Wines to have with spicy foods

Piquant flavours and foods with a kick call for a spectrum of styles, says Sam Wylie-Harris.

They say variety is the spice of life - and having the right bottle to hand can be a game-changer, especially if you want to help lift your spicy shrimp, chilli burger or stir-fry, but don’t want to send your taste buds off-kilter in the process.

Of course, some us aren’t that fussed if the bottles clanking in the fridge door are all the same style, far from cutting-edge, and mainstream enough to slip down a treat with our usual weekday supper.

But when it comes to spicy food, it’s worth being curious enough to pull the cork on a wine with an unfamiliar name - especially one that just happens to be a perfect match with those deftly balanced flavours.

So next time spicy food is on the menu, here are our top drops to enjoy with your flavour-packed dinner...

Sandara Chardonnay-Sake (£2.79,37.5cl,Aldistores)

A fusion of Japanese rice wine and chardonnay, this is a gentle, colourless fizz in an off-dry style (a touch of sweetness), with light blossomy notes and hints of pineapple, balanced by pleasing acidity.

Atypical, there’s enough fruitiness to act as the perfect backdrop to fragrant Chinese dishes, and at 5.5% abv, it bridges the gap between ‘no’ and ‘low’ alcohol as we ease into February.

K aka po White Wine, South Island, New Zealand (£6, Asda)

With flashes of freshness from word go, this appealing blend of sauvignon blanc and riesling possesses all the limey, lemony, zestiness, with refreshing vibrancy topped with hints of exotic fruits and the piercing acidity to neutralise the heat of fiery Indian and Asian dishes, or anything laced with wasabi.

T es co Finest Lamb r us co DOC Frizz an te, Reggia no, Italy(£7,Tesco)

Lambrusco is shaking of its kitsch image, and you’d be surprised how this softly sparkling red from Italy slips down a treat with spicy Italian sausage or French saucisson. Extremely quaffable, this ripe, tangy expression is light on its feet at 8% abv, but with enough juicy, fruity sweetness, dark berry and cherry flavours, and typically bright acidity that makes you want to dive right in. Serve lightly chilled.

FamillePerrinLes Cardinaux, Rhone 2016,France(£10,Coop stores)

While a tannic cabernet sauvignon loves a juicy steak, its bold, grippy flavours can bring too much warmth to hot dishes and end up tasting bitter and heavy.

What goes really well with chilli con carne and sweet chilli burgers are young, soft, fruity reds with light tannins, such as this good-value Rhone red.

A blend of grenache, syrah and mourvedre, the plush black cherry fruit, spice, soft tannins and balanced acidity strikes the perfect balance.