Wine Pairings

Want to learn how to make a good meal even better? Follow these tips on selecting the right wine to perfectly complement your seafood dishes. There’s much more to know than merely asking for white wine with your fish.

 

Shellfish

Groundfish

Pelagics

Varietal

Chardonnay.

Vineyards

Burgundy, California, and Australia.

Notes

Toasty oak, creamy vanilla and baked apples.

Varietal

Riesling.

Vineyards

Australia’s Clare Valley and the Rheingau in Germany are fine choices.

Notes

Excellent acidity balanced with a touch of sweetness, and featuring citrus peel and mango.

Varietal

Torrontés, from Argentina.

Vineyards

The torrontés produced in the Argentinean provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja, Mendoza, Salta, San Juan and Rio Negro are considered some of the best.

Notes

A full-bodied white with honeysuckle and citrus, slightly herbaceous, with a fine backbone of acidity.

Varietal

Sauvignon Blanc.

Vineyards

Intense examples can be found from the Marlborough region of New Zealand, and Sancerre offers a classic French option.

Notes

Fresh-cut grass, gooseberries and grapefruit, with a zinging acidity.

Varietal

Pinot Grigio.

Vineyards

Some California producers have great acidity, while Italian producers are generally softer. Both are excellent choices.

Notes

Aromatic and light bodied, with citrus and floral tones.

Varietal

Chenin Blanc.

Vineyards

This choice is from France’s Loire Valley.

Notes

Slight sweetness, balanced with a tart acidity and featuring pear and honeysuckle.

Varietal

Gewürztraminer.

Vineyards

Alsace (France), Tasmania and Canada all produce excellent examples.

Notes

Unmistakable aroma of lychee rose petals and Turkish delight. Opulent perfume and intensely aromatic, full bodied and exotic. Add a little to the steamer for full effect.

Varietal

Albariño

Vineyards

Spain or Portugal.

Notes

Excellent acidity, balanced with full-bodied wood and an almost almond extract, cut-grass note and a persistent finish—very refreshing.

Varietal

Chardonnay.

Vineyards

We recommend the unoaked, new world varieties from Australia or New Zealand.

Notes

Crisp and clean with uplifted peach, nectarine and tangerine, accompanied by good acidity.

Varietal

Fumé Blanc.

Vineyards

California.

Notes

Creamy buttery oak, with classic Sauv Blanc acidity and spiced orange and tangerine on the finish.

Varietal

Chablis.

Vineyards

This classic white hails from the Burgundy region of France.

Notes

Crisp, clean and steely, bursting with minerality and nervy acidity, plus hints of fresh fruit.

Varietal

Muscadet.

Vineyards

This choice comes via the Loire valley of France.

Notes

Light bodied with a slight aroma of the ocean. Excellent acidity with a very clean finish.

Varietal

Viognier.

Vineyards

We recommend the French, Californian and Australian varieties.

Notes

Very perfumed, with aromas of apricot, peaches, and honeysuckle and a light acidity.

Varietal

Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon.

Vineyards

Hunter Valley, Australia and the Graves district of France produce classic examples.

Notes

A medium bodied blend with tropical fruits, some passion fruit and kiwi with a full bodied mid-palate and a nut-like finish.

Varietal

Champagne or any high quality sparkling wine, as long as it is dry (Brut).

Vineyard

Champagne is French, and for other sparkling wine choices we recommend the Hungarian or Spanish varieties.

Notes

Toasted, fresh baked bread aromas, with bruised apples and toffee.

Varietal

Chardonnay, unoaked.

Vineyards

New Zealand.

Notes

Fresh, crisp, clean and elegant, bright and full of nectarine and peach aromas.

Varietal

Sauvignon Blanc.

Vineyards

We recommend the French and New Zealand varieties here.

Notes

Herbaceous, pungent, nettle-perfumed with racy citrus and fragrant kiwi, nectarines, and cut grass. Piercing acidity.

Varietal

Soave.

Vineyards

This white comes from the Veneto region in northeast Italy.

Notes

Dry and floral with a steely note of minerality; round, pleasant on the palate, with blossom and peach. Clean acidity. We would also recommend a Chilean sauvignon blanc for its aromatic notes and dry finish.

Varietal

Pinot Grigio

Vineyards

Italy.

Notes

Crisp and light with good citrus flavours, this is an excellent match for the delicate tastes on display with this fish.

Varietal

Sauvignon Blanc.

Vineyards

Chile.

Notes

The crisp acid and clean grapefruit nose will balance the oil of the fish.

Varietal

Champagne or any high quality sparkling wine, as long as it is dry (Brut).

Vineyard

Champagne is French, and for sparkling wines we recommend some of the Hungarian or Spanish varieties.

Notes

Toasted, fresh baked bread aromas, with bruised apples and toffee.

Varietal

Vinho Verde.

Vineyards

This green wine is exclusive to Portugal.

Notes

Light bodied with a greenish tinge, it’s soft, with low alcohol content and a refreshing crispness and slight fizz.

Varietal

Bourgogne Aligoté.

Vineyards

The best examples are from Bouzeron, a small village in Burgundy, France.

Notes

Refreshingly crisp with excellent aromas of stone fruit, apricots and peaches.

Varietal

Pinot Gris.

Vineyards

France and New Zealand offer the best-suited varieties for this fish.

Notes

Off-dry, with sweet tones but great balance. Musky perfumed notes with a rich, full mid-palate. Some cooler regions produce wines with a little more acidity.