The primary thing to know about matching wine with Indian curry dishes is to avoid bubbling and gassy wine that might result in a metallic taste. The best wine to work with curry are wines with lingering sweetness as the sugar helps to lessen the heat in the dish.
If awards are given to people who love curry, I’ll be on the top chart. For so long, I’ve tried my curry dishes with any variety of wines that I can lay my hands on, many of which left my mouth with a burning sensation that took days to heal. At some point, I decided to have my curry without wine. It felt like something was missing- the curry dishes became so bland and inessential to me.
This prompted me to be more curious about wines and which variety of wine blends easily with curry. What I didn’t know is that – when it comes to curry dishes, most red wines enhance its taste with no funny after taste or burning sensation like I used to experience. The reason for this remains the fact that most red wines are sweet and the sweetness helps subdue the heat of the curry. My curiosity and love for wine made me discover some red wines that are curry friendly.
Here are my top ten red wines discovery for curry dishes. They are selected for their blending taste with curry, versatility and cost.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Red Wines With Curry
1. New Zealand Pinot Noir
A toothsome and intense wine, which highlights black cherry, plum and anise spice. It is pure and refined to the finish. This is one wine whose structure and crispness matches the tanginess of curry easily. Pinot Noir is deliciously smooth and elegant wines with ripe, silky tannins and an abundance of flavours.
Features
- The primary ingredients are from New Zealand.
- It has Pinot Noir as the dominant varietal.
Read More: Best Wine with Chicken UK
2. Chilean Wine
Chilean Wine is dewy and blazingly flavoured red made from indigenous Carménère grape. It has the punch of a summer pudding and baked fruit compote. It is subtly leafy with a trace of black pepper on the palate.
Features
- Produced in Chile
- Product Dimension: 29 x 20 x 37 cm; 7.13 Kilograms.
- It has Carmenere as the dominant variety.
3. Errazuriz Estate Series Carmenere.
Errazuriz Estate Series Carmenere is an exemplar in its fragrant complex. It has enough fruit, tangy balsamic and peppery notes to blend well with curry.
Features
- Manufactured by Hatch Mansfield VinaCaliterra.
- Volume: 0.75 litres.
- Its dominant varietal is Carmenere.
- It contains sulphites.
Read More:
4. Quinta Do CrastoTintaRoriz
It has blackcurrant fruits and hints of pine tree resin and enough weight and spice to match with the curry.
Features
- Produced by Quinta Do Crasto.
- 15% volume of alcohol.
- Has Tempranillo as the dominant varietal.
- It contains Sulphites.
5. Wirra Wirra Church Block 75cl
A bright ruby red with golden orange reflections. It has spicy notes of woodland berries. It contains subtle tannins that make it mild and encompassing in the mouth.
Features
- Varietal Composition:
- Cannonau, Syrah, Merlot, Carignano, Cabernet, Montepulciano.
- Originated from Italy.
- Region Produced in South Australia.
6. Dandelion Vineyards, Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz, 2012 37.5cl
This is another magnificent red Shiraz from South Australia. I discovered immediately after my burning sensation experience, and I found it hard to let go ever since. It is named after Dandelion’s lifelong champion of old Barossa vines, Carl Lindner.
It is memorable with its intense mouth-filling, sweet-spicy dark fruits, softening tannins with a lively finish.
James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion gives a 5-star rating to Dandelion Vineyards and describes the winemaker Elena Brooks as “an exceptionally gifted winemaker”.
Features
- Dominant Varietal: Shiraz.
- Produced in Barossa region.
- Originated from Australia.
- Unit: 375.00 ml.
7. Iona, Mr P Pinot, Noir 75cl
Elegant, fresh cherry and red berry nose. The palate is pure with lovely texture and focused sweet cherry fruit commands with spicy undertones. A new and sharp wine with undeniable vibrancy.
Features:
- It originated from South Africa.
- It contains 750.00 ml per unit.
- Its dominant Varietal is Pinot Noir.
- 13% alcohol volume.
8. Jean Bousquet
It has a deep rich smell of blackberry fruit with distinctive black pepper notes and blackcurrant. Its blackberry, ripe plum and chocolate flavours gave it a silky and supple mouthfeel.
