Seafood Wine Pairing

If you’re not sure what wine goes with fish, Pinot Gris is known for being the best wine for seafood and an essential seafood wine pairing. Its high acidity and fruity flavors make it the best wine with fish and the best wine with seafood overall. That said, a spicy seafood meal needs a wine with sweetness, such as Moscato, to help balance the heat. Full-flavored or fatty seafood, such as wild salmon ikura, salmon tartare, or battered-and-fried seafood, pair well with sparkling wine or Prosecco.

According to tradition, you’re supposed to drink white wine with fish and red wine with red meat. But since fish and shellfish are so diverse in flavor, texture, and preparation, a wide variety of wines—both red and white—pair deliciously with different seafood dishes. If you want to have red wine with your seafood, avoid dishes that have a squeeze of lemon or lemon-based sauce, and choose a wine with low tannins, such as Pinot Noir, Gamay, or Grenache. You’ll want to avoid pairing tannins with the acidity of lemon or other citrus juice, which can lead to a metallic taste in the mouth.

Essentially, wine with salmon pairings can be based on the wine you like, the type of salmon, or how the salmon is prepared. In general, the best wine with salmon is a full-bodied white wine or a light-bodied red wine. Chardonnay that has seen a touch of new oak in its crafting is an excellent wine-pairing with salmon, and few reds pair better with salmon than Pinot Noir. Pinot Grigio is wonderful with most seafood, including salmon. This light white wine is best with salmon that doesn't have a strong sauce, and it is excellent with lemon-based sauces. If you’re still wondering what wine goes with salmon, consider pairings based on how your salmon is prepared. Grilled salmon pairs well with Merlot; pan-seared salmon with crispy skin pairs well with Chardonnay or Pinot Noir; salmon tartare pairs well with Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir; and cold-smoked Nova lox pairs well with rosé.

When deciding on the best wine with shrimp, the best wine with lobster, or the best wine with crab, think of wine as a refreshing squeeze of lemon. The same goes for wine pairing with scallops. Most shellfish are relatively mild in flavor, so they pair well with crisp and acidic white wines, such as sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, or Chardonnay. Breaded or battered-and-fried shellfish, such as crab cakes, oysters, shrimp, or calamari, are delicious when paired with sparkling wine. For red wine lovers, shellfish go well with softer, light-bodied red wines, such as Pinot Noir, Gamay, or Sangiovese.