Whether indulging in your grandmother’s kitchen or at a restaurant, eating is only a part of the soul food experience. Ancestors wrap their arms around every dish, and, like other cuisines, soul food deserves to be appreciated to the fullest. Pairing your meal with the perfect wine can do just that.

Philadelphia-based sommelier Edward Murray believes that rich, full-flavored soul food favorites are enhanced by wines that offer a counterbalance. He serves spicy dishes with low- to moderate-alcohol wines since alcohol can amplify heat, and he says that food that is texturally nuanced pairs wonderfully with similarly textured wines.