Taste the Symmetry

Wine can enhance a dish when paired appropriately with cuisine, and thoughtful pairing can transform dinner into a memorable culinary adventure for your guests.

Much like a sumptuous five-course meal at a fine-dining restaurant, where the sommelier selects specific wines that provide a perfect balance with the food, you can replicate this harmonious experience at home by following these suggestions. 

“I always like starting with some sparkling wine,” says Sarkis Arutiunov, head sommelier at LPM Restaurant & Bar in Miami, Florida. “Not because it is necessarily a perfect pairing for amuse-bouches, but because the bubbles stimulate our appetite and prepare us for a full meal.”

As for an appetizer wine, Arutiunov’s go-to is a dry chenin blanc with its “perfect acidity and pleasant notes of honey, apple, and pear," while a salad or soup pairs better with a chardonnay from Meursault. “Its creaminess, oak, and nutty aromas benefit salads with some cheese or creamy soups,” he says.

When the entrée arrives, it may be a good time to pour a red wine. Many find cabernet sauvignon delicious and reliable, but Arutiunov suggests exploring other reds to discover something new and different. 

“I am a big fan of cabernet franc, which is the ‘father of cabernet sauvignon,’ and grenache,” says Arutiunov. “When we talk about [drinking something with] a fatty steak or a lamb rack, these two grape varieties are my favorites.”

Dessert calls for something sweet, and that doesn’t just mean what's on the plate. Arutiunov recommends a sweeter wine, such as a noble rot called Botrytis (made from grapes picked at a certain point during infestation from a beneficial fungus, Botrytis cinerea, which can produce excellent and concentrated sweet wine) to pair with the final course.

“Whether it is Sauternes from France or Tokaj from Hungary, these wines are perfect with a slice of carrot cake (always my favorite) or a piece of New York cheesecake,” Arutiunov says.

STORAGE PERFECTED

Once you have selected the ideal wines for a gala occasion, it makes sense to store them in the industry’s best wine units.

Sub-Zero Wine Storage Units are engineered to replicate the ideal conditions of a natural wine cellar. They provide a stable environment that protects your wine collection from heat, light, vibration, humidity, and air.