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What wine goes with dim sum?

Data-driven wine advice from SommelierX

Looking for the best wine with dim sum? It helps to look beyond the main flavour. Prawns, pork and the sauce together define the profile, and that is what we base the wine choice on. Through the Wine DNA, our algorithm calculates the flavour balance of dim sum and links it to the wine styles that come closest. Below that profile is worked out, with the recommended wines, their grape and region, and a short rationale per bottle.

The Wine DNA of dim sum

The Wine DNA of dim sum shows a clear profile: Savoury and sweetness are the strongest flavour axes. Our algorithm translates this flavour balance into wines whose own DNA axes — acidity, tannin, body, fruit and spice — complement the dish rather than overpower it. The higher an axis below, the more that taste defines the dish and the more precisely the wine selection responds to it.

Flavour profile (0-5)

Acidity 1.4
Sweetness 2.3
Savoury 4.1
Spice 2.1
Earthy 0.9

Top 5 wines with dim sum

1

Rully, Mercurey, Montagny, Givry en Bouzeron (Villages)

White wine · Burgundy, France

Chardonnay from Burgundy, France: the fresh acidity keeps every bite lively and the warm alcohol carries the richer flavours, a logical match for the savoury depth of dim sum.

Grape: ChardonnayMid-rangeMatch: 90/100
2

Macon, St-Véran, Viré-Clessé, Pouilly-Fuissé, Pouilly-Loché, Pouilly-Vinzelles, Beaujolais Blanc (1er Crus)

White wine · Burgundy, France

Chardonnay from Burgundy, France: the fresh acidity keeps every bite lively and the warm alcohol carries the richer flavours, a logical match for the savoury depth of dim sum.

Grape: ChardonnayMid-rangeMatch: 90/100
3

Macon, St-Véran, Viré-Clessé, Pouilly-Fuissé, Pouilly-Loché, Pouilly-Vinzelles, Beaujolais Blanc (Villages)

White wine · Burgundy, France

Chardonnay from Burgundy, France: the fresh acidity keeps every bite lively and the warm alcohol carries the richer flavours, a logical match for the savoury depth of dim sum.

Grape: ChardonnayMid-rangeMatch: 90/100
4

Douro and Dão Basic and Middle

White wine · Portugal

Arinto from Portugal: the ripe fruit lays a round layer over the dish and the fresh acidity keeps every bite lively, a logical match for the savoury depth of dim sum.

Grape: Arinto, Codega, Donzelinho BrancoMid-rangeMatch: 86/100
5

Alentejo Reserva Middle

White wine · Alentejo, Portugal

Antão Vaz from Alentejo, Portugal: the ripe fruit lays a round layer over the dish and the warm alcohol carries the richer flavours, a logical match for the savoury depth of dim sum.

Grape: Antão Vaz, Arinto, RoupeiroMid-rangeMatch: 85/100

What ties this selection together: the savoury depth of dim sum leads, and every recommended wine answers that flavour axis in its own way — one with structure, another with fruit or freshness. So you do not get a single "correct" bottle, but a range that all start from the same flavour principle. Choose by colour, price or occasion; the match with the dish is reasoned in every case.

Serving tips

1

Spice and sweetness in dim sum call for a wine with a touch of residual sugar and low tannin.

2

Serve the wine with dim sum slightly cooler than usual; that tames the heat of the spices.

3

Torn between two wines? Pick the one with the highest score above — it aligns most tightly with the profile.

Frequently asked questions

Which wine pairs best with dim sum?

Based on the Wine DNA, Rully, Mercurey, Montagny, Givry en Bouzeron (Villages) from Burgundy, France scores as the best match with dim sum, with a pairing score of 90. That is because the wine aligns with the savoury depth that characterises this dish.

Does white wine go with dim sum?

Yes. Rully, Mercurey, Montagny, Givry en Bouzeron (Villages) (Burgundy, France) is an excellent white choice here that keeps the dish fresh.

Is Chardonnay a good grape with dim sum?

Chardonnay tops our list for dim sum, precisely because the grape profile measurably matches the dish's flavour balance.

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