The right wine for spicy dishes

Spicy or highly seasoned dishes call for wine pairings capable of complementing their intensity without enhancing the burning sensation. Italian cuisine also offers famous examples of boldly flavored recipes, such as penne all’arrabbiata, ’nduja calabrese, or certain spicy cured meats from Southern Italy. These are joined by numerous international traditions where chili and spices take center stage, such as Indian, Thai, Mexican, Sichuan Chinese cuisine, and many customs of Southeast Asia.

To accompany these dishes, aromatic, fresh wines with very soft tannins are preferable, often with a slight residual sweetness. The aromatic qualities of grape varieties like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or Moscato help complement the spices, while acidity and freshness refresh the palate, softening the heat. At the same time, wines with low tannins or a gentle sweetness avoid amplifying the chili’s burn, creating a more harmonious balance between the bold character of the dish and the softness of the wine.

Breedekloof WO Gewürztraminer 2023 Bergsig

Nahe QbA Kreuznacher Riesling 2021 S. J. Montigny

Elgin WO Riesling 2025 Paul Clüver

Alsace Réserve AOC Pinot Gris 2023 Gustave Lorentz

Coastal Region Chenin Blanc WO 21 Gables 2023 Spier

Nahe QbA Riesling 2022 Dönnhoff

Bonnezeaux AOC La Chapelle 2015 Château de Fesles

Südtirol - Alto Adige DOC 1840 Riesling 2025 H. Lun

Friuli DOC Grave Pinot Grigio 2023 La di Motte

Valle d'Aosta DOP Pinot Gris 2023 Rosset Terroir

Südtirol - Alto Adige DOC Riesling Pitzon 2024 Nals Margreid

Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOP Montefiera 2024 Montresor

Vouvray AOP Brut Blanc Foussy La Cheteau

Toscana Pinot Grigio IGT San Angelo 2023 Banfi

Trentino DOC Riesling 2023 Cembra Cantina di Montagna

Oltrepò Pavese IGT Riesling Settenani 2023 Tenuta Fornace

Friuli DOC Traminer 2025 Puiatti

Südtirol - Alto Adige Riesling DOC Hochkofler 2025 Cantina di Bolzano

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