Three wines that match up to spicy food

Spicy foods can be tricky to match with wine. Beer is often a better solution, especially if your wine choices are limited. But there are plenty of wines that go beautifully with spicy foods. A little sweetness is a great asset, and that can be in the form of residual sugar, as with late-harvest rieslings from Germany, Austria, New Zealand and Australia, or it can be in the form of "fruit-sweetness", which is the apparent sweetness of very rich, full-bodied red wines made from very ripe grapes grown in warm regions, such as the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, Heathcote and Clare. As well, wines with spicy aromas and flavours such as gewurztraminer and fully-ripe pinot gris have a special synergy with spicy foods.

Frankland Estate Smith Cullam Riesling 2017, Frankland River $60

Score 96

This half-dry riesling is loosely modelled on German halbtrocken to kabinett styles. Beautiful lifted floral fragrance, the palate fresh, crisp, tight and restrained, with great tension. The sweetness enables it to partner medium-hot Thai, Vietnamese and Sichuan dishes. Screw-cap; 11.5 per cent alcohol.

Ageing? Drink now to 14 years plus.

Stockists include Five Way Cellars, Paddington (NSW); Toorak Cellars (Vic).

Mr Riggs Shiraz 2015, McLaren Vale $50

Score 95

Full-bodied, dense and fleshy, this plush shiraz has lavish fruit sweetness and delicious flavours of blackberry, licorice and cola. Good backbone and structure, with soft tannins. It might surprise how well it goes with medium-heat Indian curries. Best shiraz in show, 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards. Diam; 15 per cent alcohol.

Ageing? Good now; best in two to 20 years.

Stockists include Nick's Wine Merchants, Doncaster (Vic); Shorty's Liquor, Sydney (NSW).

St John's Road Gee Whiz Tram Driver 2017, Eden Valley $18

Score 89

This quirky blend of gewurztraminer and riesling has a discreetly spicy gardenia-like aroma and is just off-dry to taste. Fruity but balanced and discreet, it's a lovely drink, a bargain wine and will suit spicy Thai fish cakes. Screw-cap; 12 per cent alcohol.

Ageing? Best now to five years.

Stockists include Kent Street Cellars, Sydney (NSW); Elwood Wines & Spirits (Vic).