The perfect dining experience centers around much more than a meal. It also includes the right ambiance, excellent service, and, of course, a perfect wine pairing. Each wine has specific notes to highlight certain flavors in your dish. If you want to truly tantalize your taste buds and elevate your meal, it’s crucial to choose just the right pour. We’ve created a quick guide to help you find the best wine pairing for your meal.

Two Types of Wine Pairings

There are two ways you can pair your wine with your meal to create a good balance between all the flavors:

• Congruent Pairing — Choose two similar flavors that amplify each other. For instance, a creamy meal calls for a buttery wine, like Chardonnay.
• Contrasting Pairing — Also known as a complementary pairing, this method matches two different flavors, where one cuts through the other, toning down certain tastes to create balance.

Quick Tips for Creating Good Wine Pairings

Keep in mind that red wines are typically more tannin-forward (bitter). Whites and rosés can lean more acidic. Of course, sweet wines will have more fruity, sweet notes.



1. Wine should be more acidic than the accompanying dish.
2. The wine should be sweeter than the meal.
3. Red wines pair best with rich, bold meats like beef and lamb.
4. White wines work well with lighter meats, including fish and chicken.
5. Bitter reds create a good balance with fat.
6. Matching your wine with the sauce rather than the meat creates more well-rounded flavors. For example, a chicken in a creamy lemon sauce would pair well with white wine. However, if you are eating chicken with a mushroom-based sauce, a lighter-bodied pinot noir may work better with the earthy, savory flavors.

Wine to Choose If You're Getting...

Red Meat (Steak, Lamb, Burgers, etc.)

A rich dish calls for a rich, dry red. Leaner cuts can pair with a light-bodied pinot noir or merlot. For fattier cuts of meat and burgers, aim for wines with high tannins, like Cabernet Sauvignon, to balance out the buttery flavor.

Pork

While pork is technically red meat, it pairs with both full-bodied white wines, like Chardonnay and juicy red wines, like Pinot Noir.

Chicken and Other Poultry

Chicken easily takes on the flavor of its seasonings and sauces, making it more versatile for pairing. For instance, you could pair our creamy, Indian-inspired Joyce Farms Airline Chicken Breast with a buttery Chardonnay for a congruent pair. More herbaceous or lemony chicken dishes may call for a pour of Sauvignon Blanc.

Seafood

White wine, especially light and crisp Pinot Grigio and Chablis, is a clear choice for our fresh oysters and local seafood selection. You may also pair certain fish, like tuna, with a dark, yet light-bodied pour of pinot noir.

Salad

Pair vinaigrettes with equally acidic sauvignon blanc, creamy dressings with full-body slightly acidic wines, and sweet sauces with a semi-sweet flavor.

Find Your New Favorite Wine Pairing at Hamp & Harry's

It’s most important to pair your food with a wine you’ll enjoy. Thankfully, Hamp & Harry’s selection of intriguing wines gives you the freedom to find a pour that fits your tastes while still bringing out the best in your dish. So when you’re ready to explore a variety of wine pairings, browse our Marietta wine menu then head to your favorite oyster bar, Hamp & Harry’s!

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