BC wine and food pairings

Pair local with local

Tips For Your Wine And Food Pairing

  • Intensely flavoured foods need intensely flavoured wines
  • Acidic foods need higher acid wines
  • Sweet foods need to be paired with a wine that is at least as sweet or sweeter
  • Avoid tannic wines with oily fish or hot spice
  • Pair off-dry to sweet wines to help counteract spice heat
  • Well salted meats make red wines taste less tannic and softer
  • Crisp acid whites pair well with salty food
  • Pair crisp acidic whites with fatty or deep fried foods

Cabernet Franc

BC versions are outstanding and very versatile food wines. Try it with roast chicken, pork, roasted or grilled, beef, duck, sausage, lamb, veal, hearty fish dishes and even hard or soft cheese.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon stands up beautifully to virtually all red meats, whether served simply with “jus” or rich, reduced sauces. Fine, older Cabernets are excellent accompaniments to special occasion meals, while younger ones match simpler fare.

Merlot

Merlot pairs well with red meats. It has the weight and fruit to match wine-braised stews and roasts, and the structure and polish to pair with rare, grilled prime cuts.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir’s greatest strength is its suppleness. Without the hard tannic structure found in many red wines, it pairs effortlessly with a wide range of foods—from fish through game birds to grilled beef and lamb. Don’t overwhelm its gentle fruits and refined complexity with strong or spicy flavours; simply prepared dishes are best.

Gamay Noir

Gamay is a cousin of Pinot Noir so you can try it with foods that pair well with Pinot. Try lighter and medium bodied dishes, especially those with some acidity.

Syrah Shiraz

Syrah/Shiraz has a unique peppery, spicy quality that makes it perfect to pair with robust meat dishes including peppercorn steak and braised lamb shanks. For the adventurous, try pairing it with a slightly spicy ethnic dish such as Mexican mole or lamb korma.

Pinot Gris

Very adaptable with the structure to stand up to Asian, Oriental and Latin flavours. A perfect anytime choice.

Chardonnay (Oaked)

Rich dishes with butter or cream sauces. Nice with chicken, crab, white fish, salmon, scallops and veal.

Gewürztraminer

Its intense, exotic aromas and flavours seem ideally suited to spicy cuisines from China to Thailand to India, and it stands up equally well to the fruitiest salsas and smokiest grilled and barbecued flavours of contemporary North American cuisine.

Pinot Blanc

These white wines are light-bodied and dry, with delicate acidity and subtle aftertaste, making them great to serve with lighter fare. Typical characteristics include fresh orchard aromas, distant nuances of sage or dried herbs, green apples and citrus notes.

Riesling

The most fruit-driven examples take well to barbecued or smoked foods and a wide variety of fruity and subtle spicy flavours. Sweeter Rieslings can also handle chili heat.

Sauvignon Blanc

It is excellent with shellfish or light, subtle dishes or, in its oak-aged versions, with richer fare.

Sparkling Wine

Very adaptable with the structure to stand up to Asian, Oriental and Latin flavours. A perfect anytime choice.

The most versatile of all wines! Appetizers, caviar, eggs, fried food, oysters, popcorn, salty food, smoked salmon, sushi – almost anything goes, but never stronger than the wine itself.

Rosé

Like sparkling wines, Rosé wines are all-around crowd pleasers these days. Charming on their own (particular during patio season) or paired with a variety of dishes, try pairing a dry Rosé with antipasto platters, melon and prosciutto, cheese platters, pizza, salad niçoise, roast turkey or chicken.

Icewine Late Harvest

When pairing Icewine or Late Harvest, remember that the wine should be as sweet or sweeter than your dessert, and that sweetness cuts through fat. Feeling saucy? Try drizzling some Icewine over your ice cream. Adventurous? Pair with a salty or spicy appetizer.

BC food and wine pairing chart showing how to match different meats, spicy dishes, salads, and flavors like sweet & umami with red wine & white wine like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot grigio and more. By WineBC.com

Explore

Wine & Recipe Pairings

View All

Very adaptable with the structure to stand up to Asian, Oriental and Latin flavours. A perfect anytime choice.

Chardonnay paired rich butter or cream sauces. Nice with chicken, crab, white fish, salmon, scallops and veal.

Its intense, exotic aromas and flavours seem ideally suited to spicy cuisines from China to Thailand to India, and it stands up equally well to the fruitiest salsas and smokiest grilled and barbecued flavours of contemporary North American cuisine.

Features crisp acidity, light to medium body, and refreshing flavors. It is made from the Pinot Gris grape variety and is known for its versatility and easy-drinking nature.

