Chichii Online is Nepal’s top late-night food and drink delivery service. In this article we will guide you on pairing wine with various cuisines, whether hosting a dinner party, organizing an enjoyable night at home, or searching for a great gift. By following these methods, your wine-pairing experience might be better.
Importance of Pairing Wine with Food?
Wine matching has been a time-honored practice which bolsters the taste of both the wine and the dish. An appropriate pair can turn a meal into an unforgettable event. This explains the significance of wine pairing:
- Enhances Flavors: It can improve the flavor of any food by choosing the right wine for the meal. You want to eat every bite you can.
- Balances Tastes: Complementing wine with food helps counterbalance the sweetness, acidity and tannin in the wine.
- Creates Memorable Meals: Any meal can be unforgettable when combined aptly.
Famous Wines in Nepal
1. Saurav Wines:
- Category: Red wine
- Description: Famous for having a deep, complex flavor with hints of spice and dark fruit.
- Best Food Pairings: beef, lamb, and hearty stews.
2. Himalayan Wines:
- Category: White Wine
- Description: Refreshing & Crisp with lemon & floral note.
- Best Food Pairings: Salads, Seafood, and light pasta dishes.
3. Everest Wines:
- Category: Sparkling Wine
- Description: A bubbly drink that ‘s good for celebrating. It ‘s very sweet and acidic.
- Best Food Pairings: Appetizers, cheese platters, and light desserts.
4. Annapurna Wines:
- Category: Rose wine
- Description: Fruity and light with a hint of aroma.
- Best Food Pairings: Chicken, pork, and light salads.
Imported Wines
1. Ventisquero Clasico Merlot (Chile)
- Specialty: Robust fruitiness and notes of chocolate and plum.
- Pairing: Compatibility is extended to grilled meats as well as robust stews.
2. Argentina’s Novecento Cabernet Sauvignon
- Specialty: Fruity taste in the palate and dark fruit spiced flavors.
- Pairing: Goes well with red meats, especially lamb and beef.
3. Bottega Rosso di Montalcino DOC Italy
- Specialty: Forceful and rustic with undertones of oak and cherry.
- Pairing: Pasta dishes with rich sauces and aged cheeses.
4. Mouton Cadet Bordeaux Blanc (France)
- Specialty: Made from herbal fruits, and honey that gives a special sweet flavor.
- Best with: light snacks, seafood, and salads.
Domestic Wines
1. Dada ghare (Nepal)
- Specialty: Made from herbal fruits, and honey, offering a unique sweet taste.
- Pairing: Goes well with hot Nepali food like momo and chowmein.
2. Hinwa (Nepal)
- Specialty: Made from wild fruits like raspberries, saffron, and barberries.
- Pairing: Complements well with traditional Nepali curries and tarkari.
3. Big Master (Nepal)
- Specialty: Spicy and woody finish with sweet red wine.
- Pairing: Goes well with grilled meats and spicy dishes.
4. Manang Valley Premium Sweet White (Nepal)
- Specialty: Spicy and woody finish with sweet red wine.
- Pairing: Light appetizers and mild curries.
Pairing wine with Nepali dishes
Nepali Cuisine:
Nepal is home to diverse cultural communities which is one of the main reasons for its beautiful cuisines and diversity in their culinary arts blended with Rangoli and Mandala arts. Below are a few of the dishes and their respective regional wines for easy selection.
- Dal Bhat: A traditional meal consisting of several accompaniments – a lentil soup, rice, and may contain various other side dishes. Best paired with Sauvignon Blanc due to its herbal elements and spices.
- Momo: The third most common meal inclusive of meat/vegetable dumplings fills Merlot or Syrah best. The bold flavors of these wines enhance the savory taste of momo and along with the spices preserved in them.
- Sekuwa: Sekuwa are spicy, Smokey grilled pork skewers. To complement the rustic characteristics, pair these with Shiraz or Zinfandel.
Indian Cuisine:
Indians are particularly known globally for their rich and colorful culinary dishes and their distinctive taste originating in various states of India. These are a few iconic dishes一 made and their accompanying wine.
