Japanese food is an art form, delicate and subtle. Knowing what to look for, pairing wine with Japanese food is a treat. With Japanese flavours so unique and subtle, wine pairing can be tricky, but you can find the right wine for your favourite dish. Whether popping into an online wine shop or ordering wine online here are a few great options to pair with Japanese food.
Best White Wine for Japanese Food
Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp wine with bright acidity and citrus notes when paired. Its acidity cuts through rich raw fish and gives a flavour fill to the delicate flavours of sushi and sashimi. The fruitiness of Sauvignon Blanc also goes well with ingredients like seaweed and wasabi.
Riesling with its high acidity and food friendliness is a close second to Sauvignon Blanc as the go-to white for Japanese food. Whether it’s fruity and dry or slightly sweet with honey notes, Riesling has a wine for Japanese food. It smooths out salty and umami rich soy sauce dishes and the bite of tempura like miso and spicy fish. Riesling’s honey notes also work well with spicy dishes like spicy tuna rolls, a tame and pleasant ride to the burn.
Chardonnay is a good match for richer Japanese dishes. Chardonnay with a hint of oak brings buttery notes and creamy vanilla and tropical fruit. These flavors enhance the salty and slightly sweet flavors when paired with teriyaki and grilled or marinated food. Whether grilled or seared tuna the earthiness of Chardonnay with red berry fruit is a good match. For heartier dishes like miso marinated black cod the complexity of Chardonnay builds and enhances the umami. When thinking of pairing wine with steamed dishes without a strong salty soy flavour, Chardonnay is a go-to wine.
Best Red Wines to Pair with Japanese Food
Pinot Noir, light to medium bodied reds are a good match for many Japanese dishes. Whether sushi or sashimi or another Japanese delicacy this wine is a light, low tannin wine with substance for a good night of drinking. Perfect for grill or sear this red pairs well with fish, steak, chicken, duck or pork. Because it can handle acidic flavours and gets out of the way it’s good with spicy dishes. Essentially, Pinot Noir is a wine you can drop into pairing anytime with Japanese food. Often associated with light to medium bodied reds Pinot Noir’s match with Japanese food is as easy as that. Elevates citrus, vinegar and lighter soy dishes this red pairs with yakitori, grilled fish or sashimi.
Beaujolais, made from the Gamay grape, is one of the most food-friendly red wines. With its vibrant acidity and fruity character Beaujolais is the red with the most food versatility. Paired with the salt that goes into soy-based or teriyaki-glazed dishes, the fruity, acidic flavors of Beaujolais is a great match for salty or meaty dishes. It also works with most vegetable dishes like vegetable tempura or tofu stir fry.
Zinfandel, made with the Zinfandel red grape, is a bold wine with good tannin and peppery notes and a round and robust body. When paired with its ripe fruit flavors, higher-than-average alcohol, and bold body enhance the savory and slightly sweet flavors. Considered a red wine, it’s versatile and can be treated as a red or white wine. For hearty beef, pork or savoury Japanese cuisine Zinfandel pairs well with Asian inspired dishes. If your meal is oily, fatty or deep fried consider pairing a wine with higher alcohol to cut through the fat and offer a delicate balance.
In conclusion pairing wine with Japanese food can elevate your dining experience by highlighting the subtle and complex flavours the dishes have to offer. For crisp acidity Sauvignon Blanc is a good choice. If you prefer a sweeter wine Riesling is versatile and can work with most Japanese cuisines. If you prefer reds though Pinot Noir, Beaujolais and Zinfandel are always good options as there are balanced tannins in these for a good match. Visit an online wine shop like Bottle Barn and buy wine online and have it delivered to your location for your next Japanese meal. If you are a wine enthusiast my recommendation for buying wine online is to add some variety to your wine collection. Whether you are a savvy wine buyer or you are new and still in the learning stage wine selection and consumption will be a breeze.
