Motoring, Arts & LeisurePaula's Wines of the WeekPaula's Wines of the Week ( Week starting 8th February) Paula's Wines of the Week ( Week starting 8th February)
08/02/2010
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Chopsticks leave me fumbling, but that won’t stop me devouring Chinese food this Sunday to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Unfortunately cooking my own stir fries is a bit of problem as we don’t have mains gas. All 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 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 and 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.
£3.99 and under
There are still some good bottles to be found that cost the same as a couple of National Lottery tickets.
Italian Valpolicella, £3.27 Morrisons www.morrisons.co.uk
With such light cherry and strawberry flavours you’d think this classic Italian red was a rosé. But not quite though. The addition of unripe damson flavours turns this back into a light red – suitable for all light dishes and Chinese meals though.
£5.99 and under
There are a few fruity, slurpable wines among the forgettable masses.
Kendermanns German Organic White, £5.99 Waitrose www.waitrosedeliver.com
This crisp apple and coconut tasting wine is not only organic it’s also suitable for vegetarians. A light white that’ll make a great aperitif.
Five Hills New Zealand Pinot Grigio, £5.99 Somerfield www.somerfield.co.uk and Co-op www.co-operative.coop
A smooth nutty white with a light lemon finish. Excellent value and an excellent match to fish and vegetarian noodle dishes.
Costs a bit more, but tastes great
Sometimes a bottle of wine tastes so fab it's still a bargain whatever it costs.
Cono Sur Chilean Gewürztraminer, £6.12 Sainsbury’s www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries
It’s made with a German grape and its lychee and pear drop aromas are what we’ve come to expect from German wines, but this wine is actually Chilean. Slightly sharper than its European counterpart, this apple and pear tasting wine makes a great match to Chinese and Thai food.
Marks and Spencer French Saint Mont White, £6.99 Marks and Spencer www.marksandspencer.com
Three unpronounceable journeyman grape varieties combine to give surprisingly light refreshing flavours of lemon, lime, peach and sherbet. Enjoy on its own or drink with anything you like, this is a versatile wine.
Champagne Brut Rosé Veuve Deloynes, £12.99 Morrisons www.morrisons.co.uk (down from £25.99 until February 14th)
A light lemon and strawberry fizz suitable for celebrating the Chinese New Year, or anything else you might want to celebrate on the 14th February. Whatever that might be...
If you want to tell Paula about a bargain bottle spotted at the supermarket or off-licence then contact her via kate.morley@maturetimes.co.uk or directly through her website link below.