can fit the bill.

Also remember that when you’re matching fish and pasta as well. It’s more about how you cook the foods than what the foods are, so keep heavier wines (traditionally reds) for heavier, heartier meals and lighter wines (traditionally whites) for lighter, less creamy meals.

Flavor also changes based on how you cook something. You can grill fish and it’s lighter, or you can use it in a Cioppino or stew and that may require something heavier. A good rule of thumb is to pair light-bodied wines (Pinots, Grenaches, Merlots) lightly cooked dishes and more full-bodied wines (Malbecs, Cabernets and Chardonnays) with meals that have heavier, more intense flavors.

Consider The Table

Most often, you’ll pair the wine with the main ingredient, but you also want to consider the side dishes of the table as well. Sometimes having lots on the table means your wine will have a heavy, hearty body. Lighter, more delicate wines often are preferred when it comes to lightly sided meals…say grilled chicken with a side salad.

What About Dessert?

As for desserts, you want your wine to be sweeter than the dessert you’re serving. This is tough because chocolate desserts are often super sweet but also pair nicely with light and sweet wines.

When it comes to pairing wines, it’s all about balance. You want to make sure your wine matches the weight and flavor of your meal, but you also don’t want to be so worried about what pairs that you miss out on the enjoyment of both your meal and your wine. Keep these few tips in mind when pairing and you’ll have the best of both worlds.

about

Karen Rae

I was becoming an empty nester, a woman of a more interesting age and in transition. Sound familiar? I was at that place where we question our purpose, value, and worth and what in the world are we going to do with the rest of our lives.

I noticed women have a huge hunger to belong to a community of women where they can feel safe, share openly from their heart and have other women to do life with! This is why I created my Fave Lifestyles.

Fave is for the woman who wants to call Fave her community of women who support, uplift, and make her feel better about herself. I want to create a place where we help her answer life's questions and just do life together!

Let's Do Life Together at Fave Lifestyles

Make Home A Place You Love To Reflect

When it comes to creating a space that has a homey feel, you want it to be a place that you can feel relaxed and reflect. When we have places in our home that make us feel good…make us reflect on the joy and gratitude we have in our lives, our hearts are more full and able to give that joy back. Make sure you have places in your home that allow you the freedom to be who you are and to reflect on who you want to keep growing into.

The extra time many of us have these days is a great opportunity for us to meditate or pray and really get in touch with our feelings and emotions. We can do this by ensuring our space is clean and uncluttered. Clutter can make us feel anxious and when we feel anxious, we’re not able to fully be present. Set up space that is painted in calm, soothing colors and has some of who you are–a family picture that sparks a special memory or a fun piece of art that makes you smile.

Having space where you can curl up and read, reflect or even snooze makes your home a place you enjoy being.

Be Inspired!

 When you’re creating a space you love to call home, you also want it to be a place that you feel alive and inspired. A perfect way to do this is to bring lots of natural elements into the space. Sometimes it’ll be some gorgeous greenery that you care for year-round. Other times, it can be as simple as a seasonal bouquet you bring in for immediate gratification and inspiration. Consider having natural elements in flooring and furniture so that you can get in touch with nature and the gifts it brings, even when we are quarantining at home. A warm color on the wall with a beautiful bookshelf full of inviting words can’t help but make you feel you can conquer everything!

While we certainly are dealing with a new normal, we are also finding how much joy we can discover in the little things of life. When it comes to creating a space you call home, it’s important that it reflects who you are, brings you joy and leaves you feeling fulfilled as you spend extra time inside your home.

Bringing Joy To You And To Others

 When it comes to creating space you call home, you also want it to be a place that brings joy to others. Kennesha Buycks’s book Restoration House: Creating a Space That Gives Life and Connection to All Who Enter is a beautiful book that will help you create a place that not only restores your soul, but helps you create spaces in your home that give joy and life to your loved ones and friends who come in. You want your home to be a place that makes all feel loved and welcome, and Buycks shows you how you can make purposeful design decisions that will turn a house into a home.

Ask And You Shall Receive

 When it comes to creating a space you love to call home, it never hurts to bring in professionals! Melinda Slater of Slater Designs is a designer who helps you bring out the story of your home. Slater believes design is just another language we use to express our stories in the home. When you want to create spaces in your home that sing with joy, bringing in someone who specializes in doing that can make your heart sing too.

When it comes to your home, it’s nothing less than sacred. It’s your sanctuary and your respite, and you want it to be a place that you not only call home but feels like home in your heart too. Don’t be afraid to make it a reflection of your personality, and to fill your soul in the process.

about

Karen Rae

I was becoming an empty nester, a woman of a more interesting age and in transition. Sound familiar? I was at that place where we question our purpose, value, and worth and what in the world are we going to do with the rest of our lives.

I noticed women have a huge hunger to belong to a community of women where they can feel safe, share openly from their heart and have other women to do life with! This is why I created my Fave Lifestyles.

