Guide to Pairing Wine with Thai Cuisine

Let’s talk about another Asian cuisine that is famous for its flavour bomb, Thai food! It is sour, salty, bitter, sweet, and spicy, flavours that make the dish stand out when combined. They say it’s an exotic version of Chinese food but I say it’s uniquely Thai because of its extreme and contrasting flavours. 

Thai cuisine is one of Australia’s well-loved food, so much so that there’s no city or suburb in the country without a Thai restaurant or takeaway.

A pairing of wine and Thai food can be a great way to spend dinner with your family and are also great to serve at a party. Here’s a list of the best pairing that you can use as a cheat sheet for your next family date night or gathering: 

Chicken Green Curry

Thai Green Curry is creamy, thick, bright, and filling. Beautiful and vibrant because of cilantro, makrut lime leaf and peel, and  Thai basil, this dish is one of the most famous curries. It's less spicy than red curry but sweeter and fresher. This spicy dish is perfectly balanced with the white wine varieties, with plenty of fruit sweetness, but with fresh citric acidity, so go on and choose between a bottle of fruity Chardonnay, and Verdelho.

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Fresh herbs and chopped vegetables wrapped in white translucent rice wrapper, dipped in a tangy Thai or peanut dipping sauce is best paired with a zesty wine, a fizzy Sparkling Wine, or a light, dry, and crisp Pinot Grigio. The sparkling acidity and spicy mouthfeel of the wine perfectly match the crispy texture of the spring rolls.

Tom Yum

A bowl of spicy prawn soup, with fragrant herbs and spices, and distinctively hot and sour is best for a cold winter night. This flavorful and seemingly spicy dish is perfectly balanced with a  generous amount of fruit flavors and a refreshing, sour, and aromatic wine. Check out the bottle shop with either a sweet, lush, and silky Gewürztraminer or a fresh, light, and fruity Rosé.

Pad Thai

Thai-style stir-fried noodles, that is the literal meaning of Pad Thai. A fusion of sweet, nutty, and salty flavours, this famous Thai dish can be your main or side dish and is best paired with dry white wine like the aromatic Riesling or full-bodied Fiano. Perfect together as it adds a spicy note of lime and lemon that stimulates all the delicious flavours of Pad Thai.

Thai Beef Salad

Crisp salad, with aromatic herbs topped with rare grilled beef and shallots dressed in zesty lime, can be the main focus of a Thai dinner. An aromatic, dry, crispy wine with light fruit freshness blends perfectly with the fragrant mix of peppers, herbs, and crispy vegetables in this salad. So a glass or two of Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner will heighten these flavours.