If you are dialing out tonight for pizza or Chinese, here are some ideas for a tasty wine to dress up your takeout. While I've suggested a few broad styles in each category, there are lots of great choices not mentioned. I'd love to hear about your favorites.
Pizza
It's fun to choose Italian wines to pair with pizza. With lighter-style pizzas or if you are a white-wine lover, try a fuller-bodied white like Greco di Tufo or Fiano di Avellino. Heartier pizzas are great with reds. Chianti Classico is always a winner, but other Italian reds are great, too, such as Dolcetto and Barbera d'Alba, as well as the more full-bodied Agliancio del Vulture or Salice Salentino.
Chinese
One of the characteristics of Chinese cooking is the idea of balancing tastes and textures. Contrasting flavors, temperatures and textures are often included in a single dish or a single meal, and many savory dishes have elements of sweetness and saltiness. A dry Riesling from Germany is a lovely choice. A fruity medium-bodied red such as Carmenere from Chile or a Merlot works, too.
Thai
I love it with light- to medium-bodied whites with a good jolt of acid and just a bit of sweetness. I usually don't care for table wines with perceptible sweetness, but pair them with the heat and complex spices of a Thai dish, and wow, what a winning flavor combination. Reach for Vouvray (France), Gewurztraminer (Alsace, France) or Chenin Blanc (U.S. or South Africa) to enhance spicy pad thai.
Burgers
If you haven't tried it, you've got to pair a juicy grilled burger with Zinfandel. This American classic wine with its red and black fruit aromas is sturdy enough to stand up to a beefy mouth-watering burger. There is something about this wine that reflects the flavors of foods that have been grilled. Be aware, though, that there are lots of styles of Zinfandel on the shelves. My favorite with burgers are more full-bodied styles. A big burger can also hold its own with a rich Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah.
Fried chicken
One of the best pairings I ever had was by accident. My kid had picked up a box of spicy fried chicken, and I gnawed on a leg while writing a column about Austrian wines. The wine I was drinking was Gruner Veldtliner, an Austrian specialty with a peppery-herbal quality, and it was sensational with the spice- and pepper-crusted fried chicken. I've also enjoyed a full-bodied Viognier or a Chardonnay with takeout chicken.
Sushi
Lots of people love sparkling wine with sushi, and it's easy to see why. The bubbles and crisp acid are a palate-cleansing backdrop for lots of sushi styles. You also can try some wines recommended for Thai cuisine if your sushi preferences lean toward rolls stuffed with tempura shrimp and cream cheese. One of my wine friends swears by Pinot Noir (particularly Burgundy) with sushi, and I can't disagree after trying that intriguing combination. I'm also fond of dry rosé.
Barbecue
We Southerners love our barbecue, but one of the most taste-friendly pairings is wine from southern France. Check out Grenache-based blended wines from Gigondas or Vacqueryas (France) or Grenache and Shiraz blends from Australia if you prefer New World wines.
Microwave popcorn
It's not really takeout, but one of my ultimate quick-food pairings is a bag of buttery microwave popcorn with a rich, buttery California Chardonnay. The popcorn and the creamy wine are delicious together, but be careful - this one may be addictive.
