Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Whitehall wines
May 5, 2010
Music, dancing, colorful decorations and festive food are all part of Cinco de Mayo. There really is no better way to celebrate this occasion than with a fabulous Mexican meal, a big group of friends, and some scintillating wine. Yes, I know, Margaritas and/or beer are the traditional drinks to accompany this festive holiday, but as I recently discovered wines can play a huge role in bringing out that certain sizzle in your Mexican feast.
Wondering where to start? Here are some basic guidelines for pairing Mexican food with wine. I say guidelines because with wine there really are no rules:
- avoid big tannin, high-alcohol wines with light or spicy foods. If you’re eating lighter foods, the big wines will mask most of the delicate flavors, and if you’re eating spicy foods the high alcohol will just put your mouth on fire
- Opposites attract. For example, fatty foods with acidic wines make a wonderful pairing. Super spicy foods pair nicely with a slightly sweet wine with lower alcohol.
Now as for the food. If you’re like me and waited till the very last minute to plan your Cinco de Mayo meal, (wine list, check… menu…. opps!) don’t worry Food & Wine has some great last minute recipes and properly stated “for procrastinators.” One of my favorites is this Chunky Guacamole with Cumin dish. Simple, quick, and when paired with our 2008 Sauvignon Blanc with its aggressive citrus flavors…. Deliciouso!
What are some of your favorite wines with Mexican food?
