Australian Wine and Food Pairing Table
Matching wine with food is easy with this quick reference table.
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Sauvignon Blanc
Light-bodied, crisp white wine
- lemon and grassy tones.
Meat & Fish: Light entrée such as shellfish, sushi, light fish such as Sole and Chicken.
Cheese: Feta, chévre
Fruits & Vegetables: Citrus fruit, melons, green apples, asparagus
Sauces: Light sauces such as lemon and citrus sauce
Grains: White rice, pasta, French bread
Desserts: Light, fruity sweets such as sorbet and lemon or lime pie.
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Semillon
Medium-bodied, pale straw colored white wine
– citrus with stone fruit tones.
Meat & Fish: Grilled or barbequed chicken and fish, tuna casserole, gumbo, shrimp or prawns.
Cheeses: Fruit based cheese and sharp cheeses
Fruits & Vegetables: Waldorf, Nicoise or Caesar salads, pears, nectarines and peaches
Sauces: Sharp sauces with orange, lime or lemon
Grains: Crackers, pasta, French bread
Desserts: Lemon tart, orange cake, strawberry flan and fruit salad.
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Chardonnay
Medium-bodied, buttery and oaky white wine
– vanilla, peach, mango and citrus tones.
Meat & Fish: Pork, chicken, veal, prawns, crab and lobster
Cheeses: Havarti, mozzarella
Fruits & Vegetables: Avocado, potato, butternut squash, apples, peaches, mango, paw paw
Sauces: Creamy, mild and buttery sauces, pesto and tropical salsas
Grains: Risotto, crackers
Desserts: Apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, pound cake, banana pudding, caramel pudding and ice cream
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Rosé
Light bodied, crisp dry rose colored wine – apple, raspberries and strawberry tones.
Meat & Fish: Chicken, fleshy white fish and shellfish
Cheeses: Tasty or mild vein cheeses.
Fruits & Vegetables: Green salads, bell peppers, garlic and onion
Sauces: Spicy Asian, Indian and Mexican sauces
Grains: Cous cous, lentils, grain breads
Desserts: Sorbet, fruit salad
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Pinot Noir
Medium-bodied silky red wine
- red cherry, strawberry and smoky earth tones.
Meat & Fish: Roast chicken, tuna, salmon, filet mignon, pork, lamb and light sausages
Cheeses: Goat, Brie, Camembert – smooth and creamy
Fruits & Vegetables: Roasted tomatoes and capsicum, mushrooms, figs, cherries, strawberries, dried fruit
Sauces: Mushroom sauces, light-medium red sauces, slightly spicy cream sauces
Grains: Olive bread, capsicum bread, flavored breads
Desserts: Summer puddings and baked custards, milk chocolate, Tiramisu, mixed berries & cream
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Merlot
Medium to light-bodied, smooth-finishing red wine
- black cherry, plum, raspberry and chocolate tones.
Meat & Fish: Grilled meats, steak, stew, leg of lamb, tuna and dark meat fish
Cheeses: Romano, parmesan, aged chévre
Fruits & Vegetables: Eggplant, caramelized vegetables, tomatoes, endive & bitter lettuce, plums
Sauces: Red sauce, Bolognese and Napolitano sauces, béarnaise sauce
Grains: Pumpernickel, dark and Rye breads
Desserts: Dark chocolate sauce, berries, chocolate torte
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Shiraz
Medium bodied, chewy red wine
- black cherry, currant, jammy, spice and tobacco tones.
Meat & Fish: Roast game, hearty stews, salmon, spicy sausages eg. pepperoni & salami
Cheeses: Strong cheeses such as sharp cheddar, Roquefort and blue cheese
Fruits & Vegetables: Dark leafy greens, rocket, eggplant, stewed and roasted tomatoes, currants, black berries
Sauces: Heavy red sauces, BBQ and spicy
Grains: Pizza, Sour Dough bread, Rye bread
Desserts: Rhubarb pie, Black Forest cake, Sticky Toffee cake
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Cabernet Sauvignon
Full-bodied, long finishing red wine
- black currant, coffee and dark chocolate tones
Meat & Fish: Game, ribeye, roasted meats, beef stew, rack of lamb, tuna and dark meat fish
Cheeses: Cheddar, all aged cheeses
Fruits & Vegetables: Broccoli, black olives, dark greens, black cherries and plums
Sauces: Brown sauces and gravy, glazed sauces, Bolognese, tomato, pasta in a thick red sauce
Grains: All dark and sour breads
Desserts: Bittersweet chocolate, berries in dark chocolate sauce, espresso sauces
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For more detailed information, go to our Wine with Food page.
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