Which Wines Go Well With Korean Food? (2024)

FAQs

Which Wines Go Well With Korean Food? ›

The best wines to pair with Korean cuisine are Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel. These wines will complement the spiciness of Korean food while bringing out the boldness in the structure of Korean dishes.

The most popular fruit wines include maesil-ju (made from plums), bokbunja-ju (made from Korean black raspberries), and wines made from Chinese quinces, cherries and pomegranates.

One of the most popular Korean dishes, Bibimbap combines seasoned vegetables, sautéed mushrooms, beef, or tofu with a runny fried egg, all served on a bed of rice. For this colorful dish, opt for a dry and slightly fruity Riesling or a refreshing Sparkling Wine.

Bulgogi and Galbi are smoky, sweet, and full of flavor, so a bright and simple red wine is your best bet. An Australian or Chilean Shiraz are my personal favorites but Chianti or an American Zinfandel are also good choices.

Kimbap pairs well with wines that complement its fresh and diverse ingredients without overpowering them. Recommended wines include Pinot Noir from Alsace, Pinot Blanc from Alsace, Riesling from Alsace, and Merwah from Lebanon.

The best wines to pair with Korean cuisine are Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel. These wines will complement the spiciness of Korean food while bringing out the boldness in the structure of Korean dishes.

Because beverages are rarely served during a traditional Korean meal, there should always be a soup or water kimchi to wash the food down (although as a foreigner you'll almost always be offered filtered or bottled water with your meal).

Top picks would be a zippy Sancerre or Dry Riesling for a white, and a Barbera or Carignane for a red wine choice. If you want to really bring out the spice and prefer a bolder red, pick up a Malbec or a nice Zinfandel.

Don't expect one wine to go with all the dishes but choose a refreshing, light to medium bodied red or white with lively bold flavors that echo Korean food's boldness. Think Albarino, Pinot Grigio, Gruner Veltliner, Sangiovese, Grenache or Barbera.

"Samgyeopsal," which literally means three-layered pork in Korean, is usually coupled with "soju," but the pork belly cuts that is a long-time favorite meat among Koreans surprisingly pairs well with the dry German Riesling.

What drink to serve with Korean barbecue? ›

Consider a juicy Zinfandel, Australian Shiraz, a Grenache blend from southern France, or a Barbera from Piemonte. If it's bubbles you crave, say hello to Lambrusco - the sparkling red wine from Northern Italy, famous for how simpatico it is with challenging meat dishes.

Most recipes call for crushed pear to tenderize the meat. My boyfriend's Korean mother says Coca-Cola can also be used for the same purpose. This recipe uses very thinly-sliced sirloin steak, so tenderization isn't necessary. It's delicious served with rice, lettuce leaves, and chile paste or kimchi.

Pho bo and dry sparkling wine or Pinot Noir, Gamay

I typically favor a light, crisp, traditional method of dry sparkling wine, such as Spanish Cava, to refresh the palate from the salty and naturally complex flavours of the soup. I recommend a Blanc de Blancs Champagne.

Consuming food with alcohol is a widespread practice in Korea, especially when the alcoholic beverage soju is involved. Certain types of foods consumed primarily as anju include golbaengi muchim, nogari with peanuts, and jokbal.

Spicy ramen: For spicy ramen dishes like Tan Tan Men or Kimchi ramen, you'll want a wine that can cool the heat without being overwhelmed. Off-dry or semi-sweet wines like Summer Berry Rose from Backsberg can help tame the spiciness while providing a touch of residual sweetness.

The most popular wine in the South Korean market is often considered to be red wine, particularly those made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. Here's why Cabernet Sauvignon is highly regarded and favored in South Korea such as, Flavor Profile, Food Pairing, Global Reputation, Aging Potential.

The most popular distilled spirit by far in South Korea is Soju: Soju is a South Korean distilled spirit and its sales makes up for notable amount of the total alcoholic beverage sales value in South Korea.

South Korea is largely a beer and spirits market – only 13% of all alcohol sales are wine. And within the wine category, rice wine dominates – some 85% of the volume. But while beer consumption is flat and spirits in slight decline, wine sales are growing.

Soju holds a special place in Korean culture as the country's national drink and happens to be the world's most popular alcoholic beverage.