MATCH WEIGHT AND DENSITY

Regardless of whether you choose to match like with like or play opposites, weight and density must always be considered. “You want the weight and density of both the wine and the dish to be as close as possible,” Samantha says. “You don’t want to be pairing a really light piece of fish with a rich, oaky chardonnay or a big, full-bodied cabernet that has structure and tannin because it’s going to overpower the food.”

The grape varieties themselves don’t really matter – it’s about finding the right weight and style within that varietal. A rich, oaky chardonnay might overpower a piece of fish, but a crisp, lean example would work beautifully.