The secret to Indian food and wine pairing is to choose wines with fresh acidity, plenty of fruit and gentle tannins, and to go easy on high alcohol and heavy oak, which chilli tends to exaggerate. Aromatic whites, dry rosé and lighter, juicy reds are the safest bets. Below we explain the principles, then match dishes from our menu with bottles from our own wine list in Fulham.
At a glance
- Best all-rounders: aromatic or crisp whites, dry rosé, light reds such as Pinot Noir and Gamay
- Our list includes two Indian wines from Karnataka, both £41 a bottle or £10 a glass
- Glass prices on our list are for 150ml
- Prefer beer or no alcohol? We have Indian beers and a mocktail list
Does Indian food and wine pairing really work?
Yes, and very well. The old idea that only lager can stand up to a curry comes from a time when restaurant curries were judged mainly on heat. Indian cooking is about layered spice, sourness, sweetness and richness, and those are all things wine handles well. The trick is to understand which elements of a dish will clash with which elements of a wine.
What are the rules for pairing wine with spicy food?
Acidity is your friend
Tangy ingredients such as tamarind, lime, raw mango and yoghurt make a low-acid wine taste flat. A wine with bright acidity keeps pace with them and refreshes the palate between bites. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño and Picpoul are all strong choices.
Watch tannin and alcohol with chilli
Chilli heat amplifies tannin and alcohol, so a big, oaky, high-alcohol red can taste bitter and hot alongside a spicy dish. Save bolder reds for richer, less fiery dishes such as lamb chops or a slow-cooked lamb shank.
A touch of sweetness calms the heat
Off-dry wines, with just a little residual sugar, soften chilli. White Zinfandel rosé is typically made in this style.
Match weight with weight
A creamy butter chicken wants a fuller white; a delicate chaat wants something light and lively. Think about the richness of the sauce, not just the meat or fish.
Mirror the aromatics
Aromatic grapes like Viognier echo the floral, sweet spices of cardamom and fenugreek. It is one reason they work so well with tandoori dishes.
Which wines go with which Indian dishes?
Here are our suggestions from the wine list. Prices are bottle / glass (150ml) where a glass is offered.
| Dish | Wine | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papad, Patra Chaat, Pani Puri | Pasqua Prosecco Treviso Spumante | £45 / £11 | Bubbles and freshness for crisp, tangy starters |
| Squid Chilli Fry | Picpoul de Pinet L'Ormarine 'Duc de Morny' | £36 | Lemony and crisp with fried seafood |
| Methi Malai Chicken Tikka | Domaine de Vedilhan Serica, Viognier | £33 / £9 | Aromatic white for cardamom and fenugreek |
| Mangalorean Chicken | Estate Riesling, Dreissigacker | £55 | Acidity cuts through coconut and byadgi chilli |
| Halibut Fish Curry | Sauvignon Blanc, Grover's | £41 / £10 | Zesty Indian white with a spiced fish curry |
| Butter Chicken | Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay | £55 | Fuller white to match a rich, creamy sauce |
| Tandoori Duck | Sileni Estates 'The Plateau' Grand Reserve Pinot Noir | £48 | Silky red for duck and citrus jus |
| Dal Makhani | Château Moulin Favre Brouilly | £44 | Juicy, low-tannin Gamay with earthy lentils |
| Lamb Chops | Viña Pomal Rioja Crianza | £42 | Tempranillo for charred, tandoori lamb |
| Lamb Sukke | La Réserve, Grover's | £41 / £10 | Indian Cabernet Shiraz with clove and chilli |
| Venison Lal Maas | Clonakilla Hilltop Shiraz | £62 | Ripe Shiraz for a smoky red curry |
For seafood in depth, see our guide to Indian seafood and coastal cooking. For the story behind one of the dishes above, read about Mangalorean chicken curry, and for the Indian red pairing, our post on lamb sukke.
What about Indian wine?
India has a young but growing wine industry, and two of our bottles come from Karnataka: the Sauvignon Blanc, Grover's and the red La Réserve, Grover's, both £41 a bottle or £10 a glass. Grover's is part of Grover Zampa, one of India's better-known producers. Ordering both by the glass is an easy way to try Indian wine with Indian food.
Is rosé or Champagne a good match?
Rosé is one of the most flexible wines on any Indian table, with enough acidity for tangy dishes and enough fruit for spice. Try the Casal Mendes Rosé, Bairrada (£26 / £7) or the Côte de Provence Le Village (£48). If you like a little sweetness to calm the heat, the 'L.A. Zin' White Zinfandel Rosé (£35) is the one to pick.
Sparkling wine is excellent with fried starters and chaat. Our Champagnes include J.M. Gremillet Brut (£75 / £16) and Taittinger Brut Réserve (£125), with the Chapel Down Sparkling Brut from Kent (£70) for an English option. Planning a bigger celebration? Our private dining and celebrations page explains how to enquire.
What should you drink with dessert?
With our desserts, such as the Gulab Jamun Chocolate Brownie with masala chai sauce (£10), try Sauternes, Carmes de Rieussec, £9 for a 75ml glass or £36 a bottle, or a Graham's Tawny Port (£10).
What if you prefer beer or no alcohol?
Beer is a classic for good reason: carbonation refreshes and a little bitterness balances richness. Our bottled beers include Cobra (£4.95) and the White Rhino IPA (£5.95) from India, plus Schiehallion pilsner-style lager (£5.95) and the non-alcoholic San Miguel 0.0 (£4.95).
From the mocktail list, the Kokum Sharbat (£7) has a sour edge that works like acidity in wine, while a Mango Lassi (£5.50) is a gentle, cooling choice with spicier dishes.
Plan your pairing
Our team is happy to suggest a bottle or glass once you have chosen your food, so do ask on the night. Book a table online, and see our visit page for opening hours and directions to Fulham High Street.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best wine with Indian food?
There is no single answer, but crisp or aromatic whites such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, dry rosé and light reds like Pinot Noir and Gamay suit most Indian dishes.
Should you drink red wine with curry?
Yes, if you choose carefully. Lighter, juicy reds with soft tannins work best with spice; save bigger reds for richer, less fiery dishes such as lamb chops.
Do you serve Indian wine?
Yes. We list Sauvignon Blanc and La Réserve from Grover's in Karnataka, India, each £41 a bottle or £10 a glass.
Can I order wine by the glass?
Several wines are available by the 150ml glass, from £7 for the Casal Mendes Rosé to £16 for J.M. Gremillet Brut Champagne.
Book a table at Pure Indian Cooking
67 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ · 020 7736 2521
