Vocabulary
10 key words for this lesson
PAIR
To match one thing with another.
We often pair red wine with steak.
PAIRING
A combination of food and wine that goes well together.
Wine and cheese is a classic pairing.
COMPLEMENT
To go well with something and make it better.
This white wine complements seafood.
CONTRAST
To be different in a good way.
A sweet wine can contrast a spicy dish.
CREAMY
Soft and smooth, like cream.
The wine goes well with creamy pasta.
ACIDITY
The sour, fresh quality in wine.
The acidity balances the rich sauce.
TANNINS
The dry, slightly bitter feeling in red wines.
The tannins make the wine feel stronger.
DECANT
To pour wine into another container to let air in.
Let's decant the red wine before dinner.
TEXTURE
How something feels in the mouth.
The texture of this wine is silky.
COURSE
One part of a meal: starter, main or dessert.
We had a different wine with each course.
Phrases
6 phrases and their meanings
GO WELL WITH
To taste good together.
Sauvignon Blanc goes well with goat cheese.
CUT THROUGH
To reduce the heavy feeling of rich or fatty food.
The acidity cuts through the creamy sauce.
What would you pair with…?
Ask for a pairing recommendation.
"What would you pair with spicy Thai food?"
This wine complements the…
Say a wine makes a dish better.
"This light white wine complements the fish perfectly."
Red with red meat, white with fish.
A classic, simple pairing rule.
"When in doubt: red with red meat, white with fish."
A sweet wine to balance the spice.
Explain a contrasting pairing.
"For curry, try a slightly sweet wine to balance the spice."
In Action
Hear how these phrases sound in real B2B situations
“Rules can be broken! A light red like Pinot Noir can pair beautifully with salmon.”
Register
Understand when and how to use each phrase — formal, neutral, or informal
Videos
Watch these terms used in context
Dialogue
Read the dialogue and hover the blue words for definitions
Tim
KiraKira, you know about wine. I'm making a three-course dinner. What would you pair with each dish?
Fun! What's the starter?
Prawns with garlic and lemon.
A crisp white. Its acidity complements the lemon. And the main?
Mushroom risotto. It's very creamy.
Then a Chardonnay — the rich texture matches the risotto. Or a light Pinot Noir; the earthy notes go well with mushrooms.
Not a big red like Cabernet?
The strong tannins would hide the delicate flavours. Save that for steak. If you open a red, decant it an hour before.
Great tip. And dessert is chocolate cake.
A sweet port. The contrast with the bitter chocolate is amazing. That's my favourite pairing!
Exercises
Complete all three exercises to see your final score
Matching
Click a word, then click its correct definition.
Click a word on the left, then its definition on the right.
Words
Definitions
Fill in the Blank
Drag the correct words from the word bank to complete each sentence.
Sentence 1
We often— — —red wine with steak.
Sentence 2
Wine and cheese is a classic— — —.
Sentence 3
This white wine— — —seafood beautifully.
Sentence 4
The— — —cuts through the rich, creamy sauce.
Sentence 5
Sauvignon Blanc goes well— — —goat cheese.
Sentence 6
We had a different wine with each— — —.
Tip: Think about the meaning of each word and what makes sense in the sentence.
Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer for each question about the dialogue.
1.What does "complement" mean in food pairing?
2.What are "tannins"?
3.Why does acidity help with creamy food?
4.What is a classic simple rule?
5.In the dialogue, what is the main course?
6.What does Kira suggest with the chocolate cake?