The Definitive Guide to Wine Pairing by our Sommelier
Looking for a French wine pairing in Hanoi? At Maison Vie, a French fine-dining restaurant with a sommelier at 28 Tăng Bạt Hổ, Hai Bà Trưng, the pairing flight for the Menu Dégustation starts at 1,400,000 VND (3–4 courses). This guide sums up the core principles so you can also pick with confidence by yourself.
Three principles behind every good pairing
- Match intensity: delicate dishes take delicate wines; rich dishes need wine with matching weight — whichever side dominates, the other disappears.
- Mirror or contrast: a creamy dish suits a rounded wine (mirror), or can be cut by a bright, acidic one (contrast). Both are correct — choose the sensation you want.
- Acidity resets the palate: buttery dishes and deep sauces need the wine's freshness so every bite tastes like the first.
Pairing by course
| Course | Wine style | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cold starter (e.g. tuna carpaccio) | Sparkling or mineral-driven white | Freshness lifts the raw sea flavours |
| Soup & warm starter (e.g. Nha Trang shrimp bisque) | Rounder white, light oak | Echoes the cream in the sauce |
| Fish | Fuller white or dry rosé | Weight follows the sauce without covering the fish |
| Red meat & braises (e.g. Burgundy braised beef) | Medium to full red | Tannin softens against protein and fat |
| Cheese | Light red or sweet wine, by the cheese | The saltier the cheese, the better sweet wine works |
| Dessert (e.g. Phú Quốc vanilla crème brûlée) | Sweet wine | The wine must be sweeter than the dish, or it turns sour |
Wine pairing at Maison Vie
- Menu Dégustation: a 3–7 course journey (from 855,000 VND) with a sommelier-selected pairing flight from 1,400,000 VND for 3–4 courses — read the Menu Dégustation article and see the Set Menu page.
- Menu d'Affaires lunch: a chef-chosen glass of wine at +160,000 VND, or tea/coffee at +45,000 VND — lunch-only promotional prices, to be booked in advance.
- À la carte: browse the wine list and let the sommelier advise around your choices from the menu.
Book a table with the sommelier
Maison Vie is open daily 11:00–14:00 and 17:30–22:00 at 28 Tăng Bạt Hổ, Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi. Reservations: +84 904 150 383. For a pairing built around a special occasion, mention it when you book.
Frequently asked questions about wine pairing
Does Maison Vie have a sommelier?
Yes. The sommelier curates the Menu Dégustation pairing flight and advises à la carte guests dish by dish.
How much does the wine pairing cost?
The Menu Dégustation pairing starts at 1,400,000 VND for 3–4 courses. At lunch, a chef-chosen glass is +160,000 VND — a lunch-only promotional price that must be booked in advance.
What if I only drink a little?
Tell the sommelier when you book — the number of glasses and pour sizes can be adjusted, or the pairing limited to the main course.
Do I need to book the pairing ahead?
The lunch wine offer must be booked in advance. For an evening Dégustation pairing, mentioning it at booking lets the cellar prepare properly.
Where is Maison Vie and when is it open?
28 Tăng Bạt Hổ, Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi — daily, 11:00–14:00 and 17:30–22:00. Reservations: +84 904 150 383.