RESCU uncorks Aja, a delicious wine to enjoy with Asian meals

11th OF December 2009

Aja (pronounced Asia), is a varietal blend created by David Mulham and Mark Silcocks to perfectly enhance the flavours of Asian cuisine.

As Australia’s love affair with Asian food grows, these canny gentlemen realised that most of us have no idea what to pair up with a Combination Chow Mein or Green Thai Curry and set about creating the ultimate wine to pair with delicate and unique flavours.

Winemaker Liz Jackson was called in to create a unique white blend. We were told that Aja is made from two grapes the Hunter Valley is famed for, Verdelho and Semillon, together with Sauvignon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills.

Jackson’s goal was to achieve two key results:
1. An upfront fruitiness, which complements a wide variety of flavours, ranging from delicate, fragrant ingredients in Asian cuisine, to counterbalancing the heat of spicier dishes such as Indian curries.
2. A crisp finish to cleanse the palate, and compliment the Asian custom of sharing multiple flavours and dishes in the one meal.

Did you know?
According to the 2008 Sensis Consumer Report, Australia’s favourite cuisines are Chinese 32%, Italian 29%, Thai 26% and Indian 16%

Aja’s creators, Mark Silcocks and David Mulham, reveal, “Sauvignon Blanc is Australia’s top selling white varietal, but it doesn’t go particularly well with Asian food. The high acid levels in many Sav. Blancs can clash with some of the spicier dishes, resulting in an unpleasant, astringent aftertaste.”

RESCU Recommends:
We road tested Aja with a spicy Thai curry on a hot day at our favourite BYO take out. So delicious and subtle and it had the complexities and flavour of a good bottle of wine. We’d drink this on a hot day and serve to friends with rice paper rolls and sweet chilli sauce. RRP $20, visit www.ajawines.com.au for local stockists.

Also check out new Aja Blush - a lower alcohol, lightly sparkling Moscato for those who enjoy sweet wines.