Wine Pairings with South African cooking

The cooking South African is a fusion of African, European and Asian traditions, with dishes rich in spices, grilled meats and complex sauces. Pairing the right wine should bring out these intense flavours without overpowering them. Let's look at the best wines to pair with South African cooking.

Characteristics of South African Cooking and General Pairings

The choice of wine depends on several factors:

• Type of dish: stews, grills or spicy dishes all affect the ideal pairing.
• Intensity of the seasonings: spices such as curry, allspice and paprika call for wines with good structure.
• Cooking methods: barbecued or braised dishes need wines with balanced acidity and tannins.

Best Food and Wine Pairings for South African Cooking

Recommended Structured Red Wines

• Pinotage – Perfect with grilled dishes such as the "braai", thanks to its intensity and smoky notes.
• Shiraz/Syrah – Excellent with spiced meat stews, for its soft tannins and spicy notes.
• Cabernet Sauvignon – Ideal for game dishes and roasts.

Recommended Aromatic White Wines

• Chenin Blanc – Perfect for spicy dishes with curry and coconut-based sauces.
• Sauvignon Blanc – Excellent with fish dishes or spiced chicken.

Recommended Sparkling Wines

• MCC (Méthode Cap Classique) – Perfect alongside spicy and fried dishes with its freshness and acidity.
• Champagne Brut – Great for balancing the intensity of rich sauces and spicy dressings.

Mistakes to Avoid in Pairing

• Avoid wines that are too light, which would not be able to stand up to the structure of the dish.
• Watch out for overly tannic wines, which could accentuate the heat of some dishes.
• Avoid wines that are too sweet, if the dish is already very spicy.

Specific Pairings for Certain South African Dishes

• Bobotie (a spiced meat bake) → Pinotage, Shiraz
• Braai (a mixed meat grill) → Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage
• South African chicken curry → Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc
• Sosaties (marinated skewers) → MCC, Shiraz