Spicy curries often found in Thai cuisine or the hot Sichuan foods from China may give the impression they are not good candidates for wine pairing, but it is actually quite the opposite. These spicy Asian dishes pair well with sweet wines like Rieslings as they cut down the spicy feel of the dish. But what about the mild dishes and curries often found in Asian cuisine?
Mild Asian dishes often pair extremely well with wines like Sauvignon Blanc, known for its herbal, grassy, and citrus undertones. Asian cuisine tends to utilize many of the same herbs and aromas found in Sauvignon Blanc wines, making them a nice compliment to your meal. These wines pair well with Asian foods like Chinese dumplings, mild coconut Thai curries, sushi, and even Peking duck. Herbs and spices that work well in dishes paired with Sauvignon Blanc include coriander, fennel, cumin, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, saffron, and parsley. For sauces, consider mint, pesto, or even citrus based marinades.
Here is a look at five different Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc wines that pair nicely with various types of Asian cuisine.
1. Heitz Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
Heitz Cellars is located in the northern end of the Napa Valley, in the city of St. Helena. They are a family owned winery that started in the 1960's and are best known for their magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon offerings. Relatively new in their line-up is a Sauvignon Blanc that features lots of citrus and tropical flavors. The wine is produced with organically grown grapes from a small area in their Valley Oak Vineyard.
Heitz Cellar's 2009 Sauvignon Blanc was a limited production wine that may not be as readily available as many other Sauvignon Blancs, but definitely is a good one to try if you can find a bottle. Pair this with a mild shrimp and pineapple coconut curry to really bring out the wine's tropical flavors.
2. St. Clement 2009 Bale Lane Sauvignon Blanc
This is quite an interesting wine. It is crisp and clean like many other Sauvignon Blancs, but it may come as a surprise to learn a portion of it was fermented in oak barrels.
The grapes for St. Clement's Sauvignon Blanc come from Bale Lane, just north of the winery itself. The winemaker harvests these grapes at a lower sugar content to retain the nice acidity of this wine. The wine has aromas of exotic fruits like guava with pineapple and orange zest on the tongue.
What makes this wine such a unique Sauvignon Blanc is the four percent of the wine that was placed in new Hungarian oak barrels, which creates some flavor complexity and increased palate depth.
Try pairing with an orange peel chicken or even sushi with a touch of wasabi.
3. Grgich Hills Estate 2008 Fume Blanc
Fume Blanc is an alias for some Sauvignon Blanc wines in California. The Grgich Hills Estate 2008 Fume Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, made from certified organic and Biodynamic grown grapes. This wine has hints of lemongrass and a mineral finish, making it a good complement to grilled seafood.
Wine lovers might recognize the name Grgich Hills from the movie "Botleshock": Mike Grgich was the winemaker for Chateau Montelena and produced the Chardonnay that won first prize at the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. He went on to form his own winery after partnering with Austin Hills from Hills Brothers Coffee. Although Chardonnay is definitely his specialty, other wines like the Fume Blanc, are excellent offerings.
For this dry Sauvignon Blanc, consider a grilled whole fish or baked Thai style fish with a citrus and lemongrass marinade.
4. Flora Springs 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
Another great Napa Valley wine is the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from Flora Springs Winery. The grapes for this wine come from their Crossroads Vineyard in the Oakville region. Planted between Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay vines, these two blocks produce stellar Sauvignon Blanc grapes. There are two different clones that, when blended together, epitomize what a Sauvignon Blanc should be.
Only 2100 cases of the 2009 were produced, which is said to be their best vintage yet. Years of experimentation have led Flora Springs to their secret technique of crafting the wine to enhance the bright acidity, minerality, floral bouquet, and create a long silky finish on the palate.
Try pairing this Sauvignon Blanc with some delicious Indian dishes, which have a complex make up of herbs like coriander, cumin, saffron and numerous mint based sauces.
5. Franciscan 2008 Sauvignon Blanc
Franciscan continues to produce excellent Sauvignon Blanc year after year and the 2008 vintage is no exception. This Franciscan Sauvignon Blanc exhibits all the characteristics you could expect from this varietal. From the bright citrus aromas like lime and grapefruit, to the exotic notes of lychee and lemongrass, this wine is a perfect compliment for nearly every Asian dish. It was rated one of the "12 Best California Buys" by Food and Wine Magazine and Wine Enthusiast gave it 87 points in their December 2009 issue.
For this wine, consider pairing with a variety of Thai curries. Mild red or green curries, especially those with lemongrass, will provide quite an experience for the taste buds.
Erin De Santiago - Erin is a freelance travel, food/wine, & Disney writer in Taipei, Taiwan, who has traveled within 40+ different countries to date.
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