advice on matching food/wines

[kisspeepee]

What wine/wines would go withe following Carribean meal?
APPETIZER: Shrimp & Crab Legs W/Spicey Tomato Sauce
SOUP/SALAD: SPINACH, Crab & Ham
ENTREE: Jerked Chicken w/ Calypso Rice
DESSERT: Tropical Fruit Salad w/Cherimoya Dressing

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Thomas]

Seems to me your menu screams out for Rieslings of different styles, from dry to sweet, but always fruity.

[Thomas]

Seems to me your menu screams out for Rieslings of different styles, from dry to sweet, but always fruity.

[Randy Caparoso]

Can't argue with Riesling. An off-dry (German QbA or Kabinett level) Riesling would be the best all-purpose wine for the first three courses, but not quite sweet enough for the fruit salad dessert.

For the last course, I'd suggest a Moscato d'Asti -- sweet, light (5%-6% alcohol) and lightly frothy -- from Northern Italy, or a Zebbibo (another sweet, fruity, super-low alcohol Moscato) from Sicily. And if you like sweet and flowery scented bubbly, Asti Spumante is also a delicious fresh fruit quencher. Just ask your local wine merchant for advice on the best brand available.

Going back to the first three courses: now suppose that some of your guests do not like slightly sweet wine. Then I would recommend a good, bone dry, fruity pink wine -- such as a Californian Vin Gris of Pinot Noir (Robert Sinskey, Toad Hollow, Saintsbury, and Etude all produce excellent examples). A southern French pink wine (Tavel or Cassis Rose) or Regaleali's Rosato from Sicily would also be dry yet fruity enough to freshen the palate between bites of Caribbean spiced foods, yet soft enough not to fight with the sweet/salty taste of the crab/ham dish. Have fun!

[Thomas]

Yeah, Tavel sounds like a good alternative to Riesling here.