Seafood is a great classic of French cuisine and is particularly popular at the table. But to fully enjoy this delicious specialty, it is important to choose the right wine to accompany it.
Not only can a good bottle of wine enhance the flavors of seafood, but it can also add a touch of sophistication to your meal. In this article, we will tell you how to choose the best wine to accompany your seafood and how to fully enjoy this taste experience.
Choosing your wine to accompany seafood
One of the perfect accompaniments for a seafood meal is wine, but how do you choose the right one?
The first thing to consider is the type of seafood you are cooking. Some varieties of seafood have more flavor than others and will require different wines. For example, lobster and crab are richer and more flavorful than mussels and squid, and require more robust wines to accompany them.
Once you’ve determined what type of seafood you’re preparing, you can determine what type of wine is best. If you’re serving light dishes like grilled seafood, you may want to opt for a dry white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris. If you’re serving richer, more flavorful dishes like lobsters and crabs, you may want to opt for more robust, intense red wines like a cabernet sauvignon or Pinot Noir.
What type of wine to choose with seafood
You’ll also need to consider the other ingredients and sauces you use to accompany your seafood. Tomato-based or butter-based sauces can be quite overpowering and require sweeter, fruitier wines to balance them out. Dark white wines like chardonnay or lighter red wines like Pinot Noir can make a great accompaniment.
Finally, consider the type of meal you are preparing. If you’re having a more formal meal, you may want to choose a fuller-bodied, more complex wine. For a lighter, more casual meal, a lighter, fruitier wine will suffice.
White wine and seafood
When you have seafood as an appetizer, the right white wine is essential to complement the meal. White wine is the perfect wine color to pair with seafood because their flavors complement and enhance each other. When choosing a white wine to pair with your seafood, you need to find a variety that balances the flavor of the seafood and also provides additional notes to complement the dish.
Cardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
The most popular white wines best suited to pair with seafood are Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay is a rich, powerful white wine that pairs perfectly with seafood, especially cooked seafood. Sauvignon Blanc has a fruity, fresh flavor that pairs well with raw seafood, such as oysters and lobster.
In addition to Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, you can also opt for a dry white wine like Pinot Gris, Albariño, or Gewürztraminer. These dry white wines have a sweet, fruity flavor that pairs perfectly with seafood. You can also opt for a sweet white wine like Muscat or Riesling, which perfectly complements seafood with sweet fruit flavors and floral notes.
Whatever you choose, make sure your white wine is chilled and served at the correct temperature. White wines are best served between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius and consumed immediately after opening to get the most out of them. If you have not finished your bottle of wine, we recommend our article to learn how to maintain the freshness of a wine after opening. You will discover 7 very simple tips to be able to drink a bottle of wine in several installments.
Choosing a good white wine to pair with seafood can be intimidating, but by following the tips given above and taking the time to find the right wine for your meal, you’ll be sure to have a great time.
Red wine and seafood
Wine and seafood are a delicious combination, and choosing the perfect red wine can be a challenge. Many red wines are suitable for seafood dishes, and the choice depends on personal tastes and preferences as well as the flavor of the dishes.
Pinot Noir
A light, fruity red wine, like Pinot Noir, is an ideal option for seafood, as it has a smooth, mild flavor that does not overpower the taste of the seafood. This makes it a great choice for dishes based on seafood such as seafood pasta, lobster, and lobster.
Merlot
Another red wine that goes well with seafood is Merlot. This wine is a little fuller-bodied and more tannic than Pinot Noir, and it’s perfect for richer, spicier seafood dishes. Seafood dishes with butter or cream, such as mussels in cream or paella, go particularly well with a Merlot.
Fans of darker red wines can opt for a more tannic and intense red wine, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is richer and more powerful than other red wines, making it a great choice for seafood dishes that are stronger and spicier.
The Gamay
Finally, lovers of lighter red wine can try a light, fruity red wine, like a Gamay. This wine is lighter and more sour than other red wines and is perfect for lighter seafood dishes such as pickled seafood or seafood salads.
Whatever red wine you choose, it is important to serve it at the right temperature. Light, fruity red wines should be served at a lower temperature, while full-bodied, more tannic red wines should be served at a higher temperature.
