No products in the basket.
What are the best wines to drink with Chinese food? There are so many flavours in Chinese dishes – and so many wines to choose from – that it can be daunting. People often just grab the nearest bottle of dry white but that is not always the best choice as this guide to wines that pair best with Chinese food will reveal. Note: I’m talking about Chinese food that we tend to see in Chinese restaurants here in the UK rather than in China itself as that is the extent of my experience – to date.
Traditionally as a nation we Brits tend to veer towards crisp white wines when eating Chinese food perhaps thinking that it will quench our thirst as we eat but lighter wines can be swamped by the numerous, complex flavours. Sometimes a heavier more complex white wine is required to face up to the complexity.
There is no reason why we shouldn’t drink red wines with Chinese food but make sure it’s the right sort of red wine. Bear in mind that red wines with higher tannins such as some French Cabernet Sauvignons, will clash with salty food, spicy flavours, vinegary sauces and fatty meat all of which feature in Chinese cuisine. So choose carefully.
If you are serving one specific Chinese dish, my first suggestion as with every type of food is to look at the most dominant ingredient in the dish (usually the sauce) and aim to balance its weight or richness with the body of the wine:
For Dim Sum, scallops, steamed fish and vegetable dishes (without heavy sauces), dry sparkling wine or champagne is one of the best pairings. But, if you prefer not to open the bubbles, look at serving either
All these suggestions lean more to the mineral end of the flavour spectrum rather than towards the fruity or herbaceous flavours of say a New World Sauvignon Blanc which could overpower lighter dishes.
The classic combination of sweet and sour with an off-dry Riesling really does work. One of my other food and wine matching tips is that sweet food should always be served with wine that is sweeter.
You could also try a beautiful sparkling Moscato d’Asti which is slightly sweet but also refreshing given its high acidity.
But if you really don’t want to go down the off-dry route look at an aromatic dry white such as
Choose aromatic white wines or a fruity rosé rather than crisp dry white wines which would clash with the vinegar in the sweet and sour sauce.
Either
will complement duck perfectly and generally will have sufficient body to match the rich plum sauce. More delicate Pinot Noirs like Burgundy however whilst usually a great match for duck in general may be overpowered by the sauce.
If you prefer to stick to white wine however try
Ginger
A particularly strong flavour which might overpower a delicate wine so again I would suggest an
Satay
Not originally a Chinese dish I know but it features on a lot of Chinese menus these days… Satay also needs strong flavoured wine. A Sémillon would go particularly well with the rich texture and the nutty flavours of the peanut sauce.
Strong sauces
Whilst heavier red wines can balance stronger sauces such as black bean sauce or dishes such as barbecued spare ribs with sticky sauce, make sure not to choose a red wine with too much tannin. Stick to a fruitier red like a
Very hot spicy foods can dull the taste buds and heat up the body so spicy, slightly sweet wines with good acidity are required.
The heat in the food reduces the wine’s sweetness, the acidity tones down the heat of the food and the weight of the wine balances well with the spicy flavours.
But if of course you chose hot, spicy dishes especially for their heat and spice, steer clear of off-dry Riesling and try a
Of course there are many different types of cuisine under the umbrella of Chinese food – spicy Sichuan, more delicate Cantonese and hot Hunan to name just a few – and so it is difficult to make generalisations about the types of wine to drink with it. However if the range of foods being served for your Chinese feast is wide or you just want to make life easy, here are my five fail-safe options:
Bon Appetit!
© 2014-2024 Wines with Attitude Ltd | VAT Reg. No. 181 2419 22 | Registered in England 08918466 | Fiveways, 57-59 Hatfield Road, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 1HS
