Wine, food, and travel are three of the best pleasures one should have in a lifetime. And if you enjoy eating tropical food, Oceania has some of the most incredible wine and food experiences in the gastronomic scene.
With the sheer variety of food options, there’s no shortage of choice when it comes to picking excellent meals that feature a delectable food and wine pairing.
From the pulsing streets of Sydney to the beaches of Auckland, we’ll take you from coast-to-coast to explore the best that Oceania has to offer in food and wine.
Feeling hungry yet? We’re barely getting started! Let’s discover some of the top Oceania food and wine pairings to please your palate.
6 Must Try Oceania Food and Wines
Here are 6 Oceania-based meals to try with wine:
- Pumpkin Ravioli with Viognier
Viognier is a medium-bodied white grape wine with a wide variety of flavours, typically ranging from tangerine, mango, and vanilla aromas. It can be spritzy or creamy, depending on the type. Its flavour is similar to chardonnay, but it has more distinct floral and tropical elements to it.
When the wine is poured, it has a light yellow hue in between chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. Pumpkin ravioli, both sweet and savoury variants, make an excellent pairing for this type of wine. The ravioli’s creamy sauce, cheese stuffing, and delightful saltiness are designed to enhance the vanilla notes in the Viognier.
If you’re not fond of pumpkin ravioli, don’t worry. It also pairs well with other types of pasta, such as lobster ravioli and butternut squash ravioli.
2. Carpetbag Steak with Cabernet Sauvignon
Carpetbag steak is a hearty dish from Australia. It’s made by stuffing oysters inside the steak, and then grilling it to perfection.
Pair this dish with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and you’re in for a treat. The bold flavours of the steak are a perfect match for the full-bodied red wine.
If you’re looking for a white wine pairing, try a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. The flavours will mesh harmoniously together.
3. Slow Braised Short Ribs with Cabernet Sauvignon
Slow-braised short ribs and gnocchi served with a full-bodied Sauvignon blanc is a match made in heaven. The Cabernet in particular provides a rich flavour to the entire dish while still maintaining a hint of sweetness.
Other wines that go well with short ribs include Merlots, Pinot Noirs, Shiraz, and Red Zinfandels.
4. Velouté Reine-Margot with White Wine
One prominent Oceanic dish is a chicken cream dish known as Velouté Reine-Margot, a gastronomical dish served with pistachios and julienned vegetables.
Pair this dish with a glass of Château Carbonnieux Grand Cru Classé and it’s guaranteed that your mouth will water on the first bite. The red wine complements the dish by providing a smoky, woody taste that intensifies the creaminess of the sauce.
5. Colonial Goose with Bordeaux Wine
Geese aren’t popular in Oceania countries, so when we say Colonial Goose, what is actually meant is mutton.
But don’t think of this dish as a cheap knock-off of the real thing. The lamb is stuffed with fresh herbs, honey, and breadcrumbs, tied together to look like a ‘goose’, marinated and then finally roasted for two hours. Once prepared to perfection, this dish is delicious, hearty, and filling.
Not to mention, it pairs extremely well with a glass of Bordeaux!
6. Ota Ika with Pinot Grigio
Ota ika, or marinated raw fish, is a popular dish in Oceania. The typical way it is prepared is by searing the fish on the outside while leaving the inside raw, then marinating it in vinegar, lime juice, and coconut milk
This dish is usually served with a bottle of Pinot Grigio, which is a light-bodied white wine. The acidity in the wine helps to cut through the richness of the dish, making it an incredibly refreshing pairing.
Tips For Pairing Food And Wine
Pairing the right wine with the right dish can turn a subpar dinner into a great one. And fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert mixologist to create great pairings.
That said, if you’d rather let the experts handle your or your guest’s food, you can always opt for talented professional chefs from Gathar to handle the food-preparation process for you.
But if you want to do it on your own, there are a few fundamental principles to know before you get to elevate your dinner dishes.
Some essential food and wine pairing tips are as follows:
- Red Wine Goes With Red Meat
Red wine and red meat are usually always a great combination.
This isn’t solely because of their similar colour profile; rather, the red wine’s tannin content helps soften the meat’s proteins and enhance the fat flavour.
2. White Wine Goes With White Meat
While red wine and red meat go together, so do white wine and white meat. Fish and chicken paired with a lovely white, like a Chardonnay, helps bring the flavours to soaring heights.
The chicken meat pairs well with white wine since it is leaner and has a delicate flavour, while the fish pairs well since it is oily and can stand up to the white wine’s acidity.
3. Wine Should Always Be Sweeter
This is a cardinal rule of food and wine pairings: always make sure that your wine is sweeter than your dish. Our taste buds are more attuned to sweetness than any other flavour. To learn more about wines click here for more information
Therefore, if your dish is already sweet, the wine will seem more bitter and less palatable. However, if the wine is sweeter than the dish, it will enhance the sweetness of the dish and make it more enjoyable.