Wine and Spicy/Exotic Food

If you’re a lover of spicy/exotic food like Indian, Thai and Cajun, here’s some advice on what wine to sip. Choose those with good acidity or sourness like Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Fruitiness and sweetness in a wine also counterbalance heat. Medium-dry, off dry or late harvest selections work well. Pick wines lower in alcohol as this component fuels the fire. Avoid overly woody wines and tannic reds as this masks the fruit. Gamay, Beaujolais and lighter Merlots are great. Aromatic varietals like Gewürztraminer, Torrontes, Viognier and Muscat mesh superbly. Even rosé does a nice job. Finally, serve all vino a little cooler than normal as this helps douse the fire. If all else fails, there’s always beer. Cheers!