The first thing to know about pairing wine with food at 3 Sons Italian is that there aren’t really any “rules,” per se. If you have a favorite wine, no one will judge you for sticking with it just because you ordered the Mussels Diavolo or the Spaghetti Bolognese. After all, drinking wine is about savoring tastes you love, not sticking to hard-and-fast traditions for pairing it with food!

With that said, some people like to experiment with different vineyards, years and flavors. We applaud you! To help you choose something that might pair well with your meal, we’ve put together some general guidelines.

RED WINES

As a guiding principle, red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlots go best with rich, hearty tomato-based red sauces. Red Zinfandels can also hold their own with tomato-based sauces because of their bold taste. Pino Noirs and Italian Chiantis can support a wider spectrum of sauces, from reds and whites to oil-based sauces.

Our red wines include Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Chianti and a sweet-chilled red.

WHITE WINES

Some white wines have a strong enough flavor to carry their weight alongside red sauces. Chardonnays and Pino Grigios can fall under this category, but they also pair well with cream- or oil-based sauces.

If you know you’ll be ordering a cream- or oil-based sauce, take the opportunity to try a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. Rieslings flavors can vary greatly, with California wines coming across the palate a bit drier with hints of melon and German wines leaning toward tart with hints of grapefruit. Sauvignon Blancs are often acidic and crisp, which makes them ideal to pair with seafood.

Our white wines include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Lunetta Brut Italian Prosecco.

Cannot decide on a red we offer a beautiful Menage a Troi Blend (Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet and two super Tuscans: Ruffino Tuscana (Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet) and Marchese Guadagni Arielle (Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino).

Wines by the glass are offered as a 6 ounce or 9 ounce pour.

Enter our monthly contest for a chance to win a free bottle of wine or 10% off your check. Just leave a review on our Facebook page (Under “Recommendations and Reviews”) and we’ll choose one winner each month!

Buon Appetito!    

3 Sons Italian Restaurant & Bar

14805 West 64^th Ave., Arvada

303-455-4366

www.3sonsitalian.com