Wine Pairing with Seafood
Wine pairings for fish, shrimp, lobster, crab, and shellfish.
Quick Wine Pairing Guide for Seafood
Finding the right wine to pair with seafood depends on the specific dish, cooking method, and sauce. Here's what you need to know:
- Consider the preparation: Grilled, roasted, and fried dishes pair differently than poached or steamed.
- Match intensity: Bold dishes need bold wines; delicate dishes need lighter wines.
- Don't forget the sauce: Often the sauce matters more than the protein itself.
Seafood Dishes & Wine Pairings
Salmon
Grilled, baked, or pan-seared salmon fillets and salmon steaks.
💡 Salmon is rich enough for light reds like Pinot Noir. Oaked Chardonnay also works beautifully.
Tuna
Seared ahi tuna, tuna steaks, and grilled tuna.
💡 Seared tuna's meaty texture can handle light reds. Rosé is a safe, delicious choice.
White Fish
Mild white fish including cod, halibut, sea bass, tilapia, and sole.
💡 Light fish needs light wine. Sauvignon Blanc's acidity brightens delicate fish.
Shrimp
Grilled shrimp, shrimp scampi, coconut shrimp, and shrimp cocktail.
💡 Garlic shrimp loves Sauvignon Blanc. Fried shrimp pairs surprisingly well with Champagne.
Lobster
Steamed lobster, lobster tail, lobster thermidor, and lobster rolls.
💡 Rich lobster deserves rich Chardonnay. With butter, go oaky; for lobster salad, try unoaked.
Crab
Crab legs, crab cakes, soft shell crab, and Dungeness crab.
💡 Crab cakes pair well with Chardonnay. Crab with Old Bay seasoning loves crisp whites.
Oysters
Raw oysters, grilled oysters, and oysters Rockefeller.
💡 The classic pairing is Champagne or Chablis. The high acidity and minerality complement briny oysters.
Best Wines for Seafood
Pinot Noir
RedAn elegant, lighter red wine with silky texture and complex aromas. Known for its versatility with food.
Chardonnay
WhiteThe world's most popular white wine, ranging from crisp and mineral to rich and buttery depending on style.
Explore Other Food Pairings
Can't Find What You're Looking For?
Use our interactive pairing tool to search any dish.
Try Pairing Tool