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What to drink with Chinese food

By Mike Bampfield-Duggan (iafrica)
Updated: 2006-08-22 13:53

There is often a lot of debate of which wine pairs well with Chinese food. Some suggest off-dry to sweetish wines preferably from the Gewurztraminer grape, to others who disagree and prefer a drier style of wine including whites, roses and even reds especially merlot!

Personally I have always enjoyed an off-dry Chenin Blanc with Chinese food as it seems to pair well when enjoying a variety of Chinese dishes in one sitting.

For this dish we thought we would try an off-dry Gewurztraminer and off-dry Chenin Blanc. The two wines selected were both received well by our party of 4, but my favourite match was the Chenin!

Easy drinking:
Paul Cluver Gewurztraminer 2004 – R50.50

The Paul Cluver Estate is located in the heart of the well known apple growing area of Elgin. As Elgin benefits from a cool climate (ideal for wine production) several farms, of which Paul Cluver was one of the pioneers, decided to replant some of their orchards with vines. The results have been rewarding with magnificent aromatic white wines and soft elegant reds.

The Gewurztraminer has tropical litchi/ honey and Turkish delight aromas and flavours which seem to linger on the palate forever!

Something Special:
The FMC 2004 – R231.50

FMC (Forrester Meinert Chenin) is from the “Icon” range of Ken Forrester Wines. Martin Meinert, one of the Capes top winemakers, assisted Chenin Blanc fundi, Ken Forrester to create this masterpiece wine. The wine is 100% bush vine Chenin Blanc and the grapes were hand selected from an old vineyard in Stellenbosch which was planted in 1967.

Although the FMC is full-bodied and rich, it displays delicacy with lovely honey and vanilla flavours which do not overpower the palate nor the sweet and sour pork.