Riesling tames the fire in spicy Asian foods

I have been hitting the Asian restaurants this week and took a look at the wine lists. Most Asian restaurants have at least a few crisp whites to choose from and when I am in the mood for something spicy, Riesling is the wine that comes to my mind. A nice dry or off-dry Riesling is a wonderful, bright white wine with a crisp acidity that offsets the spiciness that you find in many Asian dishes. Next time you are going to order that spicy tuna roll at your favorite sushi place, think of a Riesling. Or maybe you love the curry dishes at the Thai restaurant in your neighborhood and usually just gulp down glass after glass of water trying to rid yourself of that burning feeling after each bite. Try the Riesling. Germany gets much of the attention for their Rieslings (and yes, rightfully so), but the United States produces some good Riesling, as well. If you have not tried it, this is a great time of year to get to know Riesling, with its aromatic, flowery nose and apple and stone fruit characteristics. Here are a couple to get you started.

2007 Dr. Frank Dry Riesling ($16.99) - This award winning wine, which was rated 93 pts by Wine & Spirits is a winner. The New York State Finger Lakes Region is one of the oldest regions in the US producing Riesling, and Dr. Frank came on the scene in 1962, a decade after Dr. Konstantin Frank moved to America. This dry Riesling, presenting a green gold hue, displays the traditional qualities of Dr. Frank’s Riesling: crisp acidity, a pronounced mineral character and layers of mango, citrus and pear blossoms in the nose. Whether you are a staunch Riesling lover or have not yet ventured into Riesling, this is a Riesling for you to try!

2006 Pacific Rim Dry Riesling ($11.00) - At Pacific Rim, they specialize in Riesling. This is another award winning wine, made in the dry style. The wine is crisp, dry and lush with flavors of citrus, jasmine and minerals. This is an excellent food wine, with stone fruit and mineral characteristics and a bright acidity. And at $11, this is a Riesling that you cannot go wrong with! I have it in my cellar.