Available From UC Press

The best wine and food pairings create harmony among unexpected flavors. Chardonnay, Riesling, and Merlot are classic pairing choices, but less conventional grape varieties like Albariño, Grenache, Grüner Veltliner, Malbec, and Tempranillo are becoming increasingly popular, coveted by those with curious palates and a taste for good value. In Daring Pairings, the adventurous companion to the acclaimed Perfect Pairings, Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein shows how anyone can bring these emerging, exciting varieties to the table. He ventures into wine's new frontiers, exploring the flavors and pairing potential of thirty-six distinctive grapes from around the world, including Argentina, Spain, Italy, Greece, and France. In his entertaining and approachable style, Goldstein offers advice on crafting unforgettable wine and food pairings, suggests wines for everyday and special occasions, and recommends producers and importers. Thirty-six star chefs present recipes specially tailored to Goldstein's wine selections, and full-color photographs display these dishes in delectable splendor. This authoritative, down-to-earth guide reveals that pairing food and wine is no great mystery—anyone willing to explore or experiment can create bold and memorable combinations.

With recipes and commentary from:

Nate Appleman, Dan Barber, Ben Barker, Paul Bartolotta,Michelle Bernstein, Floyd Cardoz, Robert Del Grande, Tom Douglas, Suzanne Goin, Joyce Goldstein, Christopher Gross, Fergus Henderson, Gerald Hirigoyen, Philippe Jeanty, Douglas Keane, Hubert Keller, Loretta Keller, David Kinch, Evan Kleiman, Mourad Lahlou, Michael Leviton, Emily Luchetti, Laurent Manrique, Lachlan M. Patterson, Cindy Pawlcyn, Anne S. Quatrano, Michael Romano, Susan Spicer, Frank Stitt, Craig Stoll, Ethan Stowell, Charlie Trotter, Larry Tse, Richard Vellante, Vikram Vij, Kate Zuckerman

Evan Goldstein is a Master Sommelier and a four-time James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year. He is the author of Perfect Pairings (UC Press) and Five Star Service: Your Guide to Hospitality Excellence, and is President and Chief Education Officer of Full Circle Wine Solutions.

"In this book, Evan brings his unparalleled expertise to us all, making unfamiliar grapes and regions accessible through these unexpected and playful pairings. It's a great read for anyone who enjoys the pleasures of food and wine alike."—Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Executive Chef at Jean Georges

"One of the great adventures in life is pairing the right wine and food. In his essential guide to being a chef and sommelier at once, Evan shows how to match many of the new and upcoming wines with fabulous dishes from some of today's most innovative chefs."—Wolfgang Puck, Chef and Restaurateur

"Daring Pairings entices the reader to seek out treasures from the outer aisles of the wine store and pair them creatively with food. The book succeeds at every level, including the most basic one: it made me both hungry and thirsty for something new."—Tyler Colman, author of Wine Politics and DrVino.com

"Having Daring Pairings on the shelf is better than having your own personal Master Sommelier and some of America's finest chefs on call 24/7!"—Tom Stevenson, author of Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia

"Matching food and wine is a tricky venture, often based on nothing more than a vague sense of flavors and intuition. Evan Goldstein has the practical experience necessary to take it to a different level. His first book, Perfect Pairings, lays the groundwork for the workhorse wines in your cellar: Chardonnay, Cabernet, Pinot Noir and their like. With Daring Pairings, Goldstein offers advice for many of the lesser known but very worthy wines that are gaining favor today, such as Albarino, Grenache and Petite Sirah." —Russ Parsons, author of How to Read a French Fry

"Goldstein brings his expertise to an entirely new level in this fabulous, must-have book! He has assimilated a great deal of information into a format which is easy to read and understand, and chosen a stellar group of chefs to exemplify the pairings explained in the book, with the panache and style associated with these culinary greats."—Traci Des Jardins, Chef and Restaurateur of Jardiniere

"There are very few writers in the world who have Evan Goldstein's knowledge and passion for both food and wine. Daring Pairings is the ultimate book for everyone who loves to cook and is willing to be adventurous in pairing interesting and sometimes unusual wine with their meal. This is a must read for all professional chefs and aspiring home cooks."—Kevin Zraly, author of Windows on the World Complete Wine Course