As evenings get cooler, dinner parties tend to move indoors and menus turn heartier: braised meats, roasted vegetables, rich pastas and plenty of cheese. It is also the moment when many hosts stand in a wine shop aisle wondering which bottle will make the meal sing.

The good news is that pairing is far less complicated than it seems. A few principles cover most situations, and the rest is simply drinking what you enjoy.

Match Weight With Weight

“Think of wine as another ingredient,” says Daniel Achebe, a wine educator in San Francisco who teaches beginner classes. “Light dishes like fish and salads want lighter wines. Rich dishes like short ribs and lasagna can stand up to fuller, bolder ones.”

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For a classic pasta night with tomato sauce, Achebe recommends a medium-bodied red with good acidity, such as a Sangiovese or a Barbera. The acidity in the wine echoes the tomatoes and keeps each bite tasting fresh rather than heavy.

Roast chicken is famously flexible. A rich Chardonnay complements a buttery bird, while a Pinot Noir works beautifully if there are mushrooms or herbs involved. Earthy mushroom dishes, from risotto to a simple sauté on toast, pair well with Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo.

Do Not Forget Bubbles And Cheese

Sparkling wine is the most underused bottle at the dinner table, Achebe says. Its bright acidity and fine bubbles cut through fried appetizers, salty snacks and creamy cheeses. A dry sparkling wine with the first course sets a celebratory tone without a big price tag.

For the cheese course, a simple rule is to pair cheeses and wines from the same region. Aged hard cheeses also go well with fuller reds, while tangy goat cheese loves crisp Sauvignon Blanc. A sweet wine with a blue cheese is a classic contrast that rarely fails to impress guests at the end of a meal.

Finally, Achebe advises buying a few more bottles than you think you need and serving reds slightly cool, around cellar temperature. “Wine is supposed to make the table more generous,” he says. “If your friends are talking and laughing, the pairing worked.” As always, offer good nonalcoholic options and make sure everyone gets home safely.

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