Food and Wine Pairing Guide Raw

| Category           | Champagne / Sparkling          | Sauvignon Blanc                 | Chardonnay                    | Riesling                       | Moscato                           | Pinot Noir                                  | Syrah                                | Merlot                              | Meritage                        | Cabernet Sauvignon                      | Zinfandel                              |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| **Cheese / Nuts**  | Aged Cheese, Parmesan, Almonds | Feta, Goat Cheese, Pine Nuts    | Asiago, Almonds               | Gouda, Candied Walnuts         | Mascarpone, Almonds               | Goat Cheese, Brie, Walnuts                  | Sharp Cheddar, Hazelnuts             | Parmesan, Romano, Chestnuts         | Blue Cheese, Toasted Cashews    | Cheddar, Gorgonzola, Walnuts            | Aged Cheese                            |
| **Meat / Fowl**    | Spicy Meats                    | Chicken, Turkey                 | Veal, Chicken                 | Smoke Sausage, Duck            | Spicy Meats, Smoked Meats         | Lamb, Chicken                               | Roast Game, Pepperoni, Spicy Sausage | Grilled Meats, Steaks, Duck         | Lamb, Red Meat, Duck            | Venison, Duck, Rib Eye                  | Pork, Spicy Sausage, Beef, Duck        |
| **Seafood**        | Lobster, Crab, Salmon          | Sole, Oysters, Scallops         | Halibut, Shrimp, Crab         | Sea Bass, Trout                | Salmon, Crab, Trout               | Orange Roughy, Tuna, Salmon                 | Trout, Halibut                       | Grilled Swordfish, Tuna             | Tuna, Grilled Shark             | Rare Tuna                               | Cioppino, Blackened Fish               |
| **Veggie / Fruit** | Mushrooms, Strawberries        | Citrus, Green Apples, Asparagus | Potato, Apple, Squash, Mango  | Apricots, Pears, Chili Peppers | Chili Peppers, Pears, Raspberries | Mushrooms, Dried Fruits, Figs, Strawberries | Stewed Tomatoes, Beets               | Caramelized Onions, Tomatoes, Plums | Boysenberry, Plums              | Black Cherries, Mushrooms, Squash       | Cranberries, Grilled Peppers, Tomatoes |
| **Herb / Spice**   | Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg       | Chive, Tarragon, Cilantro       | Tarragon, Sesame, Basil       | Rosemary, Ginger               | Ginger, Pepper                    | Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon                     | Oregano, Sage                        | Mint, Rosemary, Juniper             | Black Pepper, Rosemary, Oregano | Rosemary, Mint, Sage                    | Pepper, Nutmeg                         |
| **Sauces**         | Cream Sauce, Mushroom          | Citrus, Light Sauce             | Cream Sauce, Butter Sauce     | Sweet BBQ, Spicy, BBQ          | Spicy, BBQ                        | Mushroom, Light Sauce                       | BBQ, Medium-Heavy, Head Sauce        | Meat Sauce, Mushroom Sauce          | Meat Stock, Mushroom Sauce      | Brown Sauce, Meat Stock, Mustard Sauce  | Spicy, Cajun, Meat Sauce               |
| **Desserts**       | Berries, Shortbread, Popcorn   | Sorbet, Key Lime Pie            | Banana Bread, Vanilla Pudding | Apple Pie, Caramel Sauce       | Cheesecake, Lemon Cake, Sorbet    | Crème brûlée, White Chocolate               | Black Forest Cake, Rhubarb Pie       | Dark Chocolate, Berries, Fondue     | Dark Chocolate, Berry Cobbler   | Bittersweet Chocolate, Espresso, Gelato | Spice Cake, Gingerbread, Carrot Cake   |

Saw [this](/assets/wine-pairing-guide.jpeg) with Catherine at [West Side Wine](https://maps.app.goo.gl/rsEBB9va7WUKXQib6) in NYC on Nov 8th, 2025.