Wine and curries

[hillary]

I'm just wondering what wines go well with a spicy Indian curry...any guidance would be appreciated.

[Thomas]

Generally, I like Gewurztraminer or Riesling with curry dishes, but last week I made a chicken curry for which a Rhone red wine was a perfect match.

[Innkeeper]

Paddle up the Rhone as far as the heat will take you. Mildly hot, a Cotes du Rhone. Hotter, a CDR Villages. Still hotter, Crozes Hermitage. On fire, Hermitage.

[pergamum]

I couldn't agree with you two more. In fact, I don't care for the palate of a Rhone if I'm not eating spicy food. I have also found that sweet varietals such as Muscat and Sauternes (not a varietal--I know) provide an interesting contrast to a spicy dish. Hey Innkeeper! Just out of curiosity, does Maine have any notable appellations?

[Innkeeper]

If Maine had an appelation it would be called Hancock County. That is where all the wineries are. They all make fruit wines. One, Bartlett's in Gouldsboro, does a very good job. They vinify the fruit dry, even expose it to oak (there's the "O" word again), and put out a complete line. Allegedly at a Paris wine judging some years ago, the judges refused to believe the Bartlett wines were not made from grapes; and subjected them to spectogaphic analysis. Their wines are well regarded both in state and beyond. Gouldsboro is pretty far east. It is the last town before you get to Washington County, the most easternmost county in the USA.

The other two wineries put out fruity tootie wines. One is in Brooksville, otherwise known for the Nearing Homestead. The Nearings were the Godparents of the "back to the land movement", which is still real big up here. The last and least is in Trenton. Trenton is the ticky tacky commercial community between Ellsworth and Baa Haaba, which is a perfect setting for a fruity tootie winery.

People have tried to grow grapes up here with only limited success. Occasionally you see small clusters of table grapes in the farmer's markets, but so far none for wine in any quantity have been successful.