And just as some love coconut and others hate it, there s nothing wrong and everything right with people wanting to drink certain wines above all others, regardless of the cuisine. Still, let s acknowledge that certain flavors in foods and beverages can help or hinder the co-habitation of the two in your mouth, however temporarily. For many people, salt in a dish will soften the bitterness in a wine. For almost everybody, a dessert wine tastes best when it s as sweet or sweeter than the dessert it accompanies. These tendencies reflect common, but not universal experiences, and few diners are aware of this preference unless in some sort of clinical setting.
Most diners simply prefer matches that seem fair, equitable, equally respectful of both components.
When marrying food and wine, remember that a perfect consummation is a strictly personal experience. But don t worry too much about it all, either. The game of wine and food is more like hunting with hand- grenades than with bows and arrows. Getting close will probably get the job done. E-mail this story to a friend.