Friday Night Wines

Welcome Friday, the quintessential night for tasty take-out like pizza and Chinese food (or Thai, or Mexican, or burgers from that new barbecue joint down the road). I’d like to offer a few wines for pairing recommendations, easily enjoyed with the Friday food classics. Simply swing by your local liquor store on your way to pick up dinner tonight, and you’re all set!

Wine and Pizza

Pizza might just be the epitome of Friday night dinners. Pizza, despite its myriad of potential toppings and variable incarnations, will usually feature a few staple ingredients: yeasted bread, cheese, and tomato sauce. The latter is what I find most important, when I think of basic pizza and wine pairing. Tomatoes are acidic, and slightly sweet – counter them with light, acidic reds. Italian wines like Dolcetto and Barbera are wonderful with pizza. If you’ve ordered a pizza with an assertively flavorful cheese, like feta or Manchego, try a Pinot Noir or Rioja.

Wine and Chinese Food

The spices and strong garlic found in Chinese food have most people running for a bottle of beer. While I wouldn’t turn down a cold bottle of Yuengling with a plate of kungpao cashew chicken, nor do I think a cool glass of wine would be impossible to enjoy. In fact, in some cases, it might be preferable. Err on the side of slight sweetness: residual sugar in wine helps balance the heat on your plate. An off-dry Riesling, Pinot Blanc, or Gewurztraminer would be lovely, as would a softly sparkling Chenin Blanc.

Note: If you’ve gotten Thai food this Friday night, you could opt for one of the wines above.

Wine and Barbecue

Barbecue: tangy, spicy, salty, sweet. You’ve got all the good stuff in one sticky sauce. Choose a red wine with spicy notes: Zinfandel, Shiraz, and red Rhone blends are all good options. In the world of white wines, a crisp, acidic white like Sauvignon Blanc goes well with grilled flavors. Super-spicy sauces again call out for slightly sweet wines (see above). Can’t decide whether to drink a red or white? Switch it up and buy a rosé. A dry rosé from southern France, like Provence or the Rhone Valley, can be refreshing while still being complex – and without breaking your wallet. After all, you’ll need to buy ice cream to complete your Friday night feast.

Tags: Friday night dinners, take-out food pairing