Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Pairing

Cabernet Sauvignon is a dry red wine that can age for decades and becomes more complex and subtle as a result. Cabernet Sauvignon's signature aromas, in its youth, include blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry, herbs and cedar or oak. Cabernet Sauvignon, if not fully ripened when picked, can have green bell pepper or weedy notes. Cabernet Sauvignon takes on notes of seductive spices, anise, violets, leather, olive, tobacco and cigar box as it ages. Cabernet Sauvignon is often aged in oak from 6-24 months. Cabernet Sauvignon can be quite tannic when young (so decant it for an hour or two if you aren't going to age it). Cabernet Sauvignon tannins smooth out with age. Just how long Cabernet Sauvignon can age depends on how well it was made (quality of the fruit, etc).

Cabernet Sauvignon is most famous in Bordeaux, France, where it's part of a blend that can include any or all of the following grapes to increase the complexity of the final wine: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon is also planted worldwide because its tough skin resists disease and rot. Cabernet Sauvignon does especially well in regions with warm,dry conditions and a long growing season such as California's Napa and Sonoma Valleys and Paso Robles and in Chile, Argentina and South Africa. In Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with Shiraz and in Tuscany, with Sangiovese or stands alone in the coveted and pricey Super Tuscan wines. Cabernet Sauvignon was originally created by crossing the white grape Sauvignon Blanc and the red grape Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon, like Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir, is one of the world's most popular wines. Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with these foods:

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with appetizers:

     • pates: rich

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with beef:

     • beef cooked in red wine
     • meats: barbecued
     • beef: roast rare
     • beef: roast
     • chateaubriand
     • beef en croute
     • beef ribs: barbecued
     • beef bourguignonne
     • beef stew
     • beef wellington
     • beef: corned
     • hamburgers, meatloaf
     • beef: roast with gravy or au jus
     • steak, prime rib
     • corned beef and cabbage
     • brisket
     • beef
     • steak with mustard or soy sauce
     • steak
     • shepherd's pie
     • bison steak
     • rib roast with a coffee & pepper rub
     • kidneys
     • fondue: meat
     • sausages
     • tongue
     • casseroles & stews
     • casseroles: full flavored meaty
     • beef daube
     • steak, grilled
     • cheeseburgers

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with breads:

     • baguette: French
     • bread: Tuscan
     • bread: rustic
     • bread: cheddar crown

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with cheese:

     • Carré de Roncq
     • Coeur de Neufchatel
     • Grana Padano
     • Ardi-Gasna
     • Ossau-Iraty
     • cheese sandwich: grilled
     • romano
     • cheddar
     • blue cheese
     • cheese: hard
     • cheese: strong
     • parmesan
     • cheese: mature hard
     • brick
     • jack: dill
     • jack: garlic dill
     • jack: garlic & onion
     • cheddar: tomato basil
     • cheddar: bacon
     • cheddar: smoked
     • cheddar: mild
     • cheddar: medium
     • cheddar: sharp: 1 year - 4 years
     • cheddar: sharp: 5 years - 12 years
     • sweet constantine
     • swiss: baby
     • blue: paradise
     • gorgonzola

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with chicken/poultry:

     • partridge
     • turkey, roasted
     • turkey
     • coq au vin
     • turkey with heavy sauces
     • poultry or game: roast or casseroles
     • cornish game hen

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with desserts:

     • cake: black forest
     • mousse: chocolate (light)
     • chocolate Mexican Mole
     • bars: German chocolate coconut
     • terrine: chocolate hazelnut with a raspberry sauce
     • cake: chocolate
     • chocolate: dark
     • chocolate: bittersweet
     • chocolate: semisweet
     • fruit and chocolate
     • chocolate: mint flavored
     • chocolate and nuts
     • chocolate: dark/espresso
     • chocolate: dark/almond
     • pralines with chocolate

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with ethnic dishes:

     • tacos
     • fajitas
     • shrimp: coconut: Thai
     • lamb dishes: Ethiopian
     • spicy food
     • duck: peking
     • haggis
     • Pacific Rim dishes

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with game:

     • boar: wild
     • partridge
     • pheasant
     • rich meat & game casseroles
     • meat & game: grilled
     • game: roast
     • venison
     • ostrich
     • venison stew
     • kangaroo

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with lamb:

     • lamb: Irish stew
     • lamb chops,grilled
     • lamb chops,steaks
     • lamb kabobs, grilled
     • lamb shank
     • lamb: roast
     • lamb
     • lamb: rack
     • lamb: leg
     • lamb ragout with roasted sweet peppers

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with nuts:

     • peanut butter and marshmallow fluff

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with pasta:

     • stroganov: beef
     • lasagna

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with pizza:

     • pizza: New York
     • pizza: Australia
     • pizza: Ambrosia
     • pizza: Montrealer
     • pizza: seafood
     • pizza: blue cheese & buffalo chicken

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with pork:

     • pork cooked with prunes and cream
     • pork
     • black pudding
     • pork spareribs: barbecued

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with sauces, spices, herbs:

     • sauce: gorgonzola, blue cheese
     • sauce: horseradish
     • sauce: port: madeira
     • sauce: mint
     • sauce: mustard
     • rosemary
     • sauce: wine reduction: wine-based marinade
     • all spice
     • bay leaf
     • ginger
     • marjoram
     • onion
     • paprika
     • parsley
     • peppercorn
     • thyme
     • cayenne pepper
     • nutmeg

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with seafood & shellfish:

     • tuna: seared with a pepper crust

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with soups & stews:

     • stew: beef
     • stew: lamb

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with turkey holiday dinner:

     • turducken
     • turkey: dark meat
     • onions: creamed
     • succotash

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with veal:

     • veal: breaded cutlets
     • veal: roast
     • veal chops
     • veal marsala
     • veal shanks/osso buco
     • veal

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine with vegetables & salads:

     • escarole: endive: braised
     • eggplant: roasted
     • eggplant: baked or grilled
     • mustard greens
     • bean-based dishes
     • vegetables: grilled
     • mushrooms: porcini
     • broccoli
     • peppers: chili
     • zucchini