Wine Peeps is an independent wine blog dedicated to helping you get the most bang for your buck in wine. We do this through blind tastings of wine from around the world and calculations of 
Challenging Wine Pairing: Chicken Stir-Fry
By LaGayle ~ May 25th, 2010.
We have had beautiful warm weather in Seattle lately, so I decided that this month’s challenging wine pairing should be something easy and light that would call for refreshing white wines.
My family and I love Asian food, so I decided to prepare a chicken stir-fry with rice and egg rolls. All items were easily prepared and quite delicious. Another thing about a stir-fry is that it’s very healthy with many choices of vegetables that can be utilized along with the meat. Our stir-fry included chicken breast, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, onion, celery, and bell peppers.
Again, I referred to my favorite book, What to Drink with What You Eat, by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page and decided to try an off-dry Riesling and a Pinot Grigio. This challenge gave us the perfect opportunity to try the 2009 Kung Fu Girl Riesling by Charles Smith Wines, which is a favorite of many here in Washington State, and the 2008 Gabbiano Pinot Grigio, whose Chianti we have enjoyed in the past. Both wines were very enjoyable; however, the Kung Fu Girl Riesling was the unanimous choice with and without food.
We have a lot of fun with these challenging wine pairings so I encourage you to try your own challenging pairings at home. Also, we would love for you to suggest challenging wine pairing meals for us to try in the future.
Bon Appétit!
2009 Kung Fu Girl Riesling (Evergreen Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): Produced by Charles Smith Wines. Very pale, straw yellow. Nose is a bit tight at first, then some minerality comes through. Citrus fruits, particularly lime and lemon, and tropical fruits explode on the palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied. Well-balanced and crisp with a long finish. Excellent by itself and paired perfectly with the stir-fry. Residual Sugar: 1.41%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $12.49; Available elsewhere, $11 to $17
2008 Gabbiano Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie IGT, Italy): Pale, golden yellow. Moderate pear aromas lead to flavors of pear, apple, and melon. Dry, medium-bodied, and lively with a medium finish. A decent wine but a bit plain.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $8.99; Available elsewhere, $7.50 to $10
Filed under: American Wine, Challenging Wine Pairing, Five-Bangs For Your Buck Wines, Food & Wine, Italian Wine, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Riesling, Washington State Wine, White Wine, Wines Under $10, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25
Last night my wife made chicken stir fry. She is Vietnamese, so it had some hot pepper in it. We paired it with a Gruner Veltliner from Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyard in Roseburg, OR. It was an excellent match.
I tasted the Kung Fu Girl Reisling at Sean’s (www.wawinereport.com)virtual tasting last month. I bet it did pair very well with your stir fry. It was a bit acidic for me alone, but I felt it would stand up to some spicy foods. I remember getting a little coconut of the nose and thinking I needed some coconut prawns with a spicy Thai dipping sauce.
Al,
Glad to hear the Gruner Veltliner was an excellent match as well. We’ll have to try that one next time.
Melinda,
Yes, it was an excellent pairing. I love the crisp acidity but realize that it can be a bit much for some palates on its own. It works really well with food though. I’m getting hungry just thinking about the coconut prawns your mentioned. I bet that would be a great pairing too.
Cheers!
What would you serve with spicy meat tacos? I’m going camping with friends and would love a recommendation, especially something with a screw top!
Thanks.
Spicy meat tacos should work well with a fruity red, such as a Beaujolais. If you are adventurous, a slightly fizzy and not-too-sweet Lambrusco. It’s a red Italian wine, though avoid the Riunite which is too sweet.
Larry,
Thanks for sharing your recommendations.
Katie,
In addition to Larry’s recs, I would recommend a Zinfandel or possibly a Spanish Tempranillo. You should be able to find a Zin with a screw top. Have fun camping!
For asian cuisine my first thought for pairing lately has been DeLille Cellars’ Doyenne Roussanne.
Bill,
Thanks for the recommendation. We’ll have to try that pairing sometime. Cheers!
i love to eat asian foods because they are tasty and spicy.’~”
the best asian food that i tasted comes from Thailand;;~