Asian food in the country is stepping up from the sushi/Chinese stir fry/Thai noodle mix of menus that we’ve been only too happy with. Until now. Many South Africans have realised that Asia is not in fact a country and that they can now choose from restaurants differentiating themselves into focused noodle shops or Korean hot pot restaurants – Think Ramen, the Good Luck Club and @ Seoul Korean Restaurant, for example.
Getting the wine for an evening of Asian food right may seem challenging, but there are more than a few local wines that can complement the different cuisines.
Pair Chinese dumplings and sauce with a Graham Beck Brut.
Sparkling wine is delicious with dumplings, it washes the dough from your mouth and offers a bubbly refreshment after the exotic fillings.
Pair stir-fried rice and shrimp with a Beyerskloof Pinotage. The sweet berry flavours that a Pinotage offers complements the full soy and spicy wok flavours well.
Pair Vietnamese Pho with a Danie de Wet Limestone Hill Chardonnay. This is a fuller bodied white wine with hints of citrus, including pomelo. Its freshness allows the delicate variations of Pho noodle dishes to be emphasised.
