Marriott Sommelier Offers Suggestions for Perfect Wine Pairing

Whether it is an important business dinner, a long awaited family gathering or a date with someone special, many people look forward to opportunities to enjoy life’s epicurean pleasures. Savoring a fine vintage, on the road or on the town, is often not just a well-earned reverie, but a perfect occasion to experiment with exciting new pairings of food and wine. The problem: many diners are unsure how to select fitting accompaniments to favorite dishes.

Master Sommelier, Madeline Triffon, recently retained by Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) to help develop the wine and beverage offerings at Marriott and Renaissance hotels, has taste buds trained to find an ideal match for any dish. Having assisted patrons with wine selection at restaurants around the world, Triffon, one of only 44 American master sommeliers, offers the following suggestions:

Red Wines

With an Italian meal like pasta in virgin olive oil with parmegiano, the earthy, dry, sophistication of Tuscany’s Chianti Classico or Rosso di Montalcino is a fine alternative to an oak-laden Merlot.

With Prime NY Strip, a mountain-grown Cabernet is not for the faint of heart. Offerings of Napa’s Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder or Sonoma Mountain exude power, tannin and deep, dark flavor.

For a lighter touch, Pacific Northwest Salmon is perfect with a Santa Barbara Pinot Noir, a California Red that possesses a surprising zest for its light structure and a juicy, wild strawberry flavor.

White Wines

For appetizing seafood starters like raw oysters or flash-fried calamari, consider Northern Spain’s light, dry Albarino, a tasty alternative to Pinot Grigio.

Asian-influenced cuisine is well accompanied by the off-dry, fruity-tart, lightly intoxicating or Kabinett German Riesling.

When enjoying a hearty dish, like herb-rubbed chicken, opt for Macon Blanc or St. Veran, minimally oaked, dry, smoothly textured French Chardonnay that is also an authentic value.

When on the road, business travelers and busy globetrotters may not always have the opportunity to fully experience the locales they visit. They can still experience a taste of the region by trying a locally produced wine. As Triffon quips, “What better time is there to discover a new wine than when you’re traveling?”

A robust and diversified portfolio of wines from around the world is available at the more than 500 Marriott and Renaissance hotel restaurants worldwide.