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.
Yarra Yering - Carrodus Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
A highly precise Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yarra Valley, combining aromatic intensity, freshness and fine texture.
Henschke - Mount Edelstone Museum Release 2013
A Shiraz from a historic vineyard, combining aromatic depth, freshness and silky texture.
Henschke - Wheelwright Shiraz 2019
A Shiraz from the Eden Valley combining aromatic depth, freshness and elegant structure.
Kanonkop Wine Estate - Black Label Pinotage 2022
A powerful and precise Pinotage of the terroir, which intensely expresses the signature of Simonsberg.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Rully En Varot Rouge 2022
Red Rully, supple and spicy, an introduction to the Côte Chalonnaise.
Domaine du Four Bassot - Mercurey Vieilles Vignes La Charmée Rouge 2022
Old vines from Mercurey, dense black fruit and well-defined pepper.
Schloss Johannisberg - Rosalack Auslese 2021
A smooth, chiselled Riesling Auslese, where rich fruit meets the freshness of the Rheingau.
Schloss Johannisberg - Purpurlack BA (37.5cl) 2023
A sumptuous Riesling Beerenauslese, where the richness of candied fruit meets chiselled freshness.
Elena Walch - Gewurztraminer 2024
Lychee, rose and ginger: all the exuberance of Alpine Gewürztraminer.
Schloss Johannisberg - Grünlack Spätlese 2022
A medium-sweet, vibrant Riesling, where the sweetness of the fruit meets the mineral brilliance of the Rheingau.
Aneto - Aneto S Colheita Tardia 2014
A great liqueur that combines complexity, elegance and freshness.
Oremus - Late Harvest 2023
Luminous Tokaj sweetness, balanced by vibrant freshness.
Joh Jos Prüm - Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese 2022
A magnificent Mosel Riesling, combining refined sweetness, crystalline tension, and profound minerality.
Clos Mogador - Manyetes 2021
A deep, mineral Priorat from the hillsides, intensely revealing the purity of Carignan on schist.
Ink Grade - Andosol Red Blend 2018
A structured and elegant Californian mountain red, where high-altitude freshness meets the depth of volcanic soils.
Christophe Abbet - Syrah 2020
A deep and spicy Valais Syrah, combining mountain freshness with a velvety texture.
Boekenhoutskloof - Cabernet Sauvignon Franschhoek 2021
A precise and structured Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon, where the freshness of the terroir meets the depth of the fruit.
Boekenhoutskloof - Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch 2021
A precise and structured Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, where the freshness of the fruit meets the elegance of the oak.
Blank Canvas - Anthem Vineyard 2019
A precise and elegant New Zealand red, where the freshness of Marlborough’s climate meets the depth of the Anthem Vineyard terroir.
Bodegas Menade - Adorado (Solera) 1967
A great Verdejo of solera, complex and saline, where time has sculpted a white wine for meditation of rare depth.
Blank Canvas - Element Vineyard 2019
A precise and fresh New Zealand red, where the fruit's finesse meets the elegance of a maritime terroir.
Chappaz - Grain Syrah 2024
A precise and spicy Valais Syrah with a strong terroir, combining alpine freshness and depth of flavor.
Mount Langi Ghiran - Shiraz 2019
A Shiraz from a cool climate combining aromatic intensity, freshness and structured elegance.
Damascene - Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch 2021
A precise and elegant Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, where the freshness of the granite terroir meets the depth of the fruit.
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.