What wine should you pair with your sushi or dim sum? To ease the culinary dilemma most diners face when choosing a wine to pair with Chinese cuisine, P.F. Chang’s is launching a new line of wines. Via BusinessWire, P.F. Chang’s is partnering with Browne Family Vineyards to launch two wines exclusively available in its restaurants.
Given the range of flavors in Asian dishes, including salty, sweet, sour, and spicy, equally flavorful wines are needed to stand up to the sauces. So, P.F. Chang beverage director Mary Melton chose Washington because its climate creates bigger, bolder varietals.
The new Browne Family Vineyards wines are sourced from the Walla Walla and Columbia Valley AVAs of Washington state. The dry, sunny weather allows varietals hang longer on the vine, developing fuller fruit flavors than they would elsewhere. Strong winds causes the grapes develop thicker skins, lending body to the reds.
Not surprisingly, the white is a Riesling-based blend to pair with sweet and sour dishes such as Chang’s Lettuce Wraps, Chang’s Spicy Chicken, and Crispy Honey Shrimp. Riesling with a touch of residual sugar is generally the safe bet for Asian food due to its higher acidity level, fruit-forward nature, and sweetness. The Browne Family Vineyards 2015 White Wine Blend retails at $9/glass or $30/bottle.
The red is a Merlot-based Red Blend to pair with sweet, spicy or umami red meat dishes, such as Northern Style Ribs and Mongolian Beef. If softer Merlot seems like an unexpected pick for bold Asian cuisine, we at The Wine Daily can vouch for P.F. Chang’s choice. Washington Merlot tends to develop bolder fruit flavors than its California counterparts, while retaining structured tannins. The Browne Family Vineyards 2015 Red Wine Blend retails at $12/glass or $39/bottle.
Browne Family Wines is a solid choice for P.F. Chang’s — the vineyard has received over 30 ratings of 90 points or higher, and continues to achieve these standards today. Its red blend consistently receives 90 points or more from Wine Spectator.
As wine consumption continues to grow in the U.S., we’re bound to see more Asian restaurants encouraging wine with their dishes. See BusinessWire for more details.