What to drink ... with fiery food
Beer is a great pairing when the food is spicy, but some wines can match the heat, too.
UNDER $20
Little Creatures Single Batch Shepherd's Delight 568ML $8
For me, beer is the best drink for fiery food, especially dishes laden with chilli. Beer cools down the palate, if temporarily, and allows the taste buds to recover for the next hit. From time to time, the brewers at Little Creatures concoct single-batch brews and the latest is Shepherd's Delight, a red India pale ale, so it's super hoppy. It handles chilli and peppery dishes well and has a dark amber hue, citrus and orange peel, and is earthy with a top note of cloves. Complex and rich, it's a damn fine brew. From Purvis Cellars, Surrey Hills.
UNDER $25
Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz 2010 $20
Sparkling shiraz is as Australian as anything, and one of the best value is from Seppelt, with the 2010 drinking superbly. It's surprisingly soft and plump with ripe and giving tannins; while it's dry, there's some sweet fruit sensation on the palate that helps with dishes that have heat spikes and spice, especially Indian. Lots of plum fruit, spice and earthy notes, too, with fine acid and the fizz hit offers a refreshing lift. From Nillumbik Cellars, Diamond Creek.
UNDER $25
Delatite Deadman's Hill Gewurztraminer 2012 $23
When I tasted this excellent gewurztraminer, I wondered why we don't drink more of this enticing and distinct wine. Maybe it's the style - some can be quite luscious and rich but this is almost gentle and superbly balanced. This variety rarely works with spicy hot south-east Asian food but Delatite's was just right with seafood tom yum. Unmistakably gewurztraminer, this is lively and fresh, with the backbone of fine acidity driving it to a long dry finish. Available at Rathdowne Cellars, Carlton.
UNDER $30
Frankland Estate Netley Road Vineyard Riesling 2012 $27
Really hot, fiery food can kill a wine, so don't even think about buying an expensive wine to match with it, especially one that's delicate. Riesling is one of the best varieties to drink with peppery, chilli, wasabi heat but don't blow the budget. This one from Frankland Estate is a super wine that's pure and precise. The core is pristine citrus fruit, with hint of florals, but it's the palate that is so good. A slatey, minerally texture with very fine acidity and a super long finish. Also a fantastic aperitif. From Boccaccio Cellars, Balwyn.