There is nothing better than a freshly caught piece of fish and a glass of wine as the sun sets after a long day at the beach. However, combining wine with fish or seafood might be particularly challenging.
You might wonder, what kind of wine should you choose? It’s very common to hear that red wine goes well with meat, and white wine goes great with fish. As you continue reading, you'll see that's just not always the case.
Below is a guide on how to pair wine with different seafood
Wine Pairings with Salmon
Chardonnay - since the 1980s, the Chardonnay grape has gained popularity in South African vineyards and thrives in the dry climate. Fruit flavors, particularly citrus and peach, can be correlated with this unique wine. Due to the barrels that wooded Chardonnay wines are fermented in, it radiates oak-, spicy and woody notes that many consumers particularly enjoy. Acidity and salinity are maintained at the proper amounts by the mineral balance of the wine.
Chardonnay is best paired with salmon, trout, hake, haddock and monkfish.
*Top 4 South African Chardonnay wines to try: Springfield Estate Méthode Ancienne Chardonnay 2019, Babylonstoren Chardonnay 2021, Restless River Ava Marie 2019, Alvi's Drift Chardonnay Reserve 2019
Wine Pairings with Sushi
Sauvignon Blanc - the Sauvignon Blanc wine is a crisp, dry, and rejuvenating white varietal wine with green and herbal flavors. The flavor might be severely sweet and tropical, depending on the climate. The grape tends to create wines with considerable acidity and "green flavors" of grass and green peppers. Where the environment is colder, more tropical fruit and flowery notes are displayed.
Excellent matches for Sauvignon Blanc are fresh crab, sushi, sashimi, light-cooked shellfish like oysters and prawns.
*Top 4 South African Sauvignon Blanc wines to try: Skaap Eline 2020, David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019, David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Wine Pairings with Seafood Pasta
The best route to pair any wine with food, especially something like seafood pasta, is to do it according to the region where the dish was made.
This means that you should aim to serve a bottle of Spanish wine, preferably from the coasts of Spain, with any seafood pasta that has a Spanish flavour. Depending on your preference, it can be red or white. It's crucial that the regions match as closely as you can in this pairing.
Wine Pairings with Lobster
For seafood enthusiasts, lobster is regarded as the pinnacle of elegance. It is rich, meaty, and exquisite. Due to the strong meaty textures of lobster, it is best to pair it with a wine that complements its flavor, such as a Chardonnay, or a wine that will enhance the dish's buttery flavor with pleasant fragrant notes, such as a Riesling.
A delicate MCC has the versatility to pair with practically any cuisine, especially lobster, if you're in the mood for indulgence. For the most complementary flavor profile, try to get one that is primarily made with Chardonnay grapes. Montpellier’s MCC Brut Chardonnay 2016 should definitely be on your bucket list for this one.
Wine Pairings with Haddock
Pinot Grigio - The milder South African Pinot Grigio wines have a crisp, zingy, refreshing palate of subtropical and stone fruit with some spicy undertones. It contains a bit of sweetness and less acidity than stronger Sauvignon Blanc. These wines generally taste of pear and dried apricots with a subtle citrus undertone. When serving lean white fish like haddock, trout or tuna, Pinot Grigio is the wine to choose.
Haddock doesn't normally pair well with red wine due to its light, flaky, and incredibly fresh taste.
*Top 4 South African Pinot Grigio wines to try: Terra Del Capo Pinot Grigio 2021, Craven Pinot Gris 2021, Idiom Pinot Grigio 2020, Secret Cellar (ZA) Pinot Grigio 2021
Wine Pairings with Calamari
Due to Calamari’s largely neutral flavor, it pairs well with almost any wine. This gives you the enjoyment of pairing it with whatever wine you desire. Anything works, from fragrant white wines to robust red wines. Everything depends on your personal preferences.
Light to medium-bodied red wines, like merlot, go exceptionally well with grilled Calamari, but a glass of sparkling wine will, of course, cut through practically anything and complement it excellently. If in doubt, go with sparkly.
Wine Pairings with Steak and Shrimp
This is a challenging dish to pair because a steak pairs wonderfully with a full-bodied red wine, while shrimp normally goes well with a full-bodied white wine like a Chardonnay. The taste of your shrimp could be seriously harmed by the tannins in a full-bodied red, which could overshadow them and generally make the dish unpleasant. If you prefer red wine, choose a light-bodied red wine at the lower end of the tannin range.
A glass of white wine might not have the ability to balance the flavors of the fish and the steak, as it doesn’t necessarily cut through the powerful meaty flavors.
So, which option to choose? Pair a Surf & Turf meal with a dry MCC or sparkling wine.
Wine Pairings with Snoek
An iconic Cape tradition is snoek on the braai. The crispy, salty fish is frequently served with apricot and butter, which gives it a sweet and decadent finish. The mild fruitiness of white wine, such as the Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve White is suggested, as it pairs well with the apricot flavors and the delicate richness of braaied snoek is brought out by the oak finish's creaminess.
Secondly, Sauvignon Blanc was developed to go well with any fish meal and is an absolute necessity if you are thinking about having snoek on the braai.
Wine Pairings with Prawns
Chenin Blanc - the Chenin Blanc grape is the most extensively cultivated variety in South Africa. It tastes and smells fruity, vibrant, and refreshing. Granny Smith apple, green plum, lime, and more strong notes of ripe stone, tropical fruit, melon, and clementine are among its flavor notes. Additionally, this wine has a vibrant herbaceous or flowery flavor. All types of fresh seafood, such as prawn, crab, smoked salmon or trout, and light seafood pasta dishes go well with the fresh, crisp Chenin Blanc.
*Top 4 South African Chenin Blanc wines to try: Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc 2020, Cederberg Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2020, Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2020, Remhoogte Honeybunch Reserve Chenin Blanc 2021
Final Thoughts
Given the wide variety of seafood and wines available, pairing wine with seafood is a challenging topic. Just remember that a crisp white grape varietal and Sauvignon Blanc are generally great picks for all occasions when serving seafood.
The most important factor is that YOU enjoy the different combinations. There are no wrong choices when it comes to food and wine pairing, so choose what you like and just have fun.
