What wine goes with spicy food? Our pairings for chilli heat
374 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.
Château de Sárospatak - Tokaji Sárga Muskotály 2016
A tiny sweet cuvée of botrytised Muscat from Tarcal, all finesse, freshness and well-judged sweetness.
Paul Cluver - Riesling WO Elgin 2024
A chiselled, mineral Riesling from Elgin, between lime and citrus blossom, with a touch of natural sugar.
Pierre Elie Carron - Petite Arvine Pierra Plata AOC Valais 2022
A Petite Arvine from dry-stone terraces, between exotic fruit, grapefruit and a saline finish.
Terras Gauda - Albariño Abadia San Campo Rias Baixas DO 2024
An intense, vibrant Albariño from Rías Baixas, between grapefruit, pineapple and white fruit.
Bodega Santa Ema - Carmenere Reserva 2023
A velvety, spicy Chilean Carménère full of black fruit, matured in tank to keep its brightness.
Gritsch - Grüner Veltliner Smaragd 2021
A Grüner Veltliner Smaragd from the terraces of Spitz, ripe and peppery, which has gained depth with time.
Reserva de Los Andes - Malbec 2025
A Malbec from Maipú, fermented at low temperature to keep all the brightness of its plum and violet.
Trossen - Trabener Riesling Royal Süß Auslese 2020
A Moselle Auslese picked berry by berry in the Würzgarten: luminous sweetness, vibrant acidity.
Hallgartener - Riesling Auslese Jungfer 2018
A Rheingau Riesling Auslese, sweet and finely chiselled, where ripe fruit is balanced by vibrant minerality.
Scions of Sinai - Gramadoelas Grenache Blanc WO Klein Karoo 2024
A Grenache Blanc from the Klein Karoo's schists, made without artifice: floral, saline and rarely elegant.
Vineka - Rosone Vin Orange IGP Itria 2022
An orange wine from the Itria Valley, dry and savoury, with orange peel, candied fruit and caramel.
Chappaz - Grain par Grain
A sweet wine from Valais of striking precision, between botrytised richness and saline freshness.
Joh Jos Prüm - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 2023
A great Moselle Riesling, combining refined sweetness, vibrant freshness, and mineral purity.
Joh Jos Prüm - Graacher Himmelreich Auslese 2022
A great Moselle Riesling, combining crystalline purity, controlled sweetness, and remarkable mineral tension.
Dr Loosen - Beerenauslese 2018
A Mosel Riesling Beerenauslese of great purity, where the luscious richness is balanced by a vibrant acidity.
Dr Loosen - Erdener Treppchen Auslese 2024
A Mosel Auslese combining refined sweetness, crystalline tension and the mineral purity of the red slate from Erdener Treppchen.
Chappaz - Grain Noble
A high-altitude Valaisan sweet wine, combining sun-drenched richness and crystalline alpine freshness.
Dr Loosen - Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese 2023
A Moselle Riesling that is both intense and ethereal, where sweetness marries a vibrant freshness.
Joh Jos Prüm - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkap 2018
A Mosel Auslese combining aromatic intensity, controlled sweetness and crystalline freshness.
Barbeito - Verdelho 1995 1995
A Verdelho Madeira that is both lively and complex, where oceanic freshness meets the richness of oxidative aging.
Wittmann - Auslese Riesling 2023
Candied citrus, peach and honey, a Riesling Auslese whose acidity keeps it from becoming heavy.
Etchart - Cosecha Tardia Torrontés 2024
Late-harvest Torrontés, lychee and honey, for dessert or spicy food.
Ott - AM Berg Grüner Veltliner 2025
A white wine that perfectly embodies the revival of great Austrian white wines: terroir, precision and elegance.
Bondar - Rayner Vineyard Shiraz 2021
An old-vine Shiraz, intense yet restrained. The depth of McLaren Vale carried by a fresh, saline backbone.
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.