Features
- It contains 14% alcohol volume,
- The region produced in Mendoza,
- Originated from Argentina,
- Dominant Varietal: Malbec,
9. Torrette- La Source
This is the signature wine of the winery. Torrette- La Source is unsurpassed in its ingredients, produced with the most suitable, hand-harvested grapes which gave it a complex and spicy taste with traces of prunes.
Features
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Manufactured by Italyabroad.com
10. SantesuIsoladeiNuraghiRosso – 6 x 750ml
Brilliant ruby red with golden orange reflections. An intense and persistent on the nose with typical, spicy notes of woodland berries. This Grenache dominant varietal topped with subtle tannins is naturally warm and satisfying on the mouth.
Features
- Varietal Composition: Cannonau, Syrah, Merlot, Carignano, Cabernet, Montepulciano
- Dominant Varietal: Grenache
- Manufactured by Dolianova
- Volume: 4500 Millilitres
- Originated from Italy
- Region produced in Sardinia
Red Wines With Curry for UK Buying Guide
Before inputting your card details or making a payment for that wine, some factors must be considered. These factors are so paramount to the experience you will have with your red wine and curry dishes. Like I said earlier, you cannot just pair anything wine with your curry. You might be using your money to buy what will burn your mouth like me if you don’t get it right. It would help if you also considered some underlying factors with the wines that pair well with curry before you finally make a choice. Ask yourself these question before buying
How hot is curry?
It is a walkover when pairing a wine with a mild curry, unlike a hot curry. Hot curry must be balanced with a flavour and aromatics that soothe the chilli heat of the curry.
How many other dishes you are serving and how hot they are?
Should you be preparing for a mini- house party or you have people around that might want to nibble on some other dishes other than curry. I know how challenging that might be having to buy wines that go with each different food. You can decide to pick a wine that might go well with more than curry but some other foods on the table and save yourself some cash. So, therefore, consider other foods before you make a choice.
What are the types of curry?
I don’t think I need to remind you that there are different types of curries- The Thai and Malays curries are different from Indian curries that are somewhat milder. Home curries are known to be hotter and pokier that restaurants bought curries. The type of curry is also an essential determinant in the selection of your wine. When considering a red wine for your spicy curry, go for reds that are light fruity fresh with organic acidity.
What you need with curry.
Undoubtedly, fruity reds blend flawlessly with curries, but 15% oaky monster is no. Oaks white should be avoided totally.
Storage and quantity
Some of these wines come in two or more units. You have to consider if you need an extra bottle of wine or if you have what it takes to keep the wine intact. Wines can be cellared for years truthfully, but if you don’t store them as directed, the wine will lose its taste and value.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS [FAQs]
Is sulphites content in wine dangerous to health?
No, unless you are allergic to sulphites. The content in wine is moderate for people who are not allergic to it. Sulphites are used as a food additive and can also occur naturally in some foods.
Can I refrigerate my wine?
A. Keeping your wine in the refrigerator for too long can ruin your wine as it will agitate through prolonged exposure. Storing a bottle of wine in a fridge for a week is considered okay, but keeping them longer will eventually spoil your wine.
Is it alright to drink red wine every day?
Everything should be done in moderation. A glass or two of red wine in a day is considered healthy, but excess intake may pose a danger to one’s health, especially wines that contain a high level of alcohol.
Conclusion
The best place to grab many of these wines is not local shops but online. You can quickly and calmly read the wine composition, surf for varieties and take your time before making a selection online. Online merchants also have sorts of choices as well as rebates the local shops might not offer. Many of the listed wines have close varieties that you might get to like, all you need to do is look out for them under the brands.
It will be unfair for me to recommend ten wines and not tell you my favourites among these wines. I’ll be recommending my best three wines among the curry, as mentioned above, friendly wines. This recommendation is based on monetary value, uniqueness of the wine and premium value of the wine. The most economical for me is Dandelion Vineyards, Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz, 2012. You don’t have to buy more than you need as it comes in 1 unit and it is relatively inexpensive for its quantity and quality. My best choice goes to Iona, Mr P Pinot, Noir 75cl. This uncommon wine is suitable for almost everyone, including vegetarians, and it is notable for its low caffeine content. This wine has graced my family’s dinner table more than any wine listed due to its versatility and moderate caffeine. The SantesuIsoladeiNuraghiRosso – 6 x 750ml might be pricey, but its taste is at par with the money value. This classic wine blends with other dishes flawlessly too, and it will forever be my premium wine for curry and other spicy dishes unless a new wine that surpasses its taste is produced.
