Diwali - the festival of lights

Tasting note: Knappstein Three 2008, Clare Valley, South Australia

This Clare Valley wine, a blend of Gewürztramminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris, was a wonderful find!

It's been sitting patiently on my wine rack (under my bathroom sink), waiting for the right meal and occasion. Riesling has always been one of my favourite white varietals, and Gewürtzraminer has such a distinctive nose, so I was keen to find out what the Aussies have been producing using these traditional "Alsatian" grapes - especially Clare Valley which is known for it's Rieslings.

The nose released fresh lemony, lychee and aromatic notes (from the dominant Gerwürtztraminer - it said 'rose petals' on the back label) and we were rewarded with a smooth, very slightly off-dry citrus and well-balanced wine that was a pleasure to drink. Perfect with the curry I had prepared for dinner, in celebration of Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights which honours Lakshimi, the goddess of wealth, to pray for a successful year:

From Vivek Singh's 'Curry: Classic and Contemporary Curry Recipes' (of Cinnamon Club and Cinnamon Kitchen) I attempted, with great results, the lamb and beetroot curry. I marinated the diced and deboned shoulder of lamb overnight in ginger, garlic, red chilli and yoghurt. Once cooked, you add the garam masala and pureed and whole beetroot, which gives your dish this wonderfully deep and shiny look. I served it with another of Vivek's recipes, a sweet and sour basmati rice, which incorporates star anise, curry leaves and coconut milk. Truly delicious! Additional side dishes included saag aloo (spiced potato and spinach), a curried chickpea and tomato mix, and a pomegranate raita, which was a lovely chilled yoghurt-based dish to compliment the spiciness of the meal.

What I did enjoy was the blend and depth of flavours, without the chilli heat, which can kill those subtle ingredients that create complexity and round your meal.

Serve with a good Indian beer, or the Knappstein Three, make a toast to a successful year ahead, and enjoy the end of a rather enjoyable October month.