Pairing Wine With Stir Fry

Stir fry is a popular dish due to its versatility of a wide variety of vegetables, sauces, and protein that can be used. It is so quick and easy to make that it has become a popular weeknight dish for the busiest of times. Although this delicious one pan dish can be a swift and healthy way to prepare dinner, it can be easily elevated to a sophisticated dining experience by pairing it with a great bottle of wine. Depending on the protein selection, it can pair beautifully with both red and white wines.

Best Red Wine to Drink with Stir Fry

There are many great choices! What makes stir fry so great is that we often can add whatever vegetables we have in our fridge for the vegetable component, and these typically pair well with everything. The sauce types vary, but what is similar to most used for stir fry is that they are soy sauce based. The great thing about soy sauce is that they pair well with all red wines!

This makes the protein selection the biggest consideration with wine pairings. For vegetarian or poultry stir fry, a light or medium bodied red wine such as Pinot Noir or Cabernet Franc would pair well. For steak stir fry, a great choice would be a bolder fuller bodied red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec. Here is a list of good choices to try with stir fry:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc

Malbec
Nebbiolo

Best White Wine to Drink with Stir Fry

White wine options are just as versatile as the many ways to prepare stir fry. An acidic, fresh and fruity option would work well to brighten up the dish and would pair the best if the protein added was poultry or tofu. Conversely, a full-bodied white wine would complement the richer flavors and textures of the stir fry dish, especially if prepared with beef. If you are looking for something unique, Sake would also be a unique and delicious option to elevate your dining experience with a stir fry of any type!

Sauvignon Blanc
Sake
Vinho Verde

Californian Chardonnay
Alsatian Pinot Blanc

Best Wine With Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

This type of stir fry is one of the most popular. Beef and broccoli both have rich umami flavor that will go beautifully with Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannin from Cabernet Sauvignon will bind to the protein molecules to give it a silky-smooth mouthfeel. Additionally, this grape variety is known for its pyrazine compounds that give it herbaceous notes, making it a great complement with the broccoli.

Best Wine With Kung Pao Chicken Stir Fry

This type of stir fry is also a popular choice for those who like a savory kick. A great pairing would be Sake. It has mild, briny flavor components that will highlight the saltiness of the sauce in the dish. Kung Pao Chicken ranges from mild to spicy, and the great thing about Sake is that it is a wine that can stand up to spice. Although Sake is made from rice, it also has fruity components such as apple, lemon, and sometimes banana. These fruity notes and aromas and the savoriness of the main course will highlight each others’ flavors, making it a great choice.

Best Wine With Ground Turkey Stir Fry

Although this protein choice has a relatively mild flavor, the sauce can pack a punch in terms of boldness. A great choice for this dish would be an Alsacian Pinot Blanc. Despite its northerly latitude, this region crafts full bodied wines due to the dry climate and the extra long time the grapes spend on the vine. These wines pair harmoniously with ground turkey stir fry due to the rich texture of the wine. In addition, the yellow plum, golden delicious apple notes that will bring out the umami flavors of the main course. This wine will surely elevate your dining experience!

Best Wine With Thai Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

The sauce in this stir fry dish is also known for its boldness of flavor. A great choice would be a Californian Chardonnay. Choose one that has some age since they develop nutty flavors that would complement the cashews in the stir fry. Additionally, the creaminess and richness of the wine will temper the heat of the stir fry, creating balance between the two. There are many choices, such as Napa, Sonoma, Monterey, Santa Barbera, etc. All would make great choices.

Best Wine With Vegetable or Tofu Stir Fry

Vegan and vegetarian dishes are on the rise, and it would be remiss to not include this on the list! This type of delicious stir fry also deserves a great wine to enjoy with it. Since the sauces will vary with this dish, it is best to go with a light or medium bodied red wine that will not overpower the delicate tofu or vegetables. Pinot Noir has earthy notes, even in youth, that will complement similar flavours of the vegetables. Choose one from New Zealand or Australia that will stand up to the boldness of the sauce in this dish due to having a more intense flavor profile (for a Pinot Noir).

Best Types of Wine to Drink with Stir Fry

The protein type for stir fry will vary from vegetarian to lighter poultry to bolder red meat. This can result in many different wine combinations that will bring out the best in the dish, and also the wine. The key to a great pairing is to find a wine to not overpower the dish, but to match its intensity and to find flavors and aromas that will highlight what we love in the food. If you choose a wine from this list, it will be sure to impress. Enjoy!