Tingly Szechuan Pepper Beef Noodles
There is nothing better than Szechuan cuisine and a great Riesling; it is a sommelier's tried and true go-to pairing. You'll always find groups of wine pros at Chinese restaurants in New York City bringing their favorite bottles of Riesling to pair. Szechuan food is characterized by an intense but fruity spiciness, and the sugar in the Riesling (and its cold temperature) will serve to cool down your palate and get you ready for the next bite. One of my favorites is the Hermann Wiemer Semi-Dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes region in New York State. It is slightly sweet but well balanced and at around $15, it’s an outstanding value.