"Wine is 'no good' with spicy food!"

We were listening to ABC local radio (known as old people's radio by the younger members at Winepunters HQ - Ed) the other day and we were gobsmaked to hear a brewer making the statement that wine cannot handle spicy food. Surely this obviously inaccurate statement coming from someone who makes beer for a living would not be allowed to pass unchallenged.

Well punters not only was it unchallenged but the 'announcer' supported the statement with an example of seeing people drink Shiraz with Indian food. Now look, if someone makes that sort of food and wine matching 'mistake' you could argue that it looks like a poor choice. But what it is not is confirmation that wine cannot cope with spicy food.

The brewer's argument was based on the fact that a beer, as a carbonated liquid, can cut through the spice and is strong enough to match the flavours in spicy food. Well Mr Brewer wine has acid and this too can 'cut through' and there are plenty of wines with the ability to match the strong flavours of spicy food.

To be fair to beer we do agree that it is absolutely a great choice in some situations. Drinking Thai beer while eating Thai food in Bangkok, as some of us at Winepunters HQ have done, is an experience we would recommend to everyone.  We also don't buy into the rubbish idea that beer is the drink of the 'yob'. We just don't appreciate the idea that to promote your favourite tipple you have to disparage other drinks particularly when you make a living producing your favourite tipple.

For the record we have matched Tassie wines with spicy food very successfully. As an example, a sweet Riesling with the right level of acid will not only match the strong flavours but its sweetness offers a great counter point to the spice of the food.  

Ok enough of the defensive reaction, it's time to go on the offensive. Since it is appears that making ridiculous and ill informed criticisms is the order of the day we humbly submit the following: 

 

So there you have it beer makes you effeminate which is fine for those of you of the female persuasion but not for you who believe you are a 'mans man'.  This was sent to us by a concerned punter who got it from the Internet and if it's on the Internet it must be true.

What do you think? Send us a comment