What Wine Pairs Best with a Spicy Curry?

Ah, spicy curries! They are delicious, but their intense flavors and heat can make it challenging to pick the right wine. Many people think that beer or water are the only drink options with a spicy curry, but there’s more to it than that.

In this post, we will explore some of the best wine options for your spicy curry and why they work so well together. Whether you’re a seasoned wine connoisseur or just starting, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s get started!

Understanding Wine Pairing

Before we dive deep into our quest for the perfect wine and spicy curry pairing, let’s understand the basics of wine pairing. There are two dominant approaches to wine pairing.

Matching: The simplest approach involves pairing the wine and food with similar characteristics or flavors. For instance, a fruity and light wine would always go together with a light dish like sushi.

Contrasting: The contrasting approach aims to strike a balance in the taste, making for a harmonious pairing. For example, pairing a spicy curry with a full-bodied red would balance out the spiciness, enhancing the overall taste.

Best Wine Options to Pair with a Spicy Curry

Ready for the juicy stuff? Here are some of the best wines to pair with your spicy curry:

Riesling

Riesling is one of the most versatile wines available. It’s crisp, acidic, and slightly sweet, making it the perfect wine to balance out the heat in a spicy curry. Additionally, Riesling has a high acidity level, which complements the sweetness and sourness in a curry.

If your spicy curry has heavy coconut flavors, pair it with a sweet Riesling like a German Spatlese. On the other hand, if you are leaning towards something spicy, go for a drier Riesling from the Alsace region in France.

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer is relatively less acidic than Riesling, but it also has a sweet flavor. The wine has a bold fruit flavor, notably lychee and apricot, which can complement the spicy flavors in your curry.

This wine’s inherent sweetness makes it an excellent choice for those who love a sweet dish. When selecting a Gewürztraminer, go for the Alsatian or German variety; they pair well with spicy Indian curries.

Pinot Noir

One of the most popular red wines, Pinot Noir, is a light red wine that pairs well with spicy dishes. The wine has a balanced flavor profile, with earthy and fruity undertones that complement the spicy elements in the curry. Additionally, the light-bodied nature of Pinot Noir does not overpower the dish.

When selecting a Pinot Noir, go for a fruity wine from the Santa Rita hills in California. Alternatively, a French Burgundy wine would go well with a spicy Indian curry.

Syrah/Shiraz

Syrah/Shiraz is a full-bodied red wine that packs a punch. Its spicy characteristics complement the spice in your curry, while its strong tannins work well to balance the dish’s creaminess.

When selecting Syrah/Shiraz, go for an Australian Shiraz like the Penfolds Grange, which has a peppery and spicy flavor. Alternatively, you can choose a French Syrah like a Cote Rotie.

Sparkling Wine

Yes, you read it, right! Sparkling wine works wonders with spicy food. Its bubbles and carbonation work to cleanse the palate between bites, bringing out the flavors of your curry. Additionally, the dryness of the wine contrasts with the heat of the dish, balancing it out.

When selecting sparkling wine, go for a brut or extra brut variety. On the other hand, sweet wines like Prosecco and Asti should be avoided, as they will only add more sweetness to a sweet dish.

Factors to Consider when Pairing Wine with Curry

Now that we have gone through some of the best wine options for spicy curry let’s dive into some essential tips to consider when pairing wine with curry.

Acidity

Curries with a sour base, such as tamarind or lemon, require a wine that can complement the acidity. Therefore, opt for acidic wines like Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. On the other hand, creamy curries require a wine with less acidity, like a Chardonnay or Viognier.

Heat Level

The level of spiciness in your curry can also influence the wine pairing. Highly-spiced curries require bold wines like Syrah/Shiraz. Additionally, curry with sweet undertones requires a sweet wine like a Riesling, while a dry-earthy curry needs a red with similar characteristics, like Pinot Noir.

Flavors

When pairing wine with curry, consider the dish’s flavors. For instance, curries with coconut or nutty flavors pair better with a Shiraz or Riesling. On the other hand, earthy and sweet curries work well with Pinot Noir, and sour-based curries need acidic wines like Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc.

Final Thoughts

Pairing wine with spicy curry can be tricky, but as we have seen, it is not impossible. The secret lies in understanding the flavors in your dish and selecting a wine that complements and balances out the flavors.

Remember, when selecting wine to pair with any dish, always choose a wine variety and a particular bottle you are confident in and enjoy drinking. Your palate and preferences should always be prioritized.

Cheers to spicy curries and wine pairing!

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