What wine goes with spicy food? Our pairings for chilli heat
465 wines to serve with spicy foodWith a spicy dish, serve an aromatic white with a touch of sweetness, such as an off-dry Riesling or a Torrontés, or a very fruity red with supple tannins, such as a Syrah, a Grenache or a Pinotage. Fruit and freshness soothe the heat; moderate alcohol keeps everything in balance.
Thai and Indian cuisines love German Rieslings and fragrant whites. Tagines and dishes with sweet spices call instead for a sun-drenched red from South Africa or Spain. Discover our guide wine and curry, Thai, Indian too.
Dr Loosen - Erdener Treppchen Kabinett 2024
A precise and ethereal Mosel Riesling, where delicate sweetness meets crystalline freshness.
Planeta - Cerasuolo Di Vittoria 2023
A luminous Sicilian red, fresh and delicious, between crunchy fruit and floral finesse.
Weingut Bründlmayer - R. Zobinger Heiligenstein Lyra 2019
A terroir Riesling, incisive and deep, where stone meets the brilliance of the fruit.
Bondar - Rayner Vineyard Grenache 2022
A precise and perfumed McLaren Vale Grenache, where coastal freshness meets the depth of the old-vine Rayner vineyard.
Gómez Cruzado - Pancrudo Garnacha 2022
A high-altitude Garnacha, luminous and precise, which combines freshness, finesse and aromatic intensity.
Scions of Sinai - Cinsault Heldervallei 2023
A juicy and precise South African Cinsault, which highlights the granitic finesse of the Helderberg.
Yarra Yering - Dry Red N°2 2016
A Yarra Valley red, at once fragrant, spicy and deeply savoury.
Fernando de Castilla - Palo Cortado Antique
A great Andalusian Palo Cortado, dry and complex, where finesse meets aromatic depth.
Hammeken Cellars - El Paso del Lazo Rosé 2024
A fresh and delicious Spanish rosé, driven by fruit and conviviality.
Benanti - Nerello Cappuccio Terre Sicilienne 2020
A precise and digestible Nerello Cappuccio from Etna, where volcanic freshness meets the elegance of red fruits.
Holdvölgy - Signature 2007
A botrytized wine combining density, brilliance and finesse, the signature of the precise know-how of the Holdvölgy estate
Innocent Bystander - Syrah 2019
A juicy and spicy Australian Syrah, carried by the freshness of the Yarra Valley.
Bodegas Olivares - Tinto 2022
A generous and spicy Spanish red, which combines the lusciousness of the fruit and the freshness of the Jumilla terroir.
Holdvölgy - Hold and Hollo Sweet 2019
A wine that illustrates the modernity and finesse of Hungarian sweet wines
Weingut Bründlmayer - R. Kamptal Terrassen 2024
A precise, luminous terrace Riesling, between yellow fruit and mineral freshness.
Simcic Marjan - Opoka Cru Ribolla 2019
A cru Ribolla, deep and saline. Macerated texture meets a very clear-cut mineral freshness.
Mac Forbes - GI Spring Riesling 2021
A lively, delicate high-altitude Riesling, between fruity brightness, floral finesse and mineral tension.
Joh Jos Prüm - Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2022
A great Mosel Riesling, pure and crystalline, where the finesse of the sugar is balanced by a vibrant minerality.
Joh Jos Prüm - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2022
A superb Mosel Riesling, pure and crystalline, where controlled sweetness meets vibrant freshness.
Giacomo Fenocchio - Anima Arancio NV
A Piedmontese orange wine with character, combining freshness, a fine tannic structure, and a complex aromatic profile.
Joh Jos Prüm - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett 2022
A great Mosel Riesling, pure and crystalline, where the finesse of the sugar combines with vibrant mineral tension.
Dr Loosen - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2023
A magnificent Moselle Riesling, combining crystalline purity, controlled sweetness, and vibrant mineral energy.
Joh Jos Prüm - Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 2023
A Mosel Riesling of great purity, combining crystalline freshness, controlled sweetness, and mineral depth.
Joh Jos Prüm - G. Himmelreich A. Goldkap 2022
A magnificent Moselle Riesling, pure and crystalline, where the finesse of the slate meets perfectly balanced sweetness.
Which wine for which spicy dish?
