If you were a wine expert, you’d always know whether to serve red or white wine, have full knowledge of their characteristics and know which particular wine best complements the meal that you’re planning to serve. Most of us, however, either have a rather limited understanding or have no clue at all. Serving the right type of wine with a particular meal or desert isn’t just about being trendy. It’s mostly about blending the flavor of your beverage and your food perfectly.

A general rule of thumb is that white wine goes with white food and red wine goes with dark food. Rules are always meant to be broken and at the end of the day it’s always going to be about what tastes good to you and the people you are serving. Here’s some very basic information to remember when making a selection included in some Christmas Wine Gift Baskets.

WHITE WINES

White wines are lighter in character than their heavy red counterparts and can be served with lighter foods such as soups, salads, appetizers, and desserts…

CHENIN BLANC

Crisp, semi dry to dry wine, which can taste like apples, pears and tropical fruits best compliments cheeses, fish, poultry and Asian food. Best aging – 4 years

GEWURZTRAMINER

This is a German wine that is typically sweet with dry variations.

SAUVIGNON BLANC

This light wine offers the combined tastes of herbs and olives, with a slightly smoky characteristic.

CHARDONNAY

A favorite style of wine included in numerous gift baskets is rather dry, and ranges from semi-sweet to sour, it goes best with strong cheese, appetizers, oysters, seafood with a light or cream sauce, grilled fish, poultry and pork.

WHITE RIESLING

While there are a number of types of Riesling, this tends to offer a fruity, floral taste which will exhibit more of a melon characteristic. White Riesling not only goes well with mild cheese, but is one of the wines that blends exceptionally well with chocolate.

RED WINES

Due to their heaviness, red wines are generally not served with an opening course, such as an appetizer. These are better paired with a heavier meal, such as pasta with a red sauce.

BEAUJOLAIS

This tends to be a light, fruity wine. While the better varieties of Beaujolais should be enjoyed within two years of production, some of the better vintages can be kept for up to 10 years, whereas Beaujolais Nouveau should be used immediately. This light, tasty wine best complements strong cheese, appetizers, pasta with red sauce, pork and poultry.

PINOT NOIR

Pinot is perhaps the first or second runner up to be included in gift baskets. It varies in color from cherry to a purplish red, this wine tends to become brown in color as it ages and offers a variety of flavors such as vanilla, leather, earth and jam. Strong cheese, pasta with red sauce, beef and pork are the best matches for Pinot Noir.

MERLOT

As a mellow, less harsh red wine, Merlot offers a variety of flavors which include violets, black cherries, plums and oranges. This tends to do best with medium-heavy dishes, among which are strong cheese, pasta with red sauce and beef, but is also one of the few wines that provides a beautiful complement to chocolate.

CABERNET

Ranging from mild and mellow to rich and hearty, Cabernet is deep red in color and typically has the flavor of black currants with a hint of vanilla and oak, as a result of the storage barrels in which the wine is held. Cabernet blends quite well with strong cheese, pasta with red sauce, beef and chocolate.

ZINFANDEL

This deep red, almost black wine is very spicy with a hint of berry flavor. As Zinfandel ages, it becomes much more mellow, but is often appreciated in its youth (within the first two years after production). This wine best paired with strong cheese, pasta with red sauce, pizza and beef.

PORT

There are many types of port and, depending upon who produces it, this wine can be aged from one to twenty years. Blends will typically include those of black currants, truffles, pepper and smoke. The two primary foods that are best complemented by port are strong cheese like cheddar and chocolate.

The next time an occasion calls for wine, perhaps you’ll be a bit more ready to take on the challenge of matching a particular type with a specific dish. Before long you will acquainted with the full wine spectrum! So whether you make your own Gift Baskets And Wine or you buy one premade you will be making a more educated choice.

For realistic things to know about quick and easy recipes – please make sure to study the web site. The time has come when concise information is truly within your reach, use this possibility.