Any wine goes with Tempura

Dear Wine Ladies,

As a lover of very basic foods, I am most grateful to a friend of mine who just introduced me to one of her favorites, tempura.

I’d like to be able to offer her a glass of wine the next time we have it, but I’m a beer drinker myself, and have no idea what to buy. Any suggestions would be appreciated, preferably not too expensive or overpowering. The last few times we’ve been together she’s ordered red wine, are there any reds that would also be appropriate?

Andy

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Dear Andy,

Tempura is definitely one of our favorites too, which we often enjoy with a variety of wines – red, white and sparkling.

A Beaujolais would be a great choice for the red; these wines are typically fruity, not overpowering in either alcohol or tannin and are reasonably priced. Beaujolais is made with the gamay grape, of which there are some Canadian ones available as well. Lighter Pinot Noirs works well with tempura too; the fuller bodied richer ones from southern climes may be a little overpowering, so lighter and youthful is the way to go here.

For a white wine option, a fresh, crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a dry unoaked chardonnay would do nicely or perhaps a Riesling or an Alsatian Pinot Gris. For something a little special, why not try a sparkling wine?

Contrary to what many people believe, sparkling wines are naturals to enjoy with food and should not be reserved exclusively for special occasions.

There are a number of excellent value sparkling wines on the market these days. Cava from Spain, Prosecco from Italy and Sekt from Germany are several terms used to identify sparkling wines. Be sure to check out the Canadian wine section too as many of our wineries produce excellent bubbly, perfect for your tempura. One last suggestion, roses are all the rage these days, and with good reason, versatile and abundant now on the shelves for the summer season.