Wine pairing NYT crossword clue

The clue “Wine pairing” in the New York Times Mini Crossword points to the answer DINE. While it may initially suggest a specific food like cheese, the clue actually plays on the idea that wine is typically paired with the act of dining. Whether at a fine restaurant or a cozy dinner at home, wine often complements the experience of enjoying a full meal, making “dine” a clever and slightly unexpected answer.

This is a great example of how crossword clues can rely on indirect or broader associations. Instead of going for a food item, the puzzle asks solvers to think one level up—to the overall context in which wine is enjoyed. It’s a subtle misdirection that adds to the fun of solving and shows how the Mini crossword rewards lateral thinking just as much as vocabulary knowledge.