#Oklahomagrapewine

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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PAIRING DISCOVER OKLAHOMA WINES WITH FOOD

Whether it be a birthday, holiday, or get-together, enjoying delicious Oklahoma grape wine with your meal is an excellent way to enjoy time with your friends and family. It is always best to pair your wine closely with your meal of choice to enhance your dining experience. Here is what you should know when pairing your favorite wines with your meal.

The Basics of Wine Pairings: Food Flavors

To help select your wine choice for your gathering, categorize the main dish of your meal into one of the five food flavor profiles. These profiles can help you determine which wines work best with certain flavors.

Acidic

Acidity is a common flavor in a variety of dishes. The general rule of thumb is that the wine should be equal to or more acidic than the dish, adding a crisp freshness to your meal. If the dish is more acidic, the flavor of the wine will fall flat. Crisp white discover Oklahoma wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc, pair well with acidic dishes such as fish or a fresh salad with an acidic dressing.

Bitter

Unlike acidity, bitter foods should not be paired with bitter wines, as it only enhances the bitterness. Complementary pairings, or those that do not share many flavor compounds, work best with bitter foods. Consider pairing bitter foods with an acidic white wine or red wine with lower tannins, such as Pinot Noir.

Umami

Umami is a unique, earthy flavor that enhances the acidity and bitterness of wine and decreases the perception of sweetness. It is crucial to consider the dish’s salt content. If the meal has an umami flavor with low salt content, it can make the wine taste harder, so try sweet or off-dry discover Oklahoma wines packed full of fruitiness. If the food has an umami flavor with high salt content, it tends to have the opposite effect. Try pairing it with a more fruity, acidic wine to bring some crispness.

Sweet

When it comes to sweet dishes and desserts, it is best to pair these with sweet wines equal to or higher in sugar content than the food. If the dish is sweeter than the wine, your wine will be stripped of its delicious flavors. Likewise, sweet foods can make wines taste bitter and lose their fruit flavors, so avoid pairing sweet foods with wines with high tannins.

Salty

Salt rounds out the taste of many dishes, from fried foods to pasta sauce. Salty foods can help bring out the sweetness of Oklahoma grape wine and hide bitterness and tannins. To bring more balance to a salty dish, try pairing it with acidic, fruity wines or sparkling wines.

Discover Local Wineries On the Oklahoma Winery Map

If you are searching for a wine to compliment your meal, browse your local wineries to find the perfect match. At the Oklahoma Grape Industry Council, we have members throughout the state that sell delicious, locally-made wines. For more information about the OGIC or to learn more about the Oklahoma winery map, please contact us today.

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CAN HYBRID GRAPES BE THE FUTURE OF OKLAHOMA GRAPE WINES?

Currently, 129 acres of land are dedicated to growing grapes in Oklahoma. That number has steadily increased over the years, and with the growing popularity of locally-made wines, that amount is sure to increase. As such, vintners and winery owners often look for new methods and strategies to expand and strengthen Oklahoma’s wine and grape industry. Part of that includes cultivating the right grape varieties.

Because of our state’s unique climate, some varieties grow better here than others. As such, to create Oklahoma grape wines, many vineyards will grow:

Cabernet Sauvignon. These grapes create a full-bodied red wine that is rich in tannins. Its aroma features cherries, cassis, and tobacco.

Muscat Blanc. This variety makes a white wine that can be sweet, dry, fortified, or sparkling. Its flavor profile features honey, citrus, and peach.

Riesling. These grapes yield an acidic white wine that can be sweet or dry. The wine tastes like lighter fruits and smells like honey or ginger.

Sangiovese. Rustic versions of this red grape create smokey and herbal wine. Wines can also be made from the more fruit-forward varieties.

Seyval Blanc. This variety creates an acidic white wine that is dry with some minerality. Its profile has notes of melon and green apple.

Tempranillo. These grapes make red wines that taste like blackberries and figs. Its fairly complex aroma features dill, tobacco, and wood.

Vignoles. This variety is used for both very dry and very sweet white wines. Its fruit flavors and floral aroma make it a popular dessert wine.

In addition to these grapes, there are many varieties of hybrid grapes that thrive in Oklahoma’s unique weather conditions.

Hybrid Grapes for Made In Oklahoma Wines

Why Hybrid Varieties are Used when Growing Grapes in Oklahoma

Hybrid grapes are created by crossing two or more existing varieties to get the best qualities of both. For example, with a hybrid variety, a vineyard owner can ensure that their crop has a natural resistance to local weather conditions, yet yield a wine that has the delicious flavor profile of something like a European merlot or chardonnay.

Two hybrid grape varieties that are especially popular for made in Oklahoma wines are Traminette and Chambourcin.

Traminette

This white wine has delicious flavors of various fruits, notably apricot and peach, which are complemented by hints of honey. Whether it is dry or fairly sweet, Traminette wine almost always pairs well with rich foods.

Traminette grapes were created by crossing Gewürztraminer grapes with another existing hybrid (Joannes Seyve 23.416). The cross resulted in grapes that are cold-hardy, resistant to many diseases, and feature the flavor profile that Gewürztraminer wines are known for.

Chambourcin

Well-known for its dark purple color, this red wine is made from one of the most popular hybrid grapes. Chambourcin’s plum and black cherry flavors are beautifully balanced with aromatic hints of herbs and spices.

Unlike the Traminette variety, the exact source of the Chambourcin grape hybrid is unknown. However, it likely contains some Seibel grapes in its lineage. Chambourcin grapes are very productive, resistant to many diseases, and create a wine that is bold and strongly flavored.

Enjoy Oklahoma Grape Wines

Whether you prefer classic flavors or want to expand your palette with something new, you are sure to enjoy quality wines whenever you try something made in Oklahoma. To learn more about local wines or the winemaking process, schedule a winery visit or vineyard tour with a member of the Oklahoma Grape Industry Council.