ABCDlady Magazine - for the American Born Confident Desi

Cocktails and Cuisine

By Sameer Handa

In Vino Veritas?

“In Vino Veritas” is a Latin phrase meaning “In wine we seek truth”. Is there really truth at the bottom of the wine bottle? Or was this saying concocted by some Roman lush looking for an excuse to drink? I am sure many of us have wondered more often than not: What the heck are those guys doing over there – swirling and sniffing their wine glasses, and shaking their heads in quiet appreciation as if the vintner is about to do a handstand to please them. Well, they are tasting the wine.

So, before you guys go out and wine it up, let me give you a few tips on how to enjoy your wine more then ever.

The Swirl: Swirling helps the wine release its aromas. If you swirl the wine for a few seconds and lay it down, you can smell the fruity flavors that come out of the wine. But don’t swirl too wildly because your neighbors may not take too kindly to red wine on their attire.

Sniff: Lower your nose into the glass and let a whiff of air through your mouth. The wine’s true aroma will be revealed.

Sample: Take a small sip of wine and breathe through the mouth. Air mixed with wine will truly enhance the flavors.

In keeping with the Desi spirit of this magazine, let me not overload the readers with wine jargon, and answer the next logical question: What kind of wine should I drink with South Asian foods? I am of the opinion that pairing wines with food is purely a trial and error method, and a matter of personal choice. Nevertheless, some general recommendations can be made.

I compared my wine choices with those of the Sommelier, the individual at a restaurant who maintains a record of the wines sold and thus gains a wide base of knowledge about wine and food pairings. Here are my recommendations:

North Indian Dishes:

Dish	Description	Sommelier Says	Sameer Says	Sameer’s Comments
Tandoori Chicken	A well-known Indian dish, tends to be succulent and spicy when combined with chutney	Semillon or Chenin Blanc	Rijoa or Chianti	Although it is a good idea to have Semillon or Chenin Blanc to complement the spiciness of Tandoori chicken, but if you really want to enjoy the spiciness then go for Rijoa. The spiciness and the woody aroma of Rijoa will enhance the flavor of Tandoori chicken.
Butter Chicken	An irresitible fragrant and spicy dish that is a great pair with rice and naan.	Chianti or Chenin Blanc	Shiraz	Although it is quite a common idea to complement the spiciness with Chenin Blanc, which tends to be a bubbly-type wine, may I suggest Shiraz instead. The off-dry quality of Shiraz will help complement the creaminess of butter chicken.
Chicken Biryani	A delectable mix of basmati rice and chicken	Gewürztraminer or Sémillon	Listen to the Sommelier, as I have no idea.

South Indian Dishes:

Dish	Description	Sommelier Says	Sameer Says	Sameer’s Comments
Madras Chicken Curry	A rather spicy chicken curry with a noticeable cardamom flavor	Riesling	Chenin Blanc	I cannot agree with the Sommelier more. You need to have something that kills the spiciness and still manages to keep the flavor of chicken intact. You may try Tempranillo if you are the contrarian type.
Shrimp in coconut milk	A good dish that is not too spicy and contains a perfect mix of coconut and garlic flavors.	Semillon	White Bordeaux	The coconut shrimp is very succulent in nature anyway. Semillon provides a good complement, but dry Bordeaux with its crisp fruity flavor will lead to a party in your mouth.
Fish Masala	Overwhelming garlic and turmeric flavor	Sauvignon Blanc	Shiraz	Sauvignon Blanc will provide a good fruity complement to the fish dish, but Shiraz may be the perfect answer for the contrarian. Shiraz’s berry aroma will heighten the flavor rather than complement it.

Stick to my picks and you will have a meal complete with all of the necessities!

Sameer Handa, 31, works as a senior software programmer at a Hotel Management company.