AJA White Wines designed to suite Asian Food

AJA WINES LAUNCH THE PERFECT MATCH FOR ASIAN CUISINE

Aja (pronounced Asia), a wine blend designed to perfectly match Asian cuisine, has been launched onto the Australian market just in time for Spring.

Created by long time friends and business partners David Mulham and Mark Silcocks, the idea for the blend was borne from a shared passion for good wine and delicious Asian food, "We realised that there was a true sense of confusion about which wine to choose when either dining out at a favourite Thai or Japanese restaurant, or staying in with some Indian home delivery."

With David's strong ties and experience with top wine concepts such as WR Steven Premium Reserve Shiraz and IJR Tallawanta Premium Reserve Shiraz in the Hunter Valley, and Mark, as an accomplished marketing expert and home chef, the two set out to create the perfect match. The result is 'Aja'.

Winemaker Liz Jackson devised a unique white blend with the ideal balance to complement Asian food. Aja is made from two grapes the Hunter Valley is famed for, Verdelho and Semillon, together with Sauvignon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills. These varietals were specially blended to achieve two key results:

1. An upfront fruitiness which complements a wide variety of Asian flavours, from the more delicate, fragrant ingredients in Asian cuisine, to counterbalancing the heat of spicier dishes such as Indian curries.

2. A crisp finish which helps to cleanse the palate, and serves the Asian custom of sharing several very different flavoured dishes in the one meal.

Aja has already proven to be a hit with many iconic Asian restaurants such as Longrain, Rambutan, Zafraan and Blue Ginger, who now offer Aja on their wine list.

According to the 2008 Sensis Consumer Report, Australians' favourite cuisines are Chinese (32 per cent), Italian (29 per cent), Thai (26 per cent) and Indian (16 per cent).

Aja's creators, Mark Silcocks and David Mulham say, "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.

"Like us, Australian's love their Asian, but we noticed that they often choose the wrong wines to match it. We wanted to give people an easy and informed choice. When they were eating in or dining at their local Asian restaurant, they just need to pick Aja and know that it's a perfect match."

Aja Recommended Retail Price is $20, and is available in select restaurants and wine retailers such as Five Way Cellars and Balmain Village Cellars servicing recognised BYO Asian restaurants.

For further information about Aja Wines and a stockist list, visit www.ajawines.com.au