PairCraft-Tested Wines
Our sommeliers taste thousands of wines, making detailed notes on all of them. *Perfect Pairing* wines were chosen by our experts as a top match for a dish
Rombauer Vineyards "Carneros" Chardonnay
Region: USA, California
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Chardonnay
The wine is a bit overbearing with this dish. There is an unctuousness, butteriness in the wine, which is not terrible, especially when you go from the wine to crab cake, but when you go back to the wine, the wine is too big and overbearing. It's big and aggressive.
Pairing for: Private: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Flavor
melted butter, baked apple, spice rack, a little bit of every spice, earthy minerality in finish
Texture
round
velvety
More
ABV: 14.50%
Oak: Extensive
Oak: Extensive
Save this wine
Ronchi di Cialla Collio Friulano
Region: Collio Goriziano, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Friulano
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
apple juice
Flavor
peach
apple juice
Save this wine
Rosato Frizzante "No Autoclave" Terrevive
Region: Lambrusco, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: Rosé, Sparkling
Varietal: Lambrusco, Pignoletto
It does not have enough flavor and body for some of the dishes, and with others, its flavor clashes. It'sfar too dry for the turkey and sweet potatoes.
Pairing for: Private: Thanksgiving Dinner
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
cranberry
rhubarb
black cherry
Flavor
cranberry
rhubarb
red cherry
Texture
mildly grippy
More
ABV: 12%
Biodynamic
Biodynamic
Save this wine
Rose "L'Audacieuse" Domaine de la Selve
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Vintage Tested: 2017
Type: Rosé, Still
Varietal: Grenache, Syrah
It has the right body weight and flavor nuances. Even the vegetativeness of the beans works. The wine is a bit too reistant. But the food and the wine complement each other.
Pairing for: Private: Thanksgiving Dinner
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
ginger ale
lemon zest
lime zest
green apple
chalk
Flavor
lemon pudding
crème brûlée
powdered ginger
Texture
boiled oak
More
ABV: 13%
Certified organic
Oak: Extensive
Certified organic
Oak: Extensive
Save this wine
Ryan Patrick Riesling
Region: Washington, USA
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Riesling
This wine overtakes the dish, it coats the dish. They are enjoyable together, but it's just muting the dish, like a bulldozer.
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Flavor
slight bitterness, lemon lime, dried lemon, lemon peel, chamomile, dried hay, fresh-cut grass, beer-like yeasty, light wild flowers, very springy
Texture
Lean
More
ABV: 11.50%
Save this wine
Saarburger Rausch Spatlese Riesling
Region: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Riesling
You get too much sweetness.
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Flavor
citrus, white flowers, guava juice, tropical
Texture
Lean
More
ABV: 8.00%
Save this wine
Saint Amour Domaine des Billards
Region: Saint Amour, Beaujolais, France
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: Red, Still
Varietal: Gamay
This wine has a great body weight and structure for the food, but it's lacking some of the complementary flavor nuances. If it were the only red I tried, I could go with it, but others were more definitive.
Pairing for: Private: Thanksgiving Dinner
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
black cherry
black and red raspberry
prune
dried leaves
dusty
Flavor
dried cherry
dried raspberry
blueberry
black fruit
forest floor
Texture
raspberry pillow
More
ABV: 14.50%
Oak: Extensive
Oak: Extensive
Save this wine
Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Vintage Tested: 2017
Type: Still
Varietal: Sangiovese
The wine has too much flavor, tannin, and weight for this steak preparation. I'm looking for a medium-bodied wine, not a full one like this.
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
blackberry
violet
leather
Flavor
blackberry
dried fruit
compote. oak
savory
pencil shaving
violet
leather
More
ABV: 13.5%
Biodynamic
Oak: Some
Biodynamic
Oak: Some
Save this wine
San Lorenzo 'Sirio' Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Rosé
Region: Abruzzo, Italy
Vintage Tested: 2020
Type: Rosé, Still
Varietal: Montepulciano
This wine goes well with the lobster. It has a savory component that meshes, an upright structure that lifts up the lobster, and great balance so that the dish stays in balance.
Pairing for: Grilled Lobster with Garlic-Parsley Butter
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
Maraschino cherry
black currant
pomegranate
plum skin
sea spray
lychee
Flavor
roses
lillies
raspberries
tea
savory
More
ABV: 12.50%
Save this wine
Sancerre 'Calcaire' François Le Saint
Region: Sancerre, Loire, France
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
The acidity lasts through the dishes, but I don't hear angels' voices. There isn't quite enough body and intensity of flavor to it.
