Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Shiraz

Unlock the perfect flavour pairings for Shiraz according to data science. Explore unique recipes and discover the hidden mathematics of flavour.
Shiraz instantly conjures the embrace of black pepper and the bracing kiss of blackberry, woven with delicate hints of resin, tannin, and oak that contribute remarkable depth. And the epicurean alchemy begins when we seek out partners that allow these notes to truly sing.
To map these harmonies, we analysed thousands of ingredients, breaking each one down across 150 flavour dimensions, identifying which notes complement and contrast. Our findings reveal, for instance, how suet's adipose tones can enrich Shiraz, or how beef marrow's adipose notes create an unexpectedly harmonious bridge with the sharp aroma.
Flavour Profile Of Shiraz Across 150 Dimensions Of Flavour
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Shiraz: Poivre, Blackberry, Resinous, Tannic, Tobacco, Coffee, Oaky, Smoky, Plum, Leather, Caramel, Raisin, Brettanomyces, Cherry, Astringent, Thyme, Anise, Cedar, Honeyed, Raspberry, Cocoa, Vanillic, Clove, Saline, Charred
An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. spice, woody, and acidic) enhanced by layers of subtle aroma notes (outer bars). When pairing ingredients, aim for a mix of core traits to build balance, and select complementary aroma notes to create harmony.
The Art of Flavour Pairing
To understand exactly which flavours harmonise, we compiled a database of over 50,000 ingredient pairings commonly used in cooking. We then analysed these pairings, identifying the specific flavour notes that frequently appear together.
The Flavours That Harmonise With Peppercorn Notes
Strength of Association Between Flavours
The flavours most associated with peppercorn notes are: Fatty, Poultry, Proteolytic, Glutamic, Starch, Potato, Caramel, Ferrous, Onion, Petrichor, Bean, Buttery, Bovine, Grassy, Molasses.
Our analysis shows that the flavour of black pepper is strongly associated with the flavour of animal fat. This suggests we should look for ingredients with a fatty flavour, such as beef marrow, when pairing with the peppery aroma notes of Shiraz.
The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing Shiraz with beef marrow.
Harmonious Flavours Of Shiraz
Just as our analysis shows that black pepper and fatty notes harmonise well, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavours present in Shiraz. E.g. the blackberry notes of Shiraz are often used with beefy and gamey accents.
The notes linked to the various aromas of Shiraz can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.
Flavour Profile Of Shiraz And Its Complementary Flavour Notes
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Shiraz: Poivre, Blackberry, Resinous, Tannic, Tobacco, Coffee, Oaky, Smoky, Plum, Leather, Caramel, Raisin, Brettanomyces, Cherry, Astringent, Thyme, Anise, Cedar, Honeyed, Raspberry, Cocoa, Vanillic, Clove, Saline, Charred
Matching Flavour Profiles
The flavour profile of suet offers many of the aroma notes complementary to Shiraz, including fatty and glutamic aroma accents. Because the flavour profile of suet has many of the of the features that are complementary to Shiraz, they are likely to pair very well together.
Prominent Flavour Notes Of Suet Are Represented By Longer Bars
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Suet: Adipose, Glutamic, Buttery, Proteolytic, Musky, Oleic, Petrichor, Bovine, Lactic, Milky, Butyric, Poultry, Grassy, Porcine
The chart above shows the unique profile of suet across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with Shiraz.
Recipes That Pair Shiraz With Suet
Linked Flavour Notes
Looking at the notes that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of Shiraz, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.
Shiraz's Harmonious Flavours And Complementary Ingredients
Shiraz's Strongest Flavours
Complementary Flavours
Ingredients with Complementary Flavours
Flavour groups:
Nectarous
Acidic
Floral
Herbal
Vegetal
Maillard
Earthy
Woody
Carnal
The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of Shiraz, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the accents complementary to Shiraz.
Prominent Pairings
Our analysis identifies dishes that pair well with Shiraz and highlights the prominent ingredient combinations within these recipes. Key pairs include white wine vinegar and courgette offering refreshing sweetness, rosemary and carrot for sweetness, cumin and coriander for coriander depth, and egg and double cream for a complex beurreux undertone. Explore these combinations to unlock Shiraz's hidden complexity, reveal deep nuance, and elevate its vibrant character.
Ingredient Combinations Among Dishes That Pair With Shiraz
Flavour groups:
Sour
Botanic
Herbal
Spice
Vegetal
Bitter
Umami
Which Cheese Go With Shiraz?
Choose cheese that embrace its roastyness or infuse with its dry sensation. Camembert offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Blue cheese add a gentle, oniony brightness, while gruyère introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.
Alternatively, embrace cheese that harmonise with Shiraz's sharpness. The addition of burrata, with its subtle adipose notes, can complement the black pepper beautifully. Roquefort bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while cream cheese lends a rich creaminess.
How Flavonomics Works
We've pioneered a unique, data-driven approach to decode the intricate art of flavour pairing. Our goal is to move beyond intuition and uncover the science of why certain ingredients harmonise beautifully. This rigorous methodology allows us to provide you with insightful and reliable pairing recommendations.
Our analysis begins with over 50,000 carefully selected recipes from acclaimed chefs like Galton Blackiston, Marcello Tully, and Pierre Lambinon. This premium dataset ensures our model distils genuine culinary excellence and creativity.
Each ingredient from these recipes is deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, creating a unique numerical "flavour fingerprint." This quantification allows us to apply advanced analytical methods to identify complex patterns between flavour notes.
We identify popular ingredient combinations that frequently appear in our recipe database. Regression analysis is then performed on these pairings to statistically validate and pinpoint truly harmonious flavours.
These insights drive our predictive model, which allows us to take any ingredient (e.g., Shiraz), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.
Explore More
Discover more ingredient profiles and expand your culinary knowledge. Each ingredient page offers detailed analysis of flavour profiles, pairing insights, and culinary applications.
The content on our analysis blog is semi-automated. All of the words were manually written by a human, but the content is updated dynamically based on the data.