RAISE A GLASS

CHINESE New Year is upon us, which gives me an excuse to don an apron and prepare a scientific experiment.

I’ve flash fried prawns and peppers and popped in a bowl with noodles; and discovered a simple recipe of stir-fried pork mince with ginger, garlic, soy sauce and Chinese spices.

If you’re putting in hard work in the kitchen you deserve a tiny glass of something. That’s what I told myself when I poured a sip of Château Changyu-Moser XV Cabernet Sauvignon, Blanc de Noirs (£18.99, Selfridges, and around £14, vinvm.co.uk, 14% abv) which is produced in Ningxia, west of Beijing. It is a white blush of a wine, as the dark cabernet sauvignon grape skins barely touch the clear juices of the fruit before the winemaking begins.

I love this wine. It has aromas of nectarine, strawberry, lemon and red apple. Those delightful aromas are reflected in the flavours, together with a subtle creaminess. It is deliciously balanced with good acidity.

Here’s another wine from China – a riesling which is also a great choice for any Asian-style food. Changyu Noble Dragon Riesling (£9, down from £10, until February 12 at Sainsbury’s, 12.5% abv) is a dry, pale-lemon wine, with a nose of flowers and peach and a good dash of lemon too. I’d like the fruit flavours to be more pronounced, but it’s worth trying with a Chinese spice dappled meal.

Hive & Honey Gewürztraminer 2017 (£6.99, Aldi, 11.5 %abv) is one of two new wines in Aldi, ideally suited for Chinese food. The gewürztraminer grape can have a tumble of rose aromas, and be heady, like Turkish delight. This wine, from Monterey in California, has more of a tropical fruit vibe. It has nuances of pineapple and guava, laced with citrus. There’s sweetness, but those citrus and tropical fruit notes, together with a good acidity, add some balance. Aldi’s other new wine worth trying with Chinese (or Thai) food is SIA Gewürztraminer Riesling 2018 (£5.99, 12%abv).

I’ll stick with the same grape and zip over to Tesco and its Tesco Finest Alsace Gewürztraminer (£9, 13%) which has a subtlety of rose, some peach and lychee, and a little snap of spice when you sip. This has been created in partnership with Maison Arthur Metz, and has a depth and complexity missing in Aldi’s California wine.

Finally, The Society’s Vin d’Alsace (£9.50, thewinesociety.com, 12.5% abv) is made by the Hugel family of winemakers which is Alsace class in a glass. Winemaker Marc Hugel creates a blend each vintage from riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot gris, muscat, and sylvaner, known as “the noble varieties”. There are notes of freshly cut green apples, lychee, pear, and a hint of white peach. It is fresh and rewarding.

■ Also in my glass… Maison du Cirque Blanc de Blancs (£15, 12% abv) is a sparkling wine from the south of France made in the same traditional way as champagne. It’s exclusive to Sainsbury’s and has been created for them by the Domaines Paul Mas stable. It is made from 100% chardonnay in the Limoux region and has subtle buttery notes, with spring flowers and citrus adding freshness and elegance.

■ Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.