Penfolds Guide to Food Pairing

Pairing food and wine is a skill many refine over trial and error

Personal preference is ultimately the best path to choose, however here are a few guiding principles that can make the process easier.

MATCH INTENSITY

Bold wine for bold food, and more delicate wine for delicate food. Think Bin 28 Shiraz to your wagyu steak, or Champagne Thiénot X Penfolds to your cured kingfish.

BALANCE THE HEAT

Spicy dishes can elevate the tannin profile, so when sitting down to a Thai curry, opt for a lighter red such as Bin 23 Pinot Noir or the fresh and balanced Bin 51 Riesling.

SWEET WITH SWEET

Sweet food makes wine taste less sweet. For dessert, select a wine with a higher level of sweetness; such as Penfolds Grandfather with your plum pudding.

What pairs well with shiraz?

When thinking about the best red wine to pair with steak, or what wine to serve with a rich wintery meal, it is safe to turn your attention to Penfolds shiraz. Juicy, fleshy and rich, these wines often require big and bold foods to match their intensity. Think beef shoulder ragu with Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz, or a three tomato risotto alongside RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz.

One of Australia’s most iconic wines is Penfolds Grange – and a special wine deserves a special meal. While Grange is a muscular wine with forthright tannins, it is often drunk at various age of maturity, so your meal should be specific to the wine in front of you. Meals can vary from 9+ marble wagyu eye fillet to a slow roasted ox cheek and tail in PX sauce.

What pairs well with cabernet sauvignon?

The best wine to pair with lamb is cabernet sauvignon. This is a classic combination that allows the bold tannins of the wine to make the lamb meat feel even more tender. Try servings of roasted spring lamb alongside our flagship cabernet, Bin 707.

Other meals that pair well include steak, mushrooms and blue cheese. The tannins and acidity of cabernet sauvignon pair well with richer foods. Fattier cuts of steak like Scotch fillet are a perfect accompaniment to Bin 407. The regional minty notes of Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon are expertly paired with rosemary roasted portobello mushrooms. And a bottle of Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon works well with the salty, sweet and bold flavours of a blue cheese.

What pairs well with multi-varietal red wines?

Penfolds are champions of multi-varietal blending, with a range of rich, bold and nuanced wines.

There are many dishes that you could serve with Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz. This two-varietal blend brings together sweet and savoury flavours amid tannin structure and poised acidity – look for similar balance in your meal. You could opt for the complex and rich flavours of a beef Wellington, or a simple American-style beef burger. Bin 138 Shiraz Grenache Mataro blends three varieties for a Mediterranean-inspired expression that remains wholeheartedly of the Barossa. Lighter meat meals such as venison with red-currant jus or the gamey notes of duck breast work well with Bin 138’s bright fruit character and high acidity.

Article: Penfolds Guide to Food Pairing

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What pairs well with champagne?

Classically, Champagne is best served with oysters – but don’t let your imagination stop there. Champagne works with a range of dishes, depending on the style and occasion.

A well curated cheese board is taken to another level when served with a premium Champagne – try our Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs or Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée. When serving our Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Rosé Champagne, there are many aperitif style dishes that you can turn to such as prawn cocktail or Vietnamese rice paper rolls.

What pairs well with cabernet sauvignon?

The best wine to pair with lamb is cabernet sauvignon. This is a classic combination that allows the bold tannins of the wine to make the lamb meat feel even more tender. Try servings of roasted spring lamb alongside our flagship cabernet, Bin 707.

Other meals that pair well include steak, mushrooms and blue cheese. The tannins and acidity of cabernet sauvignon pair well with richer foods. Fattier cuts of steak like Scotch fillet are a perfect accompaniment to Bin 407. The regional minty notes of Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon are expertly paired with rosemary roasted portobello mushrooms. And a bottle of Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon works well with the salty, sweet and bold flavours of a blue cheese.

What pairs well with chardonnay?

Bright, crisp and vivacious, riesling’s renowned high acidity allows it to pair well with a number of dishes as well as those that have high levels of fat and salt.

Penfolds Cellar Reserve Polish Hill River Riesling enjoys an elevated climate that makes the palate linear and zippy. This wine is exceptional alongside kingfish crudo, a pomegranate and walnut salad, or an ale-battered white fleshed fish.

Bin 51 is sourced from prized vineyard sites across Eden Valley, often presenting a beautiful bouquet of white florals upon release. This elegant style of riesling makes a perfect pair to a ricotta and zucchini quiche as well as a spaghetti alle vongole.

Magill Estate Restaurant

Situated at the spiritual home of Penfolds, Magill Estate Restaurant combines modern architectural style with the natural attributes of its Adelaide foothills location.

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Wine Varietals

The Origins of Cabernet Shiraz

The quintessential Australian blend, where cabernet structure meets the richness of shiraz - and tied intricately to the story of Grange.