When it comes to choosing a takeaway, an alternative that generally wins for its ability to offer enveloping and complex umami flavors at the same time in just a couple of dishes is Chinese food. If you have yet to consider pairing it with wine, here we tell you how.
Although Chinese food is not the easiest to pair with wine, given the complexity of its flavors, the truth is that the mixture works and can elevate your food to take it to another level. In addition, it has a vast diversity of dishes that allow you to create different pairings, among which we present five popular options:
Dim Sum
Dim sum is synonymous with steamed dumplings, fried spring rolls, and other snacks. Whether fried, steamed, or baked, these Cantonese snacks have a mild flavor, where the filling generally includes shrimp and pork or vegetables such as cabbage and scallions, pairing it with soy, intensifying the flavor. For all of them, a wine variety that does not fail is Chardonnay. Even better if it is a wine with accentuated minerality, such as Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay, to enhance the flavors of the pork and shrimp.
Fried rice
This carbohydrate-rich dish is one of the favorite and most popular Chinese preparations in the Western world. A rice-lover’s favorite dish cooked at high heat with oil, eggs, soy sauce, garlic, pork, shrimp, or sometimes tofu with vegetables. A simple dish that can be elevated to the next level if accompanied by a glass of wine that refreshes the greasiness of this preparation on the palate. Ideally, a sparkling or dry white wine like Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay. Although it has spices, Marques Casa Concha Pinot Noir is another good pairing.
Peking Duck
An internationally adored dish is lacquered or Peking duck. With shiny and crispy skin, juicy meat marinated in five spices and Sichuan pepper, and sweet and salty flavor from the soy sauce, this duck preparation is usually served in fragrant slices that arrive at the table accompanied by pancakes, scallions, and sweet Hoisin sauce. Enjoying this dish is a ritual and an unforgettable experience, especially when served with the right wine, ideally, if you prefer more intense flavors, a young red wine such as Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir or Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon.
Kung Pao Chicken
This classic dish of Sichuan cuisine stands out among the spicy and slightly spicy preparations due to the characteristic touch given by Sichuan pepper. It is a stir-fry of chopped chicken with bell peppers, peanuts, and spices resulting in sweet, salty, sour, and slightly spicy flavors. A feast of flavors further enhanced by a glass of wine with residual sugar like a Riesling or a rosé like Marques de Casa Concha Rosé, whose fruit flavors like strawberries are ideal for balancing the spiciness.
Chow Mein
When we see the word “mein” on a Chinese food menu, it means that the dish contains noodles, the famous Chinese noodles—usually stir-fried in a wok (hence the word “chow”) with various proteins, vegetables, and a sauce made from sesame oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. A delicious dish that, like Fried Rice, calls for a wine that helps to clean the oiliness of the stir-fry with a wine that has good acidity, such as a white wine Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay or a rosé wine such as Marques de Casa Concha Rosé.