  • Crostini

    BC Wine Pairing; Sparkling Crostini Also known as bruschetta, these crisp toast rounds can be made ahead and are an…
    READ MORE Crostini

  • Homemade Ricotta

    BC Wine Pairing; Sparkling Homemade Ricotta This light, creamy and rich fresh cheese can be used in countless dishes, as…
    READ MORE Homemade Ricotta

  • Terrafina Fish Cakes

    BC Wine Pairing: Choose seasonal fish to make these scrumptious fish cakes and pair them with Hester Creek Chardonnay Ingredients: …
    READ MORE Terrafina Fish Cakes

  • Lemon Chicken Piccata

    BC Wine Pairing; Rosé or Pinot Blanc Serves 4 Total Time: 40 minutes Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20…
    READ MORE Lemon Chicken Piccata

The most fruit-driven examples take well to barbecued or smoked foods and a wide variety of fruity and subtle spicy flavours. Sweeter Rieslings can also handle chili heat.

  • Parsnip & Apple Bisque

    Apples, vanilla and butter are all characteristics found in Chardonnay and are all flavors that will be found in this…
    READ MORE Parsnip & Apple Bisque

  • Thai Chicken Curry

    BC Wine Pairing; Riesling, Grüner Veltliner Serves 4 Total Time:  45 minutes Prep Time:  15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes…
    READ MORE Thai Chicken Curry

It is excellent with shellfish or light, subtle dishes or, in its oak-aged versions, with richer fare.

BC versions are outstanding and very versatile food wines. Try it with roast chicken, pork, roasted or grilled, beef, duck, sausage, lamb, veal, hearty fish dishes and even hard or soft cheese.

  • Turkey Pho

    Choose and off-dry BC Riesling with crisp citrus flavours, mouthwatering acidity and touch of residual sugar which will complement the…
    READ MORE Turkey Pho

Cabernet Sauvignon stands up beautifully to virtually all red meats, whether served simply with “jus” or rich, reduced sauces. Fine, older Cabernets are excellent accompaniments to special occasion meals, while younger ones match simpler fare.

Merlot pairs well with red meats. It has the weight and fruit to match wine-braised stews and roasts, and the structure and polish to pair with rare, grilled prime cuts.

Pinot Noir’s greatest strength is its suppleness. Without the hard tannic structure found in many red wines, it pairs effortlessly with a wide range of foods—from fish through game birds to grilled beef and lamb. Don’t overwhelm its gentle fruits and refined complexity with strong or spicy flavours; simply prepared dishes are best.

Gamay is a cousin of Pinot Noir so you can try it with foods that pair well with Pinot. Try lighter and medium bodied dishes, especially those with some acidity.

Syrah/Shiraz has a unique peppery, spicy quality that makes it perfect to pair with robust meat dishes including peppercorn steak and braised lamb shanks. For the adventurous, try pairing it with a slightly spicy ethnic dish such as Mexican mole or lamb korma.

The most versatile of all wines! Appetizers, caviar, eggs, fried food, oysters, popcorn, salty food, smoked salmon, sushi – almost anything goes, but never stronger than the wine itself.

Like sparkling wines, Rosé wines are all-around crowd pleasers these days.  Charming on their own (particular during patio season) or paired with a variety of dishes, try pairing a dry Rosé with antipasto platters, melon and prosciutto, cheese platters, pizza, salad niçoise, roast turkey or chicken.

When pairing Icewine or Late Harvest, remember that the wine should be as sweet or sweeter than your dessert, and that sweetness cuts through fat. Feeling saucy? Try drizzling some Icewine over your ice cream. Adventurous? Pair with a salty or spicy appetizer.

Wine BC App

Meet Your BC Wine Companion

Match Intensity

Pair bold cheeses with full-bodied wines and lighter cheeses with lighter wines.

Consider Texture

Pair creamy cheeses with crisp wines for contrast, while pairing hard cheeses with tannic wines.

Balance Flavors

Complementary flavors, such as fruity wines and nutty cheeses, or acidic wines and creamy cheeses.

Experiment

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations to discover your preferences.

Local Pairings

Explore regional pairings by matching wines and cheeses from the same area.

Serve at the Right Temperature

Ensure both the wine and cheese are served at their optimal temperatures.

Wine & Cheese

BC wine & cheese pairing tips

Match Intensity

Pair bold cheeses with full-bodied wines and lighter cheeses with lighter wines.

Consider Texture

Pair creamy cheeses with crisp wines for contrast, while pairing hard cheeses with tannic wines.

Balance Flavors

Complementary flavors, such as fruity wines and nutty cheeses, or acidic wines and creamy cheeses.

Experiment

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations to discover your preferences.

Local Pairings

Explore regional pairings by matching wines and cheeses from the same area.

Serve at the Right Temperature

Ensure both the wine and cheese are served at their optimal temperatures.

Discover BC Wine Country

Journey through picturesque vineyards, with each glass unveiling a tapestry of flavors from the province.

Learn More

Explore Our Wines

A delightful adventure, unveiling a spectrum of flavors that define the province’s rich and diverse wine culture.

Learn More

Experience our Events

Explore tastings, tours, and culinary delights, providing immersive experiences in the heart of BC.

Learn More