What wine goes with Thai food?

Off-dry Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are the best wines for Thai food, since a touch of sweetness tames chili heat, and zesty acidity matches lime, lemongrass and herbs.

Thai food is spicy, sour, sweet and salty all at once, with fresh herbs on top. That is a lot for a wine to handle. Go for low alcohol, lots of acidity and, if things are spicy, a bit of sweetness. Big reds and oaky whites are the wrong tools here.

4 bottles that actually work with Thai food

• 1. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling

  about $10

  Riesling · nearly everywhere

  The regular bottling, not the dry one: you want the slight sweetness here. It cools the heat of curries and loves peanut sauce. Ten dollars and genuinely the right call.

• 2. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

  about $17

  Sauvignon Blanc · nearly everywhere

  Zesty lime and green herb flavors match lemongrass, basil and cilantro. The pick for green curry and larb.

• 3. Stella Rosa Moscato

  about $13

  Moscato · nearly everywhere

  Sweet, light and fizzy, and very low in alcohol. If you order Thai hot, this is the bottle that keeps you comfortable.

• 4. Korbel Brut

  about $13

  Sparkling blend · nearly everywhere

  Crisp California bubbles to cut through fried spring rolls and the coconut richness in curries.

Depends how you are cooking it

Pad Thai

Sweet, tangy and nutty. Off-dry Riesling or a dry rosé.

Green or red curry

Coconut and heat. Riesling, or Moscato if it is very spicy.

Papaya salad or larb

Sour, herby and fiery. Sauvignon Blanc for the herbs, Riesling for the heat.

Massaman or panang curry

Richer and milder. An off-dry Riesling or a light Pinot Noir.

What to skip

Big, high-alcohol reds

Alcohol makes the chili burn hotter and tannin turns bitter with spice.

Oaky Chardonnay

Oak flattens the fresh herbs and lime that make Thai food taste like Thai food.

Also worth a look

• What wine goes with Indian food?
• What wine goes with Chinese food?
• What wine goes with sushi?

Last checked 2026-10-04.