| Pairing wine with Indian food is a toughie. Among | | | | 'naked' or unoaked Chardonany works best. |
| Asian cuisines, Indian food probably has the | | | | Indian curries are a must with any meal. Lighter |
| greatest notoriety for being a difficult to match | | | | red wine like Syrah can make a good pair with |
| with wine. Each part of our nation boasts of a | | | | heavy sauce or cream based curries. Wines like |
| varied gastronomy with specialities that not only | | | | Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, sweet Riesling, red and |
| differ between each state, but also varies from | | | | white Cotes du Rhone are also a good match |
| one district to the other. As such, it is hard to | | | | with these kinds of food. |
| match the wild and fiery flavours of food with the | | | | Dessert wines are consumed in most parts of the |
| delicate flavour of wine. | | | | world with select desserts and cheese. Indian |
| One good combination with Indian food is crisp | | | | desserts are usually rich with oil and sugar, and |
| white wine like Sauvignon Blanc. Indian food is | | | | offset the taste balance of most wines. However, |
| associated with spices. Dishes like chicken masala | | | | there are some Indian desserts like the cottage |
| tikka, tandoori prawns, kadhai paneer are spicy | | | | cheese based, semi sweet sandesh which would |
| and have a complex flavour and aroma. Dry | | | | pairs well with dessert wines like sweet Muscat or |
| nature of Sauvignon Blanc provides a nice balance | | | | Semillion. |
| to the spicy food. It can also pair well with spicy | | | | There is a widespread debate on how well Indian |
| snacks like bhaji or pakoras. Other wines like dry | | | | wines pair with Indian food. Wine usually |
| Chenin Blanc, dry Viognier and Syrah also combine | | | | compliments the traditional cuisines of the country |
| smoothly with spicy foods. | | | | of its produce and Indian produced Shiraz, the |
| Some white wines combine well with tandoori | | | | Viognier and Chenin Blanc are great guns with |
| food. This type of preparation is usually low on | | | | Indian cuisine. Sparkling wines blend exceptionally |
| spice, but has a strong aroma and flavour. The | | | | with Indian cuisine. So a flute of champagne or |
| all-time favourite Gewürztraminer, from the | | | | even an Indian produced sparkling wine would be |
| region of Alsace in France, is a perfect choice. | | | | a just right. Some Indian red wines like Merlot do |
| White Zinfandel from Indage, which is a pink wine, | | | | not agree with Indian food due its very tannic |
| is also a brilliant option. These wines are usually | | | | nature, as the spices in the meal usually |
| slightly sweet with balanced acidity and fruity | | | | overpower the flavours of these grapes and vice |
| notes. A good combination with paneer tikkas, | | | | versa. |
| reshmi kebabs, and tandoori roti indeed. | | | | In essence, the name of the game is knowing the |
| White wines also work well with the dishes made | | | | basic ingredients of food and wine and having and |
| with fresh greens or herbs as a primary | | | | having a penchant for trying out various |
| ingredients like palak paneer. If you want | | | | combinations. Who knows, you might yet discover |
| Chardonnay with thses kind of food, do not take | | | | the prized combination and become the |
| very oaky or buttery versions. In other words, a | | | | heart-throb of the oomph-oomph? |