Wine pairing builds on the flavor balancing work we do in the kitchen. The five tastes (salt, acid, sweetness, bitterness and umami) push and pull on the tastes of a wine in predictable ways. Let’s start with the most important elements of a wine. Acidity, sweetness, tannins, bitterness and alcohol. This is what we call the wine’s structure. Here’s a quick breakdown of each: Acidity makes a wine mouthwatering. It is most obvious in tart white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Albariño, but acidity is crucial for keeping bold red wines and sweet dessert wines balanced and delicious. Sweetness comes from unfermented sugar […]