The Do's
-
01
Keep acidity high
Use Italian wines with clear acidity before adding body or tannin.
Italian Wine Pairings for Korean Dumplings and Pancakes
Mandu, pajeon and jeon sit close to the Italian antipasti role: savoury, shareable and often salty. Franciacorta, Soave and Verdicchio give enough cut without overwhelming the filling.
These dishes reward texture and acidity. Read more
Quick Facts
Grape colour mix
22%
red
78%
white
Rules of Engagement
The Do's
-
01
Keep acidity high
Use Italian wines with clear acidity before adding body or tannin.
The Don'ts
-
01
Do not over-oak it
Avoid oaky whites and dense reds when chilli, soy or kimchi is visible.
Pairings at a Glance
Showing 1–3 of 3 dishes
Mandu
Mandu puts dumpling wrapper, pork and tofu at the centre of the Korean dumplings & pancakes table. Franciacorta clears the wrapper and pork fat while Falanghina keeps the filling fresh. Avoid Barolo, Amarone and Brunello here because dense tannin makes chilli, soy and garlic feel harder.
Perfect grape varieties
Also worth trying
Appellations to explore
Asolo ProseccoDOCG
Barbera d'AlbaDOC
Barbera d'AstiDOCG
Barbera del MonferratoDOC
Barbera del Monferrato SuperioreDOCG
Pajeon
Pajeon puts spring onion pancake and soy dip at the centre of the Korean dumplings & pancakes table. Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi has the herbal edge and acidity for spring onion. Avoid Barolo, Amarone and Brunello here because dense tannin makes chilli, soy and garlic feel harder.
Perfect grape varieties
Also worth trying
Appellations to explore
Asolo ProseccoDOCG
Conegliano Valdobbiadene ProseccoDOCG
Falanghina del SannioDOC
Falerno del MassicoDOC
OffidaDOCG
Kimchi jeon
Kimchi jeon puts kimchi pancake, egg and chilli at the centre of the Korean dumplings & pancakes table. Prosecco and Pecorino Offida keep the fermented pancake from feeling heavy. Avoid Barolo, Amarone and Brunello here because dense tannin makes chilli, soy and garlic feel harder.
Appellations to explore
Asolo ProseccoDOCG
Conegliano Valdobbiadene ProseccoDOCG
Lambrusco di SorbaraDOC
Lambrusco Grasparossa di CastelvetroDOC
Lambrusco Salamino di Santa CroceDOC
Why These Pairings Work
These dishes reward texture and acidity. Sparkling and mid-weight whites handle oil, egg, vegetables and dipping sauces with fewer clashes.
Explore More Pairings
Food Pairing Questions
Dumplings & Pancakes works best with these dishes reward texture and acidity. Prosecco, Soave and Barbera d'Asti cover most dishes in this section.
Choose white or sparkling wine when chilli, vinegar or seafood leads, and fresh red wine when pork, beef or char is stronger. Keep tannin moderate.
Avoid Amarone, Barolo and Brunello when chilli, kimchi or soy-heavy sauces are prominent. Their tannin and alcohol make the seasoning feel sharper.
