Food from the Philippines are typically bold and flavorful dishes with strong aromas of spices. Instead of wine, most Filipinos choose to drink beer. Wine is served for special occasions, fiestas, and holidays in the Philippines. Pairing Filipino dishes with wine can be simple, or you can experiment with several little known combinations of wine and food. Sweet, medium to high acidity wines are your best option to enhance the sweet and savory flavors of Filipino dishes. Those wines will stand up to the bold flavors and won’t be overpowered.
Best Red Wine To Drink With Filipino Food
Their food is recognized for its powerful aromas, but it is also surprisingly delicious. A bottle of red wine is great for pairing with strong meals, particularly those served with meat in Filipino cuisine. Red wines enhance the strong and spicy flavors of the dishes while also retaining acidity.
The list below is the best wines to drink with Filipino food.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Zinfandel
Shiraz
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Chinati
Prosecco
Rosé
Touriga
Best White Wine To Drink With Filipino Food
White wine pairs wonderfully with a variety of delectable Filipino seafood, such as grilled tilapia or bangus. Filipinos will also serve Champagne with their food on special occasions since it complements the acidity of seafood and their robust sauces. Because most of their dishes are acidic and often spicy, a glass of white wine with a high acidity level is essential for a balanced combination.
Here are some white wines to pair with Filipino food:
Chardonnay
Champagne
Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling
Gewurztraminer
Pairing Wine With Different Types Of Filipino Food
Filipino food is generally for meat lovers with large appetites, as they provide oily and heavily sauced dishes. The majority of Filipino dishes contain grilled or fried pork. On that note, you can still match their meal with well-chosen wine to create a truly unique dining experience.
Pairing Wine With Chicken Adobo
The Philippines’ most well-known dish is adobo. It comes with either chicken or pork, or both. This meal is occasionally served spicy, so pair it with something light to medium-bodied and low in alcohol to lower the intensity. Off-dry Riesling, with spicy and sweet notes, that contrast with the chili and thick sauce, is a terrific choice. Because Adobo contains vinegar, a wine with high acidities, such as Pinot Noir or Chianti, is recommended. Prosecco can also help to balance the acidity and saltiness of adobo.
Pairing Wine With Lechon
Lechon is always served on the table during significant occasions such as birthdays and weddings. It boasts crispy skin and juicy soft meat with a delicious flavor. A bottle of white Zinfandel or Rosé is ideal for serving since it has sweet and fruity flavors that enhance the deep flavor of the lechon.
You can alternatively go for Pinot Noir, which cuts through the grease and complements the smoky flavor of the dish.
Pairing Wine With Liempo
Liempo is one of the best Filipino foods served for its grilled and tender pork meat. Like lechon or any barbequed meats, it is a must to pair it with Merlot. Merlot from warm climate locations like California and Australia is the ideal wine for cutting through the fatty taste of liempo while also adding a fruity note to the savory flavor. Red Zinfandel is also a good choice because it brings out the barbecue taste of the liempo.
Pairing Wine With Bicol Express
Bicol express is a popular spicy staple food with coconut milk, shrimp paste, and pork belly. Try a wine with a spicy character such as Gewurztraminer. The wine’s sweetness and lightness complement the dish’s spiciness.
For a vegan version, substitute the shrimp paste with vegetable paste and soy sauce, and serve with shiitake mushrooms or tofu. It’s worth noting that the dish’s spiciness can be minimized to avoid overpowering the wine.
Pairing Wine With Kare-Kare
Kare-Kare is a classic favorite of the Filipinos. It is served with meat such as pork or beef, vegetables, and thick savory peanut sauce. This unique food is delicious and a bottle of Touriga is the perfect match. This wine complements the nutty and savory flavor of Kare- Kare.
Pairing Wine With Kinilaw
One of the famous seafood dishes from the Philippines is a Filipino Ceviche. Ceviche and kinilaw are served with raw fish but kinilaw has citrus and vinegar. This raw creamy seafood is acidic and pairing it with a wine with high acidity is the answer. We recommend a bottle of Champagne or Sauvignon Blanc to balance the flavor of the food.
Pairing Wine With Ceviche
Best Wine To Drink With Filipino Food
Pairing some of the popular Filipino foods above with wine will excite your taste buds. This type of meal combined with wine takes your sense of smell and taste to a whole new level. Filipino food and wine are must-tries for a fantastic and new dining experience for you and your loved ones.
Here is the complete list of wine recommendations for Filipino dishes:
