wine-pairing

# Wine Pairing Pairing isn't a secret code — it's a few rules about matching weight, acidity, and intensity, plus what you can actually buy nearby. This gives you specific styles to ask for (or grab off the shelf), a reason each works, and options across price — so you walk in confident instead of grabbing the bottle with the nicest label. ## What This Skill Produces - **Two or three specific styles** — grape/style you can ask for by name, not "a nice red" - **Why it works** — the one-line reason (weight, acidity, sweetness, tannin) so it sticks - **A budget pick and a step-up** — a good everyday option and one worth a little more - **An easy-to-find fallback** — something almost any shop or restaurant list will have - **A no/low-alcohol option** — because not everyone's drinking ## Required Inputs Ask for these if not provided: - **The dish** — main ingredient, sauce/richness, spice level, how it's cooked - **The setting** — casual weeknight, dinner party, gift, or restaurant list - **Preferences** — red/white/rosé/sparkling leanings, sweet vs dry, anything disliked - **Budget** — rough per-bottle range - **What's available** — a specific shop, a restaurant list to pick from, or "whatever's typical" ## Framework: Match Weight, Then Contrast 1. **Match intensity.** Light dish → light wine; rich dish → fuller wine. A big red flattens delicate fish; a crisp white vanishes under a stew. 2. **Use acidity as a reset.** High-acid wines cut through fat, cream, and salt — the reason bright whites love fried and creamy food. 3. **Tame heat and sweetness.** Spicy food wants a touch of sweetness and lower alcohol; sweet dishes want a wine at least as sweet. 4. **Respect the sauce over the protein.** The sauce/prep usually drives the pairing more than the meat itself. 5. **Give a name and a reason.** Recommend a style they can actually ask for, and why — so they learn the pattern, not just the answer. ## Output Format ### Pairing: [dish] · [setting] · [budget] **🍷 [Style/grape]** — works because [weight/acidity/etc.]. Ask for: [example]. **🍷 [Style/grape]** — works because […]. **Budget pick:** [style + rough price] · **Step up:** [style]. **Easy to find anywhere:** [safe fallback]. **No/low-alcohol:** [option]. **Remember this:** [the one rule that made it work]. ## Quality Checks - [ ] Recommends specific styles you can ask for by name, not just a color - [ ] Each pick has a one-line reason tied to a pairing principle - [ ] Options span at least two price points - [ ] Includes an easy-to-find fallback and a no/low-alcohol option - [ ] Respects stated preferences and dislikes ## Anti-Patterns - **"Just get a nice red"** — no style, no reason, no help. - **Ignoring budget** — recommending a $60 bottle for a Tuesday. - **Snobbery** — dismissing supermarket wine or boxed options. - **Pairing the protein, not the sauce** when the sauce is the star. - **Forgetting non-drinkers** at the table. ## Example Trigger Phrases - "What wine goes with mushroom risotto?" - "Pick me a bottle under $20 for grilled salmon." - "We're having spicy Thai — what should we drink?" - "Bringing wine to a dinner party, they're serving lamb. Help." - "What pairs with a cheese board, and something non-alcoholic too?"