Wine Pairings for Take-Out

just because you bring home take out, or opt to swing through the drive-thru for your latest dinner score, doesn't mean you can't reward those efforts and enjoy a nice glass of wine to go with that quarter pounder with cheese.

it's high/low food & wine pairing at it's finest.

here is a great guide to the ideal wine pairings for whichever take-out meal you're in the mood for:

courtesy:  vinepair.com via coravin

CHINESE - Riesling & Blaufränkisch

often known for two dominating flavours, salt from the soy sauce and heat from the chilies.  both riesling and bluafrankisch stand up beautifully to these two dominating flavours.  riesling brings a bit of sweetness to temper the heat, and blaufrankisch delivers fruity flavours that help mellow the salt.

BURGERS - Cabernet & Chardonnay

whether you're picking these burgers up via a drive-thru or you're ordering from a place a bit more gourmet, you're going to want to grab a bottle of the most popular red and white wines on earth, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay.  in the case of cabernet, it stands up nicely to all that meaty goodness, which is also why you want a chard if you're a fan of white.  both do the job of pairing with the meat exceptionally well.

THAI - Gamay & Gewurztraminer

thai can be insanely spicy, which means you need a wine to lower the heat.  you want something that is either light and fruity or nice and sweet.  gamay perfectly fits the first description and gewürztraminer fits the second.

BBQ - Pinot Noir & Rose

if you're lucky enough to have good BBQ near you who can blame you for bringing it home instead of spending the night cooking.  the delicious smoky flavours and tangy sauce go incredibly well with a pinot noir or rose.

PIZZA - Chianti & Gruner Veltliner

regardless of how you choose to top your pizza, chianti is a classic accompaniment, with the sangiovese grape delivering a rich earthiness married with bright cherry flavours.  perfect for meat topped pies.  gruner veltliner on the other hand has a nice acidity that's wonderful with veggie and white pizzas.

INDIAN - Syrah & Riesling

there is nothing more comforting than indian food, but the dishes can often include spices and heat that make them difficult to pair.  for the red, go with a syrah, as it can handle the fragrant spices and cream sauces well.  if white's what you're more in the  mood for, grab a riesling.  it's your best bet against the heat.

SUSHI - Pinot Noir & Chenin Blanc

if you're eating sushi the last thing you want to do is overwhelm the fish.  with that in mind, pinot noir and chenin blanc deliver nicely.  each pairs beautifully with the delicate flavours and gives an added earthiness and acidity that makes the sushi even better.

SALAD - Gamay & Sauvignon Blanc

you should get an award for opting for the healthy option, and just because it's healthy doesn't mean the wine will pair any less well.  for salad a nice, crisp sauvignon blanc with it's herbal grassy aromas or a bright gamy, also known as beaujolais.