Pairing for: Private: Thanksgiving Dinner
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
cooked fruit
rubber
dust
plastic
Flavor
pear
cooked lemongrass
rubber hose
Texture
cooked fruit
More
ABV: 13.50%
Practicing Organic
Oak: Some
Practicing Organic
Oak: Some
Save this wine
Sancerre Domaine Jouan Frère et Soeur
Region: Sancerre, Loire, France
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
It doesn't bring anything to the experience. It lacks the intensity to stand up to the food.
Pairing for: Private: Thanksgiving Dinner
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
grapefruit
lemon
currant leaf
baking spice
limestone
Flavor
lemon
grapefruit
lemongrass
Texture
stony
jagged
More
ABV: 13.50%
Save this wine
Santenay Rouge David Trousselle
Region: Santenay, Burgundy, France
Vintage Tested: 2017
Type: Red, Still
Varietal: Pinot Noir
The tannins are too high, the acid is too low, and it's just not flavorful enough.
Pairing for: Private: Thanksgiving Dinner
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
wild strawberry
red and black cherry
red raspberry
black tea
Flavor
raspberry
cherry
strawberry in mouth
dried cherry cranberry
Texture
mildly grippy
More
ABV: 11-14%
Practicing Organic
Practicing Organic
Save this wine
Savia Viva Cava Brut
Region: Penedès, Spain
Vintage Tested: NV
Type: White, Sparkling
Varietal: Xarel-lo, Parellada, Macabeo
No. The wine has super fruity, candied fruit, Jolly Rancher type fruit flavors and those are very dissonant with the dish. It doesn't have the structure to carry crab cake.
Pairing for: Private: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Flavor
citrusy, candied peel, like an artificial flavor, canned peach, fruit salad, lots of fruit, chamomile
Texture
bubble bath
a bit of grip
More
ABV: 11.50%
Bubbles: Medium
Bubbles: Medium
Save this wine
Scarzello Langhe Nebbiolo
Region: Langhe, Piemonte, Italy
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: Red, Still
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
licorice
black cherry
grape stems. dried fruit
baked
black cherry
strawberry
Flavor
licorice
black cherry
grape stems
dried fruit
strawberry
More
Oak: Some
Oxidation: Mild
Oxidation: Mild
Save this wine
Schloss Gobelsburg Kamptal "Gobelsburger" Grüner Veltliner
Region: Kamptal, Austria
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Gruner Veltliner
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
yellow pear
green apple
herbal
Flavor
yellow pear
green apple
peach
lemon basil
lemon thyme
salty
More
Sustainable
Save this wine
Schömann Zeltinger Sonnennuhr Spatlese Trocken Riesling
Region: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Riesling
The pairing result is too bitter.
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Flavor
slightly bitter, lemon lime citrus, orchard, lees, bruised apple skin
Texture
Medium
More
ABV: 12.50%
Biodynamic
Oak: Extensive
Biodynamic
Oak: Extensive
Save this wine
Perfect Pairing
Scribe Pinot Noir
Region: USA, California
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: Red, Still
Varietal: Pinot Noir
What you're looking for here is a New World pinot noir that is
sour cherry, pomegranate, and earth on the palate;
has a fun, fresher, lighter, easy drinking, fruit forward style;
has soft edges (avoid anything with too much acidity and sharp edges); no obvious oak; and matches the acidity, body, intensity of flavor, and tannin level of this wine.
Perfect Pairing for: Private: Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger, Scallions, and Soy
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Flavor
cassis, red and black cherry, wet compost, pomegranate
Texture
Lean
More
ABV: 13.50%
Save this wine
Seresin Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
Vintage Tested: 2018
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
The wine is too floral and becomes even more floral when paired with the grilled lobster, so it's too much for the dish.
Pairing for: Grilled Lobster with Garlic-Parsley Butter
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
floral
lychee
marzipan
brioche
fresh-cut lemon
elderflowers
Flavor
fresh squeezed lemon
elderflower syrup
More
ABV: 13%
Biodynamic
Biodynamic
Save this wine
Sergio Mottura Orvieto Secco
Region: Latium, Italy
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: White, Still
Varietal: Blend
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Alcohol
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
floral
grapey
Flavor
floral
grapey
citrus
More
Biodynamic
Save this wine
Serra Rosé
Region: USA, California
Vintage Tested: 2019
Type: Rosé, Still
Varietal: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
The flavor nuances are interesting with the meal, but the wine is perhaps too light.
Pairing for: Private: Thanksgiving Dinner
Profile
None
Low
Med-
Med
Med+
High
Acidity
Body
Intensity of Flavor
Sweetness
Tannin
Aroma
apple skin
ginger
apple blossom
underripe melon
Flavor
red apple
cherry blossom
watermelon
petrol
Texture
crushed fruit skin
More
ABV: 12.50%
Save this wine