Tea may remain the traditional companion to mooncakes, but PARKROYAL COLLECTION Complex Director of Food and Beverage Khalil Zakhem believes there is room at the Mid-Autumn table for another pour.
Wine, he says, can offer a fresh way to experience the festival without displacing the traditions that have defined it for generations.
However, Zakhem emphasised that the pairing is not about replacing a centuries-old ritual. Instead, it is about offering a contemporary way to experience the festival while preserving the traditions of reunion, gratitude and togetherness at its heart.
“Tea will always be at the heart of the festival due to its cultural significance and tradition,” he said, adding that wine can evolve into a modern complement as consumers become more adventurous.
Finding The Right Pairing
The idea works best when the wine enhances, rather than overwhelms, the character of the mooncake.
Zakhem said a nutty baked mooncake can pair well with a lightly oaked white or a soft red, while lotus paste with salted egg yolk can work with sparkling wine or an off-dry Riesling.
For him, the appeal lies in adding a new layer to an already familiar festive ritual.
“Modern is not the opposite of heritage; it is a new way to appreciate it,” he emphasised, while highlighting that this philosophy has shaped this year’s mooncake collection at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur, which brings mooncakes and wine together in a curated gifting experience.
Additionally, the wine element also carries a personal meaning for Zakhem as growing up in Syria, winemaking was part of his family tradition, while sharing wine with loved ones was closely associated with celebrations.
Those memories became part of the inspiration for this year’s collection, including a mooncake box incorporating a wine bottle element to represent sharing and togetherness.
The Baked Mix Nuts Mooncake also reflects ingredients familiar to Zakhem’s background, particularly walnuts and almonds, which are combined with traditional mooncake craftsmanship.
For Zakhem, that cross-cultural approach feels natural.
“As a Syrian who has called Malaysia home for many years, I feel those values deeply,” he said.
He noted that Malaysian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures share a common understanding of food as a way to welcome people, express gratitude and strengthen relationships.
Tradition Still Leads The Table
Despite growing interest in more adventurous flavours and pairings, Zakhem said traditional mooncakes remain the strongest sellers.
“Classics such as lotus paste, white lotus and baked red bean paste continue to resonate because of their association with family traditions and cultural significance.
“Experimental creations may attract attention, particularly among younger consumers, but many still gravitate back towards familiar flavours for family gatherings and gifting,” he added, while emphasising that this makes balance crucial.
Zakhem said cultural innovation should add to a tradition without erasing its identity. Flavours, presentation and storytelling can evolve, but the meaning and symbolism of Mid-Autumn must remain intact.
More Than A Seasonal Gift
For Zakhem, Mid-Autumn is also an opportunity for hotels to play the role of cultural host rather than simply seasonal retailer.
He sees the festival as a chance to tell stories through food and create experiences that bring people of different backgrounds together.
That perspective shapes how the collection is designed — not simply around how a mooncake box looks, but around where it eventually ends up: Passed between friends, opened in an office or shared at a family reunion.
Even as increasingly elaborate packaging becomes part of the annual Mid-Autumn competition, Zakhem believes presentation should never overshadow the festival itself.
“Beautiful packaging can create excitement, but the most successful concepts are those that reinforce the story and meaning behind the festival,” Zakhem said, while highlighting that the appeal of pairing mooncakes with wine ultimately lies in what both have in common: They are best enjoyed in company.
“It is less about replacing a familiar Mid-Autumn ritual and more about adding another way to celebrate it,” he emphasised.
As the Chinese community prepares to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, on Sept 25, perhaps this year’s toast can be a little different — one hand reaching for a mooncake, the other raising a glass of wine to reunion, tradition and togetherness.
