A Guide To Wine And Music Pairings
Published on May 25, 2023.
Drinking wine is a stimulating journey of discovery that employs the senses. If you are an expert on wine tastings, then you know all about experiencing the fullness of a glass of wine by color, aroma, taste and texture. But did you know that wine can be heard? Music influences the way we perceive things and with wine, it is no different. Finding the perfect combination of wine and music can elevate your experience by a hundred percent.
Music can significantly affect your appreciation of wine depending on what genre of music you listen to while sipping. With so many music and wine options out there, you are probably wondering how this works and more importantly, how to make a wine music combo that gives you the best experience. This article will get you started to a point where you can get creative with your own new inventions.
Music can significantly affect your appreciation of wine depending on what genre of music you listen to while sipping. With so many music and wine options out there, you are probably wondering how this works and more importantly, how to make a wine music combo that gives you the best experience. This article will get you started to a point where you can get creative with your own new inventions.
Practical Wine and Music Pairing Tips
There are no specific rules for pairing music and wine, but you can take a cue from other people’s experiences which are backed up by research. Below are some helpful tips for you.Pair Origins
You cannot go wrong when you pair wine and music of the same origin together. The result is a full experience of the great qualities of that Country’s history. A classic example is enjoying a glass of strawberry wine while listening to country music in your backyard during summer. Basically, French wines taste better with French songs and so on.Match Up Character and Personality Traits
Generally, you want to match up a wine with music that shares its most intrinsic attributes. Wines that seem darker and dense create a powerful harmony with lower sound frequencies. Both wines and songs can be light or dark, smooth or rough, elegant or earthy, romantic or shy, round or angular, dense or airy, loud or mutes, just to mention a few. Oftentimes, a music wine combo that hits the deepest are of the same or closely related elements. Now, do not panic if you do not have a lot of time to identify these traits. As long as you pair a wine with music that you are familiar with, it should taste better.
However, note that loud or aggressive pieces do not blend well with Pinot Noir or Zesty Riesling, but most Cabernet Sauvignon will do better. In the same vein, a Chardonnay works well with soulful music. Similarly, sweeter wines generally flow with consonant harmonies while more acidic wines thrive on some dissonance. Finally, red wines, particularly when aged, are better enjoyed with legato or elongated phrasing as opposed to more active, kinetic wines that pair well with active, kinetic music.Pair up Time With Vintage
Just like fashion, music and wine go hand-in-hand with the times. An example would be pairing an Australian Shiraz with music from the eighties. The blend of fruits and warm, mouth-filling texture hits you like a hurricane when nostalgic hits by legends like Rolling Stones and Queen are playing softly in the background.Play Around to Create New Experiences
As with all things aesthetics, there will always be varying degrees of complexity. In all, your preferences should remain paramount. Try out new combinations of wine music and give yourself a delightful encounter each time.