Poll: Drinking "with food"?

The topic of whether one drinks wine "with or without food" is often raised on web fora. I'm interested, however, in breaking it down a bit more: many people state that they mainly drink wine "with food" yet actually seem to drink most of that wine in between courses or before/after the meal. Understandably, there would be many exceptions to, and cross-overs in, the poll categories, so I welcome your comments.

[Robin Garr]

Good one, Ben! I've always gravitated to the position that wine goes with food, is a natural companion with food and is intended to be enjoyed at meals, with food. Wine makes food better and food makes wine better. To me, drinking wine by itself, as a sort of cocktail, misses the point.

Wine makes food better and food makes wine better. To me, drinking wine by itself, as a sort of cocktail, misses the point.

I agree that wine is an excellent accompaniment to food, and vice versa. But it has always struck me as an extremist and limiting viewpoint to confine wine to that narrow activity. There is no one 'point' for wine.

[James Roscoe]

I agree with Rahsaan on this and thus voted incorrectly. Wine is for when you want it. I think the fifth choice most closely resembles my habits, but I accidentally chose number six. C'est la vie!

I wine absolutely is for when you want it - and I want it with food

I raised this before some years ago.

Not everyone has the same meaning for food with wine.

A couple I know take wine into their mouth when it has food in it.

I drink wine while during the course of a meal, but my mouth is empty of food when I drink.

I think they're weird, they think I'm weird. But I understand why food and wine matching is very important to them.

[Robin Garr]

I think the fifth choice most closely resembles my habits, but I accidentally chose number six. C'est la vie!

I'm pretty sure Ben set up this poll so you can go back and change your vote. (By simply voting again, which will take your response out of column 6 and into column 5.)

[Robin Garr]

There is no one 'point' for wine.

For the record, I did qualify my opinion by prefixing "To me ..."

I usually eat something (even if it's a small snack) with my wine consumption. But I find that, during a meal, the majority of my sips are taken either after most of the eating has taken place (or in between eating courses). I suspect this is because I am quite fussy when it comes to pairings, and I find that the balance of many (quality) wines is compromised my most dishes. I find pairings in which the food and the wine elevate each other to a new synergy are rare (but sublime when they occur).

For those whose majority of drinking takes place during eating/courses, I suppose you don't drink aperitifs or end-of-meal dessert/fortified wines much? German Riesling (with r.s.), Sherry and sparkling wines are a few styles that obviously come to mind as suitable.

Not everyone has the same meaning for food with wine. A couple I know take wine into their mouth when it has food in it.... I think they're weird, they think I'm weird.

I remember you raising that. I have never seen anyone who drinks wine in that way: I would certainly see their approach as unusual.

James, you can change your vote as Robin says.

For those whose majority of drinking takes place during eating/courses, I suppose you don't drink aperitifs or end-of-meal dessert/fortified wines much? German Riesling (with r.s.), Sherry and sparkling wines are a few styles that obviously come to mind as suitable.

Not much, no. But I enjoy sparkling wine, and maybe Sherry, outside of main course (idealy with nibbles) when the opportunities arise. However, even when I do drink them, in any one evening the majority of my drinking would still be during the courses. German wine with RS I would normally have with food, Port preferably with the cheese or fruit and I would call that part of the meal.

If other people are different, that's fine. I am not one of those who would try to dictate to, or even persuade, others when they should drink wine.

If I were to regularly drink mature top Clarets and Burgundies I am not sure if I would drink them with food or not. It might seem a shame to use them to freshen my palate between mouthfuls. I think I would probably finish up not drinking them often for that reason, even if I could afford them. In the microscopic quantities I have drunk them so far, whether they were with or without food is moot.