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.
Vigneti del Vulture - Pipoli Rosato Basilicata 2025
A rosé made from Aglianico, elegant, fruity and delicious
Diemersfontein - Thokozani Shiraz 2023
A full and voluptuous red wine with flavors of black fruits and spices
Cono Sur - Bicicleta Carménère 2023
A delicious and velvety Carménère which presents aromas of red fruits perfectly combined with spicy notes.
460 Casina Bric - Mesdì Rosso
A beautiful expression of Nebbiolo, the flagship grape variety of Piedmont
Thymiopoulos - Alta Naoussa 2024
A Xinomavro of altitude, all in finesse and elegance
Gaia - Notios White 2022
The sun of Greece united in this vintage full of freshness!
Zoumberakis - Vidiano Nature 2025
A fresh and tasty wine made from Vidiano, a great white grape variety from Crete
Niepoort - Drink Me 2022
A typical vintage from the Douro Valley by Dirk Niepoort!
Bruno Landauer - Gewürztraminer Ruster Spätlese 2024
A sublime Austrian late harvest!
Castellucci Miano - Nero d'Avola 2024
Magnificent Nero d'Avola, all round and full of fruit. Buonissimo!
Matetic & Guillaume Letang - El Viejo del Valle 2024
An elegant and gourmet Pinot Noir with flavors of wild red fruits
Atamisque - Catalpa Malbec 2020
A wine of immediate pleasure offering all the deliciousness and complexity of Malbec.
Kautz Family - The Big Top Zinfandel 2023
A charming and spicy Californian zinfandel
Rijk's - Touch of Oak 2023
A complex and refined vintage based on the star grape variety of South Africa, Pinotage!
Zeni - Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Marogne 2023
Complexity, finesse and roundness, this wine is a wonderful foretaste of Amarones.
L.A. Cetto - Petite Sirah 2021
Complex and intense red wine reflecting a remarkable concentration of fruits and spices.
San Marzano - Primitivo Puglia 2024
An intense and generous Primitivo with flavors of black fruits
D'Arenberg - The Stump Jump White Blend 2025
A superb blend of 4 white grape varieties which results in an aromatic vintage full of freshness
Bondar - Violet Hour Shiraz 2021
A beautiful interpretation of Syrah that expresses finesse and freshness.
Thymiopoulos - Terre et Ciel 2024
The flagship of the Thymiopoulos estate, one of the greatest wines of Naoussa
Kautz Family - Burlesque Zinfandel 2020
A charming and spicy Californian zinfandel
Botter - Lupo Meraviglia Tre Di Tre 2021
A rich and tasty wine, made using an ancestral method from the Puglia region
Maturana - Lucas Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
A Cabernet Sauvignon of great elegance, racy and refined.
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.