To Drink Wine, or to Drink Champagne, with Ribs? Which is Better?
The old-school rule of thumb about drinking red wine with beef and white wine with chicken or fish has probably had its place and its time. Being the meat and wine connoiseurs that we are, we mix and match to find the most delicious pairings without regard to old-school rules! You should too, because food and wine tastes are as individual as our favorite mascara or which jeans fit both our waists and our hips.
You may know that we're very fond of
Petit Filet of Beef Tenderloin and
Meatloaf, but we enjoy ALL meats. With grilling season upon us, we're especially excited about ribs right now. The meat from a great set of slow cooked ribs just falls off the bone and melts in your mouth. And delicous slow cooked ribs calls for a great pairing, like wine or champagne!
If you're new to champagne or you don't often drink wine, but want to serve it with your ribs, the wide variety of colors and flavors can be daunting. Don't panic, we have your back with these great tips on how to pair wine or champagne with ribs.
White Wines:
White wines are lighter and dryer then red wines, and when I drink wine I prefer an okay chardonnay. White wines work best with citrus-marinated ribs and dry rubs featuring lighter spices like garlic and parsley. The best white wine to drink with ribs are:
- Chardonnay - oakey and dry, but full-bodied
- Pinot Grigio - light and citrusy
- Muscat - Sweet and a good pairing with pork ribs
Red Wines:
Red wines are full-bodied and robust. But they come in a wide range of sweetness, and if you're going to drink wine with ribs, you don't want to serve something that tastes like your kid's fruit punch. Red wines can hold their own against deeper spices like chipotle, pepper, curry, sesame. Some red wines to try are:
- Merlot - rich, smooth and velvety
- Cabernet Sauvignon - very dry and good with molasses-based bbq sauces
- Cotes du Rhone - deep, fruity and robust enough for the strongest spices
"Why drink wine when you can have champagne?" I always ask. Champagne goes with everything, but here are a few serving tips:
- Chill it - the colder, the better
- Use tall, fluted glasses to keep the bubbles fresh
- Extra Brut is driest, Doux is very sweet
Don't like to drink wine or Champagne? Throw a mojito into the mix! It's really all about personal preference and not about following old-school rules. Break the rules; wear your white shoes after Labor day and pair the food and drinks according to your tastes. You are your own best sommelier!