Celebrated all over the world, Chinese New Year is a spectacle of colour and tradition. It also involves fantastic dishes to share. But what wine do you pair with Chinese food? Amy McCudden has picked out some of the most popular dishes and offered a selection of wines to try with them.
…with Vegetable Spring Rolls
Picpoul de Pinet, Domaine des Lauriers
Piquepoul is a very localised white grape growing just inland of the Mediterranean shore south of Montpellier. Marc Cabrol makes a typical fresh and mineral style.
Journey's End MCC Brut Reserve, NV
Made in the same method as Champagne, this excellent fizz has crisp, elegant citrus and orchard fruit notes, with a lovely depth showing hints of brioche and a lovely rounded finish.
Domäne Baumgartner Grüner Veltliner, Trocken, Weinviertel
A terrific dry white from Austria, this is full of zippy grapefruit character but with body and richness to back it up, with hints of characteristic spice and pepper on the finish. Delicious.
…with Chicken Chow Mein
Ridgeview Cavendish, English Sparkling Wine
An attractive English fizz with a charming roundness to the fruit, coming from the Pinot which gives a lovely mouthfeel. Fine, elegant and fresh with notes of red fruit and ripe citrus.
Tournon 'Mathilda Chapoutier' White, Victoria, M Chapoutier
Attractive Rhône style peachy fruit with good minerality to give balance. Named after Michel Chapoutier's daughter and an Australian icon.
Chablis, Samuel Billaud
A beautifully inviting nose with a delightful balance of focus and generosity. Fresh aromas of apple and pear take centre stage, underscored by a cool, persistent minerality that adds depth and intrigue. On the palate, the wine delivers a concentrated and vibrant attack, brimming with crisp, refreshing energy. A subtle mid-palate texture complements the fruit-driven core, enhancing the overall complexity and leaving a lasting impression of elegance and finesse.
…with Crispy Duck Pancakes
Churton Pinot Noir, Marlborough (organic)
Full flavoured Pinot that exhibits masses of black cherry and raspberry fruit with a spicy character that epitomises great Marlborough Pinot. This wine is complex on the palate with soft, fine tannins and a very persistent finish.
Beaujolais, Jacques Charlet
This juicy and very drinkable Beaujolais comes from a well-established vineyard owner and merchant based in the Beaujolais region. White flower aromas are followed by raspberry flavours in the mouth.
Paparuda Pinot Noir, Estate Selection
Fragrant and fruity Pinot Noir with plenty of ripe red fruits, strawberries and raspberries, fresh and crunchy with hints of spice.
…with Szechuan Pork
Domaine Bruno Sorg Pinot Gris, Alsace
Rich, full wine with typical Pinot Gris fatness and spice but it also has the acidity on the finish to give balance. François Sorg is achieving excellent balance to go with the richness his wines have always had.
Falanghina del Sannio, Fremondo
Good ripe aromas and flavours, full and rich with yellow fruits, freshness and good length.
Bernon Albariño, Rias Baixas, Bodegas Aquitania
Creamy fruit, with plenty of yellow peach flavour and a good touch of underlying minerality. Complex and interesting wine from Galicia in north west Spain.
…with Chinese Five Spice Ginger Chicken
Dopff & Irion Gewurztraminer, Cuvée René Dopff, Alsace
Fine, richly-textured Gewurztraminer from the co-operative at Pfaffenheim. A spicy, rose petal nose then a firm, fruit-filled palate, with typical lychee and Turkish Delight flavours. Fresher and crisper than many, it is off-dry.
Tanners Red Burgundy, Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Made by the talented Nicolas Potel, this has a super nose of ripe damsons and black cherry. More of the same on the palate with a hint of spice, some fine tannins and freshness.
Samartzis 'M', Single Origin Merlot & Mouhtaro, Central Greece
A full and rich wine with black cherries on the nose and palate with vanilla, chocolate and spice flavours and an almost Pinot Noir character, followed by soft tannins and a positive, refreshing finish.
…with Sweet & Sour Dishes
Rosé d'Anjou, Les Roseraies, Drouet Frères
The bouquet is reminiscent of red berries (raspberries and strawberries). The palate is expressive, aromatic with a hint of cordial. The clean, fresh finish is balanced by a fine acidity.
Le Contesse Pinot Rosé, Cuvée Brut, Spumante
A gentle strawberry scented rosé from Italy. Fresh and characterful with a hint of sweetness and a well balanced finish. Delicious.
