How to Match Wine With a Starter

Starters are quite difficult to pair with a wine, as they contain very different varieties of ingredients compared to a main meal, which will usually have one dominant ingredient such as beef or fish. It is also hard to pair wine with salad as many salads contain a vinegar dressing which reacts harshly with the acidity that is present in a wine. Here's our guide on the best suited wine to pair with different styles of starter dishes.

Salads and Vegetables

While a light Caesar Salad goes remarkably well with a rich Chardonnay, a Rocket Salad will pair magnificently with a Chenin Blanc. Tomato Salads are delicious with an acidic wine such as a Pinot Grigio since it gives it that extra zing. Asparagus is wonderful paired with a light Sauvignon Blanc, and Avocado will taste just right with Chenin Blanc or Riesling. A Trebbiano would be fine for a starter that contains mixed vegetables, olives, or artichokes.

Fish and Shellfish

Fish and Shellfish are very popular options as a starter, and as with fish in a main course, white wine goes exceptionally well with any fish dish. For lobster or crab, you can't get any better than pairing it with an excellent Chardonnay. Scallops pair very well with a Sauvignon Blanc, and for Mussels, a Muscadet will always be the perfect choice. Oysters will do best accompanied by a Chardonnay. Smoked Salmon will match with a rich Champagne.

Meats and Pate's

When pairing Charcuterie with any wine, try to match the regions. Alternatively, a young red will always match well with any Charcuterie. For any Spanish Pork meats, a Rioja will do just fine, but for any Italian Parma Ham or Salami Milanese, a light and juicy red wine such as a Morellino will pair beautifully. For Carpaccio a young Chianti will bring out the best in the dish, and for Fois Gras, a Muscadet Sauvignon Blanc Semillon will be the perfect choice!

Cheese and Eggs

Similar wines pair very well with both cheese and egg starters. For an omelette choose a rich Chardonnay or Semillon, and for anything with Goats Cheese, pair it with a Sauvignon Blanc. Tortillas and Frittatas are very different and therefore have different requirements. Tortillas go well with a Rioja, while Frittatas are excellent paired with a Montepulciano. Deep-fried cheese needs a fruity red wine with acidity, so pair it with a Cabernet Franc.

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