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There are no hard and fast guidelines when it comes to wine and food pairings. In the end, it boils down to personal taste. Indian food is known for its strong flavours and generous use of spices. A variety of curries, chutneys, and sauces are typically served with dishes to enhance their flavour profile. Indian food is so complex that it demands a simple beverage to balance the flavours on the palate. This is the fundamental idea behind wine and Indian food pairings.
Choose dry options like a rich Chardonnay for flavorful dishes but a little on the milder side, like paneer tikka. Generally speaking, sweeter wines like Pinot Noir are better suited for those who enjoy a lot of spice in their wine. Here are a few types of wines that go well with dishes like biryanis and kebabs.
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1. Raan- Cabernet Sauvignon
The ideal wine for a raan, or leg of lamb coated in Indian spices and cooked in a tandoor oven with a cinnamon flavour, is any Bordeaux blend like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. These are all dry red wines and they are well-known for their enticing aroma and rich flavours.
Dry red wine goes amazingly with this dish because the wine beautifully balances the spice level of the raan. The blend has intense flavours of tobacco, cassis, bell pepper, raspberry, and bullets that enhance the elegance of the wine when paired with the food.
2. Salmon Tikka- Chardonnay
The most versatile grape variety, Chardonnay pairs well with seafood and complements the flavours of tandoori items like tikka, which are accentuated by spices, lime, dill, and ginger-garlic paste. This is a dry white wine that is made from the Chardonnay, a green-skinned grape variety. This grape is mostly used to make white wines and is extremely popular due to its versatility and range of flavours.
The Chardonnay has a unique flavour profile like citrus, green plum, apple, pear, and peach. These flavours are not only refreshing and vibrant but also go well with seafood.
3. Nizam Tarkari Biryani- Chenin Blanc
This vegetable dum biryani goes well with the rich, oily texture and strong acidity of a Chenin Blanc wine. This white wine is made from the Chenin Blanc, a type of white wine grape variety. Sparkling wines and light, dry summer whites are produced from Chenin Blanc. The wines produced from Chenin Blanc have a flavour that is similar to Chardonnay. Therefore, there is a Chenin Blanc wine for any occasion.
It has long been believed that one of the easiest wines to drink is Chenin Blanc. The flavours of the spices, dry fruits, and vegetables balance amazingly with the wine giving it a rich texture.
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4. Paneer Tikka- Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc always goes well with tandoori items. The wine helps the flavours of the paneer tikka coated with Indian spices and grilled in a clay oven to create a balance and create a flavourful taste on the palate. This dry, tart wine is also made from green-skinned grapes. As Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown, it comes in a range of styles.
Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with dishes of chicken, tofu, or fish when mixed with herbs-infused sauces and spicy dishes. It also goes well with herb-driven Asian flavours like Thai or Vietnamese cuisine, or when paired with feta or chèvre. As the wine is light it is important to keep the food light.
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5. Galouti Kebab- Pinot Noir
Which wine would go well with the succulent flavour of a clove- and Indian spice-infused minced mutton kebab? Definitely a Pinot Noir! The wine has unique tastes of berries, black currant, black cherries, and roses. And when it comes to lamb, the ever-popular light-to-medium wine is the refreshing choice.
Pinot Noir is a light to medium-acidic red wine. The name refers to the grapes from which the wine is made. The flavour of the wine becomes more mature with its age. Pinot Noir is the best of the bunch to pair with the majority of the food options because it is the most adaptable black grape. The sweet and acidic flavours of the wine match well with the rich flavours of the kebab. To enjoy best, Pinot Noir should be served slightly chilled, preferably at 55–60°F (12–15°C). By maintaining a balance, the aromatic profile is highlighted without overpowering the senses.
6. Murgh Tikka- Pinot Grigio
The high acidity of a Pinot Grigio counterbalances the amount of spice in a murgh tikka. Pinot grigio is a light-bodied white wine. A crisp glass of Pinot Grigio white wine is as refreshing as a glass of lemonade on a sweltering summer's day. The wine has unique flavours of Honeycrisp apple and lemon making it extremely refreshing.
The murgh tikka is marinated with Indian spices like ajwain, ginger and garlic paste, red chilli powder, and lemon juice, which gives it a very spicy texture. The refreshing taste of this white wine beautifully balances the spicy flavour of the tikka. It combination of spice and refreshing wine creates a symphony of flavours on the palate.
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7. Murgh Dum Biryani- Sangiovese
Probably the most popular dish worldwide is chicken biryani. Layers of juicy chicken, light, fluffy rice, and a mixture of herbs and spices like garam masala, garlic, ginger, coriander, and chilli pepper make up this savoury dish. The rich spices of a murgh dum biryani pair nicely with a Sangiovese because the wine's roundness helps to cut through the fat. Sangiovese is a medium-dry wine.
Due to its medium-weight body and savoury texture, Sangiovese goes well with a variety of dishes. Use the savoury flavour of Sangiovese to complement the spices in the biryani. This will also enhance the wine's fruity characteristics. Hard cheeses, cured sausages, and rich roasted meat also pair ideally with a high-tannic Sangiovese.
It is a myth that wine tastes better only with meat and seafood because it can be paired beautifully with dishes like kebabs and biriyani. However, the key is knowing which Indian cuisine and the type of wine go together. When choosing a wine to pair with food, keep in mind that it should enhance rather than overpower it.