- Butter Chicken: This creamy dish is particularly famous in the eastern region of India and rates above the rest when it comes to curries. Along with it serving this flavorful dish emerges a beautiful drink like Riesling to harmonize with the spice of the curry.
- Biryani: Another globally famous dish, bundle in French, boasts every cuisine lovers need. Accompanying this aromatic rice with grilled assorted inkle spiced meat, Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon perfectly overlap with this dish along side to further enhance their experience.
- Samosas: Savory pastries with spiced fillings are better without wine, but underrated by Gewurztraminer prove to be a win. The wine rightly liters glass with fragrant profile fragrance spilling above nicely sum for spices.
Chinese Cuisine:
From sweet and sour to hot and spicy, Chinese food is served in a various form. Below is a list of some popular Chinese dishes with paired wine.
- Dim Sum: These tiny little fried sweet treats are best shared with Chardonnay; the acidity and fruitiness of the wine complements all of the different flavors that dim sum have to offer.
- Peking Duck: You are eating more meat and with those flavors, it will go well with a white wine (Vino Noir) The bubbly fruity sweetness will carry over the light tannins/fruity fragrance of the wine.
- Sweet and Sour Pork: It is all about the right balance of sweet wine! What it comes down to is that the sweetness of the wine matches the intense tanginess of the dish.
Tips for Perfect Wine Pairing
- Match the Weight: Pair light wines with light dishes and full-bodied wines with hearty dishes.
- Consider the Sauce: The sauce often dictates the wine choice more than the protein.
- Complement or Contrast: Either match the flavors to complement each other or choose contrasting flavors for an interesting balance.
- Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try new pairings and discover what works best for your palate.
Wine Acidity and Food Pairing
Here’s a quick reference table summarizing the acidity of different wines and their food pairings:
Wine | Origin | Acidity | Best Food Pairings |
---|---|---|---|
Saurav Wines | Nepal | Medium | Lamb, beef, hearty stews |
Himalayan Wines | Nepal | High | Seafood, salads, light pasta dishes |
Everest Wines | Nepal | High | Appetizers, cheese platters, light desserts |
Annapurna Wines | Nepal | Medium | Chicken, pork, light salads |
Ventisquero Clasico Merlot 2014 | Chile | Medium | Grilled meats, hearty stews |
Novecento Cabernet Sauvignon | Argentina | Medium-Low | Red meats, especially lamb and beef |
Bottega Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Italy | Medium | Rich pasta dishes, aged cheeses |
Mouton Cadet Bordeaux Blanc | France | High | Seafood, salads, light appetizers |
Dadaghare | Nepal | Medium | Spicy Nepali dishes like momo and chowmein |
Hinwa | Nepal | Medium | Traditional Nepali curries and tarkari |
Big Master | Nepal | Medium-Low | Grilled meats, spicy dishes |
Manang Valley Premium Sweet White | Nepal | Medium | Light appetizers, seafood, mild curries |
Sauvignon Blanc | Various | High | Seafood, salads, Nepali Dal Bhat |
Riesling | Various | High | Spicy Indian dishes, Thai cuisine, samosas |
Chardonnay | Various | Medium | Seafood, light appetizers, Chinese Dim Sum |
Pinot Noir | Various | Medium | Peking Duck, grilled chicken, light pasta dishes |
Merlot | Various | Medium-Low | Momo, roasted meats, Nepali Sekuwa |
Cabernet Sauvignon | Various | Medium-Low | Red meats, hearty stews, biryani |
Zinfandel | Various | Medium | Grilled meats, spicy dishes, Nepali Sekuwa |
Syrah/Shiraz | Various | Medium-Low | Spicy foods, grilled lamb, hearty dishes |
Gewürztraminer | Various | High | Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork, spicy curries |
Sparkling Wine | Various | High | Appetizers, cheese platters, light desserts |
Conclusion
Expertise in wine pairing might improve your dining and wine experiences in Nepal. With Chichii Online late-night liquor and food delivery service, you can enjoy perfect pairings any time. Explore our glass of wine.
Leave a reply