Perfect Wines for
Mediterranean Cuisine

Bring the Mediterranean to life with great wine pairings.

What wine goes with what food?

The key to a good food and wine pairing is harmony. Each should enhance the other—the wine making the food more vibrant, and the food bringing out the nuances of the wine.

Often, diners aren't sure what wines match well with the food on the menu. By offering suggestions, you increase check average, but perhaps more importantly, you extend hospitality. Good hospitality is remembered, and repeat business might just be the return on that investment.

Good rules of thumb when recommending wines:

• Suggest wines that hail from the same region as the dish. So, if serving a pasta with a tangy tomato sauce, perhaps the food-friendly, fruity Chianti would be a good match.
• Pair lighter-style wines with lighter-style foods. For rich or strongly flavoured dishes, suggest more complex, robust wines.

Pairing up for the Mediterranean

There's so much to get excited about when matching wines to Mediterranean cuisine. French and Italian wines call this region home, bringing with them a synchronicity of terroir. Or consider California wines, which are a happy import to this sunny cuisine of grilled meats, fish, vegetables and grains.

Lighter Wine Pairings
Arugula Salad with Grilled Vegetables		This well-rounded, citrusy wine plays well with the tartness of the goat cheese and meatiness of the eggplant.
Mediterranean Couscous with Grilled Vegetables and Beans		Its crisp, clean flavour pairs well with the grilled vegetables.
Ratatouille Pasta Salad		Its bright acidity highlights the fresh flavours in the salad.
Sun-Dried Tomato Couscous with Grilled Vegetables		Its grassy notes is a nice counterpoint to the earthy texture of the sun-dried tomato.
Baked Ricotta Loaves		Its bright acidity cuts through the creaminess of the ricotta beautifully.

These dishes, although each offering unique profiles, all carry forth the fresh, light flavours of the Mediterranean. Acidic brightness is delivered through either Kraft vinaigrettes or tangy cheese. The grilling technique brings out the natural essence, while keeping the concentration on the fresh flavours of the ingredients.

flavour notes:
Riesling: lively, apricot, citrus
Sauvignon Blanc: bright, grassy, herbaceous, crisp
Pinot Grigio: light, orange blossom, fruit-forward, delicate

Heartier Wine Pairings
Antipasti Roulade		Antipasto and Chianti are a classic combination. The earthy, rounded Italian red is a great match to the depth of flavours found in the Parmesan and assorted meats.
Creamy Tapenade Crostini		Its earthiness is well matched to the flavours of the olives and sun-dried tomatoes, and also cuts through the creaminess of the dish.
Mediterranean Spanakopita		This medium-bodied crowdpleaser with cherry notes plays well against the mellow cream cheese and rich mouthfeel.
Baked Tomato-Ricotta Tart		The smoke and cherry in the wine are a good match for the tomato and oregano in this dish.

These dishes still reflect the delicious, fresh flavours of the Mediterranean, but they also deliver a decadent mouthfeel, with the addition of Philadelphia cream cheese, and in two of them, a crisp pastry packaging.

flavour notes:
Pinot Noir: mushroom, plum, cherry, smoke
Chianti: fruity, bright, round, earthy

When pairing wines with Mediterranean foods, stick to crisp, acidic whites to complement fish dishes, grilled vegetables and grains. For dishes flavoured with spices such as saffron or cumin, move to a medium-bodied red. In general, this cuisine's mantra chants freshness and simplicity. Mellow wines reflect those flavours, making the whole experience even more delicious.