Got a big Asian meal planned? Is it going to be Thai or another spicy theme? Want to skip the Mai Tai mix and serve some wine? Then break out the Kung Fu Girl and you’re set.
Photo caption left: Hot spicy food getting to you? Try some Riesling!
This highly versatile white wine is carefully created by Charles Smith of K Vintners with just enough sweet and sour to counterbalance the savory spice of many Asian dishes. It comes off with a very refreshing tasting experience that goes perfectly with hot noodles, spicy chicken, Kung Pao shrimp, and even garlic pork. This is also very important for meals consisting of many different dishes. It allows you to stick with one wine, even when all the food selections are shared by everyone at the table!
You will also notice that even though this Riesling has a very light body, its flavor combination of bright fruits, blossoms, and earth, keeps it from being overpowered by succulent dishes. It comes alive with food that has peppery tastes and allows the spiciness to fill your mouth without trashing your taste buds with heat. Try pairing a spicy dish with Zinfandel and the effect is just the opposite, the heat just keeps right on building.
Charles Smith has placed Kung Fu Girl widely into distribution, but it does run out at times. Right now the 2010 vintage is available at Total Wine for less than $15. And Fry’s often puts it on display with other Charles Smith wines from Washington’s Columbia Valley, but it can come and go with the reordering cycle.
Serve well chilled after an hour in the fridge (45-50 degrees). Also, by presenting it well chilled, it helps compliment the spicy food a little more, so feel free to keep it on ice as you would Champagne. Its lower alcohol level will make it go fast, right along with the plates of food. Be sure to get extra.
Article by Tom Peiffer, Phoenix Wine Shopping Examiner at Examiner.com
View more of Tom’s articles on Examiner.com by visiting his writer’s page.