Fave is for the woman who wants to call Fave her community of women who support, uplift, and make her feel better about herself. I want to create a place where we help her answer life's questions and just do life together!

Let's Do Life Together at Fave Lifestyles

Has this year left you wishing you had some additional hobbies on your game card? We know…there’s nothing like being told it’s safer for you to be home and to be socially and physically distanced and you’re left wondering what to do with this time.

Even though social distancing isn’t quite new to us, it’s different because we were just coming out of winter in the beginning. With days shortening and winter forcing us to be inside more and more (hard to garden in snow), we’re looking for more creative ways to fill our time.

 What Are You Interests?

 While there’s much about this year we’d change, we have to be honest. It’s forced us to take some really introspective looks at how we spend our time, with whom we spend our time and even who we really are.

Psychology experts believe this can be a gift,  and that a winter where we’ll have to really buckle under and stay safe distances from each other can still bring new gifts in the form of winter hobbies. Now may be the time to try skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating or anything the traditional holiday season held but you never had time for. The lack of holiday gatherings means you do have the time, and you might just find you love it.

All you have to do is think about things you may be interested in and give them a shot.

Online Is The New In-Person

 No, online classes for hobbies that are traditionally held in-person may not be optimal, but there are a lot of perks. Businesses are really working hard to offer lots of creative scheduling and interesting classes for you to participate in because they’re just as in need of a way to make this social distancing time work as you are. While we agree that together is better, we’re just thankful for any opportunities that we have where we can safely socialize, learn and have fun at the same time.

Women are RAVING about how much fun they’re having with several different online classes they’ve been able to take and the best part? You can do it from literally anywhere in the world–as long as you have an Internet connection, you’re in!

Dancing

Dancing is so much fun, and even better? It’s great exercise too! With online dancing, you join several others from the comfort of your home, and there’s something about that scenario that lets you feel a little less vulnerable than you might in-person! Just think, you may be able to become a Boot Boogie Babe one day! Owner DeAnna Lee’s mission is to empower women by offering safe spaces for all ages, sizes and backgrounds to grow through friendships and dance. Online dancing may not just be a new hobby, but a new way of life!

Fitness Classes

If now’s the time you think you’re ready to get fit, then Fitness with Kelli Fennelly may be just the thing. Just as you can with many online fitness centers, Kelli will help customize a plan that’s just for you–compiled for your goals and your life experience. You’ll be able to work with a schedule that’s convenient for you, and again, in the comfort of your own home but still with personalized care.

If yoga is more your style and you’ve not had the time to give a program a try, here’s your chance! Not only is yoga a great way to stretch and keep yourself limber, but it’s a perfect way for you to help center and destress in such a crazy world. Yoga with Lucy B offers online classes and modifications for all levels of Yogis and the things you’ll need to have in your house are minimal.

Art Classes

Yaymaker classes are HUGE hits across the country because you can literally create masterpieces right in your own home. Because many are on Zoom, you can meet new people and make new friends or sponsor your own parties and connect with friends and family you may be missing.

Golf

Golf is something you can do individually or distanced with friends, and did you know you burn almost 1500 calories with 18 holes? It’s great exercise, mentally challenging and something different. You might just find yourself on the next LPGA circuit!

Horseback Riding

When it comes to new hobbies you can do while also socially distancing, horseback riding is another popular choice. It’s a way to bond and connect with another creature, but in a really unique and special way. Plus, it gets you outside, connecting with nature and being able to find gratitude in simple gifts of fresh air and freedom. Besides, didn’t you always wish you had a pony?

Flyfishing:

 Flyfishing is another hobby that may have never crossed your mind but you might find you thoroughly enjoy! It’s easy to maintain social distance, even when fishing with friends. When you’re out there on the water, it’s peaceful and serene and you can let the troubles of the day fade as you focus on pulling in the big one.

Music

Ever wanted to learn to play the guitar or the piano? Talk about having the time to put the practice in! Many music teachers have perfected the art of online lessons and performance and this is a great time to take advantage of it!

Whatever it is you decided to dive into, look at this time to grow and bloom. It’s easy to let the dreariness and bleak of winter overtake us, particularly now, but we are lucky enough to use this time for our good! So let’s do it and come out even more talented than we were before!

about

Karen Rae

I was becoming an empty nester, a woman of a more interesting age and in transition. Sound familiar? I was at that place where we question our purpose, value, and worth and what in the world are we going to do with the rest of our lives.

I noticed women have a huge hunger to belong to a community of women where they can feel safe, share openly from their heart and have other women to do life with! This is why I created my Fave Lifestyles.

Fave is for the woman who wants to call Fave her community of women who support, uplift, and make her feel better about herself. I want to create a place where we help her answer life's questions and just do life together!

Let's Do Life Together at Fave Lifestyles