Enjoying A New Experience: A Wine Pairing Dinner
Throughout most of modern history, wine has mostly been associated with two things: dining and celebration. In fact, most people seem to think it is reserved for some combination of those two things; a fancy dinner that commemorates a special event. People have started to drink wine more casually lately, reaching for it instead of a cocktail at happy hour, or even being able to enjoy a glass of it while at a baseball game, where beer is usually king. Ironically, it is actually beer and spirits that are helping to bring wine back to the dinner table on a regular basis by the growth of popularity in "pairing dinners."
People who know wine well usually talk about how certain wines taste better with certain foods. The very generic level of this is the old rule of thumb that says "white wine with pasta and seafood, red wine with steaks and meats." The reason that specific wines so often pair well with certain foods dates back to wine's domestic roots. People made their wine to go best with whatever was their primary food source. In other words, even before it became the hip thing to do, people were pairing their wine and food.
What has helped to make it hip again is the explosive growth of microbreweries and, more recently, micro distilleries. Handcrafting small batch production lines, the brewers and distillers are able to work with local chefs and restauranteurs in their area to create specific dining experiences that feature a multi-course meal with a different beverage for each course.
Naturally, this experience has come full circle, and now many fine dining restaurants are featuring wine pairing dinners. The beauty of such an event is that most often it is a communal style dinner. Each course is served to everyone at the same time and either the wine maker or the chef will say a few words about it. This brings everyone together, which loosens inhibitions and opens people up to try new experiences. The semi-formality of the event is another reason for the resurgence in popularity. People may be less inclined to try a new restaurant for a typical dinner, but if they have the opportunity to partake in something special, it will pique their interest more. Most people look to have new experiences, especially if it can be done with a "safety in numbers" type of atmosphere.
Whether it is a couple looking for a special date night or a group of friends interested in trying something new, a wine pairing dinner at a local fine dining restaurant is the perfect antidote to just another typical night on the town.
About the Author
Jack Terry is a freelance writer who has been writing about the food and beverage industry for 20 years. http://www.osorioslatinfusion.com
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