GOOD DAY ATLANTA WINE PAIRING GUIDE

Hi there,

If you've found your way here from GOOD DAY ATLANTA, thanks for taking the time to stop by! I hope I'll see you tonight (Wednesday, June 18) at the French-American Brasserie for the party for THE ART OF FRENCH KISSING, my fourth novel, thrown by skirt! magazine, 360 Media, Little Black Dress Wines and Korbel. Joining me will be superstar designer Amy Tangerine, who can chat with you about her line of designer apparel too!

As mentioned on the show, here are some tips for pairing wine and French food:

CHARDONNAY (such as Little Black Dress chardonnay): Some chardonnays are aged in oak barrels and take on a bit of an oaky taste, while some, like Little Black Dress chardonnay, are aged in steel barrels. In general, chardonnays pair well with mild cheeses, such as gruyere, brie and mild cheddar, and with chicken and fish dishes, including salmon, shrimp and crab cakes, as long as the dishes aren't too spicy. Chardonnay is a light wine, so a heavier meal, such as beef or a pasta with red sauce, will overwhelm its flavor.

PINOT GRIGIO (such as Little Black Dress Pinot Grigio) is a light, crisp wine that also pairs well with lighter foods and often has a fruitier taste than chardonnay (although don't think that it will be sweet; it's usually not). Like chardonnay, it's a good choice for mild chicken and seafood dishes, and it also pairs well with cheeses including gruyere, asiago and goat cheese.

MERLOT (such as Little Black Dress merlot) is a much stronger wine and pairs well with heavier foods, such as beef and pasta with red sauce. Cheese pairings include: blue cheese, camembert, buffalo mozarella and gouda.

CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE (such as Korbel): Sparkling wines go well with dessert or on their own as an aperitif (you can add creme de cassis, a blackcurrant liquor, to make a "kir royale," a common French aperitif). Cheese pairings include brie, explorateur (a creamy cheese from France), buffalo mozarella and Saint Andre.