4 Wines to Rock Your Chinese Take-Out Christmas Dinner

Christmas + A Christmas Story + Chinese Take-Out = Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra

My husband grew up Jewish so he typically had the Jewish staple meal of Chinese food on Christmas. As I did not grow up Jewish, the idea is a bit foreign to me, but this year I decided to honor his past tradition and order some Chinese take-out to help celebrate the occasion (translation – I have two young kids, I’m lazy and I don’t want to cook). So, if you’re like me and planning to spend this Christmas eve or Christmas day on the couch with some Chinese food on your lap watching A Christmas Story, then keep reading. It’s a given that you’ve gotta have wine to go with that Chinese take-out, but what wine do you choose? Well, I’m here to help.

First start off with what are you planning to eat? When you’ve got that nailed down – pick a bottle, or two, or three…. And let the Chinese take-out Christmas Celebration begin! Hands down, a Riesling will be the most versatile among the various dishes. But depending on what you’re ordering (and how many bottles you plan to open) there is room for some variety.

Here are the dishes that rock with a Riesling.

Many of these dishes can be on the spicy side and a refreshing Riesling will help to calm that down.

• Crab Rangoon
• Hot and Sour Soup
• Kung Pao Chicken or Shrimp
• Pork Dumplings
• Sesame Chicken
• Sweet and Sour Chicken or Shrimp
• General Tso’s Chicken or Shrimp
• Moo Shu Pork

Suggested wine: Trefethen Family Vineyards Dry Riesling. Fresh and flavorful with a lush and tropical palate. Need I say more?

@trefethenfamily Dry Riseling - Fresh and flavorful with a lush and tropical palate. Need I say more? Share on X

Foods that are spectacular with Sauvignon Blanc:

• Egg Rolls
• Pork Dumplings
• Orange Chicken
• Vegetable Lo Mein

Suggested Wine: Grgich Hills Fume Blanc – If you’ve read my prior blogs then you know I’m a big fan of Grgich’s wine and his Fume Blanc is no exception. The 2014 vintage is 100% Sauvignon Blanc with “juicy tropical fruit and lemongrass flavors with a touch of minerality at the end of a long finish.”

I'm a big fan of Grgich's wine and his Fume Blanc is no exception @GrgichHills Share on X

Curious about Chardonnay?

A crisp unoaked Chardonnay holds up well against the spicier General Tso Chicken/Shrimp and Hot and Sour soup and there won’t be any buttery oak flavor to clash with the Shrimp Friend Rice. For the Won ton soup, you can go with a Chardonnay that has a touch of oak. In any event, here’s the quick Chardonnay list:

• General Tso Chicken or Shrimp
• Hot and Sour Soup
• Shrimp Fried Rice
• Won ton Soup

Suggested Wine: Mayo Family Winery “Unwooded” Chardonnay – No butter bombs here. This Chardonnay is balanced, crisp and simply fantastic.

The Mayo Family 'Unwooded' Chardonnay is balanced, crisp and simply fantastic @MayoFamilyWine Share on X

On point with a Pinot Noir.

Reds are not popular with most Chinese dishes but are an excellent match for duck and pork. If your menu includes Peking Duck, Pork Dumplings, or Pot Stickers, don’t be afraid to venture into the red zone. So, I’d recommend a Pinot Noir if your order includes:

• Peking Duck
• Pork Dumplings
• Pork Pot Stickers

Suggested Wine: Esterlina Pinot Noir – As I mentioned in my previous blog Bringing Wine? Tips to Pick the Perfect Bottle – anyone who’s spent any amount of time drinking wine with me knows that this wine is one of my absolute favorites. You can bet I’ll be opening up a bottle of Esterlina Pinot Noir come Christmas day.

You can bet I’ll be opening up a bottle of Esterlina Pinot Noir come Christmas day #Esterlina Share on X

So pick up the phone, order some Chinese food, pop a cork (or two, or three), curl up on the couch, have a little wine and a very Merry Christmas.

Photo Credit:

• Pork Dumplings: Ruocaled
• Crab Rangoon: Jeffreyw
• Peking Duck: Vxla