Viña Esmeralda, Cataluña, Torres
An exotic, perfumed nose with beautiful floral hints, a little residual sugar gives ripeness and tropical fruit character to the palate. The finish is fresh and clean.
…with Cantonese Char Siu Dishes
Beaujolais-Villages, Rémi Benon
Plenty of redcurrant and plum fruit here, with a fine line of acidity that lifts the wine, bringing a fresh, pure feel to the palate. Excellent balance, soft and round to finish. Textbook Beaujolais-Villages, and a very good food wine.
770 Miles Zinfandel, California
Rich, ripe Zinfandel from California packed full with delicious raspberry, strawberry and blackberry fruit flavours. Soft tannins on the palate compliment the classic varietal character.
Paparuda Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Selection
Crunchy Cabernet with good blackcurrant fruit and rich depth of flavour. Easy going wine ideal by itself or with food.
…with Pork Bao Buns
Hochheimer Riesling Kabinett, Domdechant Werner, Rheingau
Soft and easy wine with good creamy fruit, good freshness to give balance and excellent length. Attractive off dry style.
Vigna Senza Nome, Moscato d'Asti, "Braida"
Quite simply one of the most delicious sparkling wines you can buy. Softly foaming in the mouth, unfashionably sweet, packed with a myriad of fruit flavours with fresh, clean, balancing acidity. Quite delicious!
Cantele Primitivo, Salento
Delicious ripe dark raspberry and mulberry fruit with a succulent note of sour cherry, lovely and soft with just a hint of coffee and spice and a gentle floral note to finish.
…with Prawn Dumplings
Tanners Mariscal Manzanilla Sherry
Fresh, tangy Manzanilla from the seaside town of Sanlúcar is the epitome of dry sherry. Floral and sea-scented, it's perfect on its own or as the ideal match for shellfish. 'This delectable, top-drawer Manzanilla' said The Times.
Nyetimber Classic Cuvée, Team GB Edition English Sparkling Wine
This tastes and looks like champagne with a lovely biscuity nose and rich creamy flavours on the palate. From one of England's top estates this classic champagne blend will win many fans with its opulence and complexity.
Amori Pinot Grigio, delle Venezie
With a crisp, dry, lightly floral character and a subtle honeyed note on the finish, this is a good example of Pinot Grigio, a white that has quickly become one of the most popular wines in Britain.
…with Fried Rice Dishes
Gouguenheim Malbec Bubbles, Sparkling Rosé Extra Brut, Mendoza
This characterful sparkler is full of delicate red fruit aromas and flavours of strawberries, bright cherries with a lovely fresh juiciness on the palate, beautiful balance and tiny bubbles.
Castillo Monjardin Chardonnay, El Cerezo, Navarra
This unoaked Chardonnay has a lovely inviting tropical fruit character on the nose, there is a delicious lick of citrus acidity to bring balance to the palate and the finish is clean and long.
Piquepoul Rosé, Coteaux d'Ensérune, Foncalieu
The little known Picquepoul Noir, produces this beautifully delicate rosé with floral notes of rose petals, and lovely zesty fruit. perfect for sipping in the sunshine.
…with Glazed Spare Ribs
Carlomagno Primitivo Appassimento, Puglia
Big and rich wine packed full of dried fruit flavours made from grapes which have been partially dried to increase the concentration and then a portion is aged in oak. Lush and soft finish with sweet fruit and spice flavours.
Wente 'Beyer Ranch' Zinfandel, California
Classically fruity Zinfandel with aromas of plums with hints of raspberry and blueberry. It is well-balanced on the palate with good acidity and delicious toasty oak which give under-lying structure to the excellent fruit.
La Cabane Reserve Grenache/Syrah, Pays d'Oc
This is a soft and easy going red from Grenache and Syrah grapes grown in the historic Languedoc countryside. It is full of ripe, spicy fruit with excellent concentration and is a fine example of modern French wine.
…with Beef in Black Bean Sauce
Gouguenheim Cabernet Sauvignon, Uco Valley, Tupungato
Intense and juicy, aromatic blackcurrant fruit, with velvety soft tannins and attractive toasty oak. Dense, yet fresh and easy-going with a big focus on fruit.
Tanners Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley
A textbook Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon with excellent crunchy blackcurrant fruit, soft tannins and really good length.
Cristóbal 1492 Bonarda, Mendoza
Full, round and very juicy, with sweet damson and pretty, floral blueberry fruit supported by a little rich oak. Generous indeed and a great easy-drinking alternative to Malbec.
