Food and Wine

"Which wine should we serve today?" is a question many of us would have thought of when inviting guests. I am not a wine fan or for that matter - I don't drink any wine at all. But I know that most of my friends do. And they always find it hard to come up with an answer especially if you are the kind of person who wants to change menus every once in a while. These are tips I got by discussing this with my husband, family and friends. I also read articles I found on the web to further increase my knowledge on this topic.

Most Indian food goes well with beer and whiskey, which is popular in India. Indian food has so many spices, and so many different food types that if you try to match every food with a wine, its impossible to solve this puzzle. You need to go by the general menu type - plain and simple to spicy to heavy, creamy moghlai.

• Gewürztraminer - The name literally mean spicy garpe in German. This is golden and smells like lichee and tropical fruit and pairs very well with most indian sauces and spices, especially ginger and cardomom. • Australian Sauvignon Blanc - This is a light wine with a heavy aroma. You may be able to smell it from far away, but the taste will be light on your tongue. Tyr it when you have a lightly spiced dish incorporating coconut milk an ginger for instance.

• Chardonnay - This taste ranges from a buttered, oak overtone to the fresh, fruit flavor of apple, pear, citrus and melon, leaving a lasting palate impression. It goes very well with dishes that have a heavy cream base.

• Riesling - This has a powerful and distinctive floral and apple-like aroma. Its sweetness and high acidity counters the heat and spice of Indian food very well.

• Rose - These are wines which are not truly red, but have enough of a reddish tinge to make them assuredly not white. This is a dry wine and dry wines go well with all kinds of Indian dishes owing to their ability to retain their crispiness and freshness.

• Pinot Noir - There’s an earthy element to this delicious off dry rose with ripe red currants, a creamy mouth feel and spot on acidity. It works with everything from mild citrus or tomato based dishes and those with heat.

• Sparkling Wine - This is universally accepted to go with spicy Indian food. Its palate-enhancing ability through the exhilarating bubbles of the wines makes it a smashing hit with gravies, curries and sauces. It's a much craved wine and goes best with sumptuous biryanis, kababs, tikkas, and all kinds of tandoori dishes.

This is just a small list of wines that go with Indian food. For beginners, this can give a start and take you ahead, but the fact still remains that it is a matter of personal likes and dislikes.