Preview: Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival

Cabernet Sauvignon, or if you’re too cool to use the full name, cab sav, is a rich tannic red wine. Holding a glass instantly makes you look classier.
- Grown in nearly every major wine country.
- Tastes more floral in types from Bordeaux, while vineyards from California bring black pepper and vanilla into the mix.

A softer alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon, the smoothness and easy aftertaste of Merlot makes it a brilliant option for red wine beginners.
- Popular in the Bordeaux wine regions.
- Roasted and earthy flavours from cool climates like France and Italy. Fruit-centric, often cherry, and dashes of chocolate from warmer climates like Australia and Argentina.

Don’t let the lightness in colour and subtle flavours fool you, Pinot Noir is pricier on average than other red wines due to difficulties in growing the grape.
- Most commonly from the Burgundy region of France.
- Tends to have flavours like cherries, raspberries and strawberries

Thanks to its bold berry and jam-like flavours and aromas, Zinfandel can really pack a punch. It also tends to have higher alcohol levels, ranging from about 14-17 percent, so take it slow and savour every sip.
- California vineyards are experts in Zinfandel. Try going for ones produced from Napa Valley.
- Sweet and fruity with a spicy and tobacco-like smoky finish.

With its substantial tannins, the perfect match for a Cabernet Sauvignon is lamb. Any dish that incorporates barbecue lamb ribs works absolute magic with it.

Best Asian combo: Spicy beef tenderloin paired with Brea Wine Co, Margarita Vineyard, Paso Robles, North America, 2015.
Best Western combo: BBQ lamb ribs paired with Chateau Montrose, St Estephe, Bordeaux, 2000.

The great thing about Chardonnay is its versatility, making it very easy to pair with most food. They work very well with ingredients like pork belly, fish and even chicken sandwiches.

Best Asian combo: Zongzi with dried scallop and black bean filling with Ridge Vineyard, Estate Chardonnay, Santa Cruz, California 2010.
Best Western combo: Beetroot salad matched with Maison Chantereves, Bourgogne Chardonnay 2015.

A lush fruit-driven grape that can produce some seriously hefty wines on any continent – Merlot makes for a spectacular feast for your mouth when paired with beef and lamb.

Best Asian combo: Roast goose with Craggy Range Merlot, Gimlett Gravels, New Zealand, 2014.
Best Western combo: Grilled flat iron steak served with Poplar Grove Merlot from Okanagan Valley in Canada.

Desserts are the best part of a meal and Moscato can take your dessert to the next level. You’re guaranteed to finish the meal with a satisfying smile on your face.

Best Asian combo: Light desserts like Japanese mango mochi pairs well with most Moscato d’Asti.
Best Western combo: Fruit platters and tiramisu with Rizzi, Moscato d’Asti, Piedmonte, Italy, 2015

To combat its signature red fruit flavours, crisp acidity and low tannin, the best way to enjoy Pinot Noir is with savoury dishes. Salty flavours are your best friend here. 

Best Asian combo: Tea-smoked pigeon with Domaine Laurent Roumier, Chambolle Musigny, 2009.
Best Western combo: Roast mushrooms on toast with cep purée paired with Friedrich Becker, Spätburgunder from Pfalz, Germany, 2009.

Riesling is made for Asian food! The hint of residual sugar that many Rieslings have make it a great pairing for any Asian food packed with umami, saltiness or bitterness.

Best Asian combo: Taiwanese gua bao with pork belly matched with Egon Müller, Scharzhof, Mosel, Germany 2011.
Best Western combo: Seabass tartare with avocado purée and shaved horseradish matched with FX Pichler, Loibner Burgstall, Austria.

This super popular white wine is well-loved for its cocktail of tropical fruits, gooseberry bush, freshly cut grass and sometimes oaky flavours. But those fruity aroma can overwhelm delicate dishes. Note to self: It’s all about balance.

Best Asian combo: Wagyu gunkan with Scholium Project, Prince in his cave, Sonoma, North America, 2010.
Best Western combo: Tomato Salad and burrata with Chateau Rahoul Blanc, Graves, Bordeaux 2014

A monster in the red wine family, Zinfandel is charged with everything from fruits to oak and tannins too, which means any food pairing with this wine needs to be just as bold.

Best Asian combo: Char siu puff with Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, USA, 2013.
Best Western combo: Something as simple as ribeye on the bone with Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, USA, 2013 or Domaine Laurent Roumier, Chambolle Musigny.

Always start with a wine you enjoy!

Pair light-bodied wine with lighter dishes and full-bodied wine with heavier fare.

Wine pairing is more complex than simply matching white wine with fish and red wine with meat, but you can’t go wrong sticking to that rule if you are feeling overwhelmed by all the options.

Another general rule of thumb is that wine should be sweeter than the food pairing. Otherwise the dish becomes more bitter and tart as the meal goes on.

Don’t limit yourself by food pairings. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with mixing and matching whichever wine with whatever dish you fancy.