How do I set up a wine and jerky tasting and pairing experience? What kinds of wines should I serve? The answers to all your questions here!

Food pairing with wine is one of the most fun and rewarding things you can
do as a hobby. It allows you to showcase your palette to your friends and
family.

The right wine and jerky tasting and pairing experience also allows them to
know you better and experience the tastes and flavors that you came up
with.
When it comes to pairing, there is never a right answer. Taste is subjective
and varies from person to person. Whether you agree or disagree with any
combination is strictly up to you. So always respect each other’s opinions, be adventurous, and experiment!

Things You Will Need to Set up the Pairing Experience
Listed below are the things you will need for your wine tasting.
For the Wines:
When pairing with jerky, quite a few wines are perfect matches. They are:
● Bold Red Wines: Malbec, syrah/shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, etc.
● Medium Red Wines: Merlot, zinfandel, Sangiovese, cabernet Franc,
etc.
● Light Red Wines: Pinot noir, Carignane, grenache, etc.
● Rosè: White zinfandel, pinot noir rosè, syrah rosè, etc.
● Sweet Wine: Moscato, Riesling, etc.
● Dessert Wine: Port, sherry, etc.
As you can see, jerky and cured meats go with almost all types of wines,
mainly reds. So try to have at least a couple of options from each kind. The
more the merrier!

For the Jerky:
Have as many different kinds of jerky as you possibly can. They are
inexpensive and give you more options to play around with.
● Beef Jerky
● Buffalo Jerky
● Bacon Jerky
● Pork Jerky
● Chicken Jerky
● Turkey Jerky
● Vegan Jerky
These are some of the most common and popular jerky types available. Try
to get a few flavors of each kind. Flavor recommendations: spicy, smoky, peppery, original, and yes, your favorites! If you have never tried buffalo jerky before, do give it a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Complementing foods:
● Fruits: Apples, watermelon, grapes, pear, etc.
● Cheese: Blue cheese, Brie, aged cheese, etc.
● Crackers: An assortment of crispy and crunchy crackers
● Bread: White, brown, sourdough, etc.

● Veggies: Baby carrots, celery stalks, cucumber, tomatoes, etc.
These are great options for additional ingredients as they will open up a lot
more combinations for you and your guests to try out and discover.

Cutlery and Utensils:
Always have enough cutlery and utensils. You can never have too many
glasses and plates at a wine pairing event.

Palate Cleansers:
If you don’t know what palate cleansers are, they act as a mouthwash and
remove any lingering taste and flavor of the food you’ve previously had. It is a must-have at any wine tasting and pairing event.
Some of the best palate cleansers are champagne, pineapples, and sparkling
water.

How to Set Up the Tasting Zone
Follow these steps when setting up your wine and jerky tasting and pairing
experience:
● Select a spacious room based on the number of guests and items.
● Arrange the items neatly on the table.
● It is best to keep similar items together.
● If you have the time, print out small tags and suggestion cards to
place on the side of the elements. This will be informative, and your
guests will appreciate it, trust me.

● Cut everything into small pieces and portions. Remember the main
objective is not to stuff yourself but to enjoy the experience and have
fun.
● Maintain communication; don’t hesitate to step in and help someone.
● Have some pens and papers ready to write down your and your
guests’ creations.

What You Need to Keep in Mind!

Keep these things in mind when planning a wine and jerky tasting and
pairing experience:

1. Keep it simple: Don’t go out and get 20 different wines and then pair
   them up with 50 different kinds of jerky. Keep things simple, and for
   your first time, get just a few of each ingredient, unless you already
   have them in your pantry.
2. Ensure a variety of tastes and textures: The more different and
   contrasting the ingredients are from one another, the more fun they
   become when combined. Try using the flavor triangle for a variety of
   tastes and flavors.
3. Focus on educating: Do your research if you are an amateur and try
   some combos by yourself at home so that you are prepared to help
   your guests.
   Always be encouraging and let them try each ingredient before pairing
   it with other elements. This will give them a much clearer idea, and
   hopefully, by the end of it, allow them to learn something new.
4. Cleanse your palates: Remember to periodically cleanse your
   palates as they may suffer from fatigue from tasting so many different
   things.
5. Focus on having fun: At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun
   and creating memories. So be adventurous and playful.
6. Research: Remember, pairing is an art and at the same time science
   as well. If you are new to this, you must do your research beforehand.

Final Thoughts
Always remember this is a fun and exciting experience. Don’t overwhelm
your guests by going over the top.

Focus on the adventurous and creative side of it. Encourage guests to
explore and try new things they haven’t before and give them
recommendations and suggestions. If you maintain these points, you will have a successful wine and jerky tasting and pairing event. So have fun, explore, and be bold!