Chopsticks leave me fumbling, but that doesn’t stop me devouring Chinese food at least once a week. Unfortunately cooking my own stir fries has become a bit of problem since moving house: lack of mains gas means all my cooking must be done on an electric hob and my round bottomed wok just doesn’t work well on that.
So when I fancy sweet and sour pork balls and black bean chicken I place an order at the local take-away, then pop next door to the off-licence and pick up a suitable bottle of wine.
This is usually a bottle of German white – the naturally sweet-sour flavours of Riesling, Müller-Thurgau or Gewürztraminer work best with Chinese food. Open one of these wines and your nose is assaulted with honey, elderflower and pineapple. Overpowering for many, such a complex mix can easily swamp the delicate scents of vegetarian Chinese dishes. For these choose a wine that is still slightly sweet but less complex – rosé wine makes a surprisingly good match.
Spring rolls with bean sprouts or noodles in sesame sauce all compliment the strawberry flavours of a classic Anjou rosé, while the raspberry aromas commonly found in Merlot rosés enhances both dim sum and mushroom dishes.
PG Wine Reviews
Aldi Exquisite Collection Côtes de Provence Rosé
£5.99 Aldi
Tastes of strawberry block ice cream with a dollop of apple puree. Pleasant.
Brancott Estate New Zealand Sauvignon Gris 2013
£6.99 Tesco (down from £10.49 until November 11)
Refreshingly fruity flavours of nectarine and pineapple. A nice match to the take-away if you can’t get a German Riesling.
Tesco Finest Italian Grechetto
£6.99 Tesco
Light lemon, apple and pear flavours. Rather like a South African Chenin Blanc.
Co-op Truly Irresistible French Pic Saint Loup Rosé 2013
£6.99 Co-op
Light cherry, almond and apple. More of a light red.
Domaine Schlumberger Alsace Riesling 2011
£11.99 Majestic
Runny honey, nuts and apple flavours.
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© Paula Goddard 2014 www.paulagoddard.com
