If your favorite part of dinner is your glass of red wine, it pays to know what foods will pair well with it. Your friends at Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits are here to guide you through a quick rundown, so you can grab the right bottle to go with your meal.
Well-known as a premiere provider of beers, wines, and spirits, locals and visitors to Grand Cayman come here for the wide inventory, low prices, and exceptional service.
Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits welcomes customers to six convenient locations across Grand Cayman and provides free delivery for online orders. For same-day delivery, place your order before 2:00 pm, and if later, you can pick up your order at our location in Georgetown. Sunday purchases are not available, so if you have a Sunday brunch or dinner in mind, plan ahead.
The Characteristics of Red Wine
All red wines are not the same. They may vary by level of sweetness, by body, by acidity, by flavor, and by tannin level. The degree of variety makes pairing red wine with meals essential to a pleasing outcome.
The general rule of thumb is to pair richer foods with greater bodied wines.
Let’s consider the best pairings by wine type.
Cabernet Sauvignon generally has a fuller body and complements the robust flavor of poultry, lamb, beef, and even game. Might we make some suggestions:
- Decoy by Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon – full body, slightly tannic, dry, balanced acidity, and 14.5% ABV.
- Baron Philippe Cabernet Sauvignon – medium-full body, slightly tannic, slightly dry, and slightly acidic.
- Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon – medium-full body, slight tannins, slightly dry, slightly acidic, and 13.5% ABV.
Merlot is a red wine that those in the know choose to serve with beef, lamb, or veal. Consider choosing:
- Decoy Sonoma Merlot – 13.5% ABV, slightly bold, low tannins, slightly dry, and low acidity.
- Montes Merlot – 14% ABV, slightly dry and bold body with low tannins and acidity.
- Frog’s Leap Merlot – 13.1% ABV, slightly bold and dry with low tannins and acidity.
Pinot Noir is a light to medium bodied wine that pairs with lighter fare like seafood, chicken, or salads. We suggest that you try the following brands:
- Principato Pinot Noir – 12% ABV, light-medium bodied, low tannins, dry, and slightly acidic.
- La Crema Sonoma Pinot Noir – 13.9% ABV, medium body, low tannins, mostly dry, and slightly acidic.
- Mon Frere Pinot Noir – medium body, low tannins, slightly dry, and medium acidity
Malbec requires flavorful foods to match the boldness of the flavor. Bring these to a table featuring a hearty stew, roast, or even a juicy steak.
- Portillo Malbec
- Trivento Reserve Malbec
- Callia Alta Malbec
Chianti is a dry red wine with a varying degree of body depending on the particular wine.
- Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico – 13% ABV, medium body, slightly tannic, dry, and slightly acidic; pairs well with beef, veal, and poultry.
Zinfandel is a light colored red wine but offers a remarkably brilliant flavor. Consider this wine perfect for casual dining and barbecues.
- Rombauer Zinfandel – 15.9% ABV, bold flavor, medium tannins, and low acidity.
With the empowerment of knowing the foods that will pair well with red wine, prepare the best meal, order like a pro, and impress all your friends. Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits awaits the opportunity to bring your next order directly to your door.