The intensity of the chilli and the nature of the spices guide the pairing. Here are our pointers for the great spicy cuisines.
| Dish | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Thai curry green curry, red curry with coconut milk | Off-dry German Riesling, Argentinian Torrontés | A slight sweetness calms the chilli, and citrus aromas answer the lemongrass. |
| Creamy Indian curry butter chicken, tikka masala, korma | Viognier, Chenin Blanc, fruity rosé | A full-bodied, fragrant white embraces the cream and warm spices. |
| Tagine and couscous lamb tagine with prunes, couscous royal | Sun-drenched red: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre | The ripe fruit and spicy notes of the wine echo the cumin and cinnamon. |
| Chilli and Mexican food chilli con carne, tacos al pastor, enchiladas | Fruity red: Malbec, Shiraz, Pinotage | Generous dark fruit and ripe tannins go with the smokiness of the chilli. |
| Sichuan cuisine kung pao chicken, mapo tofu | Riesling Spätlese, late harvest | The sweetness of the wine balances the Sichuan pepper and the heat of the chilli. |
| Wok dishes and stir-fried noodles pad thai, stir-fried noodles, ginger beef | Dry Riesling, Viognier, Pinot Noir | Freshness and fruit keep pace with the zing of ginger and soy sauce. |
| Creole cuisine colombo, rougail saucisse, cari | Fruity South African red: Pinotage, Syrah | The dark fruit and spice notes of the wine answer the colombo. |
The hotter the chilli, the more the wine benefits from being fresh, fruity and moderate in alcohol.
Fruit, chilli's best ally
Our take on spices: rely on fruit and freshness, and keep great tannic wines for other occasions. Chilli accentuates bitterness and the heat of alcohol; a fruity wine with a supple structure rounds them off. That is why Riesling, Germany's flagship grape, tops our recommendations: its liveliness and slight sweetness, in off-dry versions, work wonders with a green curry.
For red, look to South Africa and Spain. The Shiraz from Groot Constantia and The Original Pinotage from Diemersfontein offer generous fruit that stands up to a tagine or a chilli. For Thai food, the very floral Don David Reserve Torrontés from El Esteco plays in the same register as lemongrass and Thai basil. And for a Sichuan dish, the Vendange Tardive Pinot Blanc from Bruno Landauer creates a very successful sweet contrast.
Three bold pairings
Pairing 1. Green curry with coconut milk and off-dry Riesling, a classic with dazzling freshness.
Pairing 2. Apricot tagine and Grenache, for a dialogue of sweet spices and ripe fruit.
Pairing 3. Kung pao chicken and Austrian late harvest, a golden sweetness that soothes the Sichuan pepper.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and spicy food
What white wine goes with spicy food?
An off-dry Riesling is the safest white wine with a spicy dish. Its touch of sugar soothes the chilli and its lively acidity refreshes the palate. Argentinian Torrontés and Viognier, both very aromatic, also suit curries and Thai food. Discover our selection of Rieslings.
What red wine goes with spicy food?
Choose a very fruity red with supple tannins and moderate alcohol: Grenache, Syrah, Pinotage or Pinot Noir. Ripe fruit balances the heat of the chilli. Keep powerful, oaky reds for dishes with sweet spices, such as tagine or couscous, and serve the wine slightly chilled, at around 15 °C.
White or red wine with curry?
With a curry, white usually wins: a Riesling, a Viognier or a Chenin Blanc goes with coconut milk and spices. Red suits richer red meat curries as long as it stays fruity and supple, like a Syrah or a Grenache. A fleshy rosé makes an excellent compromise.
What wine goes with tagine or couscous?
A warm Mediterranean red, based on Grenache, Syrah or Mourvèdre, is an ideal match for a tagine or a couscous. Its notes of ripe fruit and spice answer the cumin, cinnamon and dried fruit. All our advice is gathered in the guide wine and couscous, tagine.
What wine goes with Thai food?
Riesling, dry or off-dry, is the benchmark pairing for Thai food. Its citrus aromas go well with lemongrass, lime and coriander. The very floral Torrontés also suits green curries and papaya salads. For a pad thai, a fresh, fruity white enhances the dish.
At what temperature should wine be served with spicy food?
Serve the wine a little cooler than usual with a spicy dish: 8 to 10 °C for whites, 14 to 15 °C for reds. Coolness tempers the burning sensation of chilli and brings out the fruit. An ice bucket keeps the bottle at the right temperature throughout the meal.