When planning events, from awards dinners for 100’s to intimate dinner parties, the order in which the chosen wines to be served is something to be considered. For the most part it depends on the food being served and you’d pair the wines accordingly.
With wines, as with food, you’d perhaps tend to start with the lighter styles before moving on to those with more oomph. A pre-dinner drink might be bubbles or a dry Riesling for example and then a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris with an entrée of maybe seafood. If the main course is a white meat, then Chardonnay could be on the cards, or Viognier, Albarinho or some other full-bodied white.
Light red meat or stronger flavoured vegetarian dishes such as earthy lentil-based recipes would work well with Pinot Noir while full-on beef with rich flavourings would be a great pairing with Syrah. Lamb and Cabernet Sauvignon are a great match too. Or you can always save the ‘big red’ for the cheese course if you’re having one. Hard, strong flavoured cheeses can be a flavour sensation with big, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon (but not more delicate flavoured cheeses!). And blue cheese with Port or botrytis dessert wines such as Riesling or Semillon are truly a match made in heaven (and while we’re at it – goat cheese and Sauvignon Blanc are terrific together – but probably earlier in the evening or as the entrée).
