Skip to content
Rate This Wine
Pair my dinnerWine with steakWine with salmonWine with pizzaSee all: PairingsCabernet SauvignonPinot NoirSauvignon BlancSee all: WinesBest wine clubsCheapest wine clubsFor beginnersSee all: Wine clubsWine pairing finderParty wine calculatorRate this wineSee all: ToolsLearn

Spicy & Asian · Wine pairing

What wine goes with indian curry?

Spice and aromatic sauces need aromatic, slightly sweet whites: off-dry Riesling, Gewürztraminer or Viognier. Light, fruity reds work for milder curries.

The rule: A little sweetness tames heat; tannin and alcohol make it worse.

By Rate This Wine editors · Updated · How we rate

Indian curry

The 3 best wines with indian curry

  1. Riesling

    1 Riesling Aromatic white, dry to sweet

    Off-dry Riesling cools chili heat and refreshes.

    Serve 45-50°F From $12

  2. Gewürztraminer

    2 Gewürztraminer Aromatic, rich white

    Lychee and ginger match aromatic spice: great with korma and tikka masala.

    Serve 45-50°F From $14

  3. Viognier

    3 Viognier Full-bodied aromatic white

    Lush apricot for creamy, coconut-based curries.

    Serve 50-55°F From $15; Condrieu $50+

Best on a budget: German Riesling Kabinett.

Also good

Chenin BlancRoséGrenache (Garnacha)Carménère

What to avoid

  • High-alcohol, oaky reds. Spice + alcohol + tannin = burning.

It depends how you cook it

If you’re having…Pour
Butter chicken / tikka masalaGewürztraminer or Viognier.
VindalooOff-dry Riesling.
Lamb rogan joshGrenache or Carménère.
Saag paneerGrüner Veltliner.

Frequently asked questions

What wine goes with curry?

Off-dry Riesling and Gewürztraminer are the best all-rounders. For red, choose a soft, fruity Grenache.

Tried this pairing?

Rate it

What readers poured

Tried Indian curry? Tell us which bottle you opened and how it went. The first good one goes right here.

Share your pairing

We read every pairing note before it goes live. No links, please, and nothing personal about other people.

More pairings

MeatBurgers Zinfandel · Malbec · Syrah / Shiraz PoultryFried chicken Champagne · Cava · Grüner Veltliner SeafoodSushi Riesling · Champagne · Grüner Veltliner Italian & takeoutPizza Sangiovese (Chianti) · Barbera · Zinfandel Italian & takeoutSpaghetti & meat sauce Sangiovese (Chianti) · Barbera · Merlot Italian & takeoutFettuccine Alfredo & creamy pasta Chardonnay · Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris · Chenin Blanc