Wine Pairings with Seafood

Seafood covers a wide range of prized ingredients, including crustaceans, molluscs and shellfish. Thanks to their delicate flavour and light savouriness, they call for a pairing with wines that bring out their freshness without overwhelming them. Let's discover the best wines to pair with seafood.

Characteristics of Seafood and General Pairings

The choice of wine depends on several factors:

• The natural sweetness of the meat: seafood has a slight sweetness that goes well with wines of balanced acidity.
• Cooking method: raw or steamed go with fresh, mineral wines, while grilled preparations or those with rich sauces call for more structured wines.
• Seasonings: butter, citrus or spices can affect the choice of wine.

Best Food and Wine Pairings for Seafood

Recommended White Wines

• Vermentino di Gallura DOCG – Perfect for its freshness and savouriness, ideal with mussels and clams.
• Greco di Tufo DOCG – Great for oysters and raw shellfish, thanks to its minerality.
• Chablis – Ideal for grilled shellfish and seafood, for its balanced acidity.

Recommended Sparkling Wines

• Champagne Blanc de Blancs – Perfect for raw seafood, bringing elegance and freshness.
• Franciacorta Satèn – Excellent with more elaborate dishes or dishes in sauce.

Recommended Rosé Wines

• Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC – An excellent choice for seafood with tastier dressings.
• Provence Rosé – Ideal for seafood salads and shellfish.

Mistakes to Avoid in Pairing

Avoid tannic red wines (e.g. Barolo, Amarone) because they overpower the delicacy of the seafood.Watch out for overly aromatic wines (e.g. Gewürztraminer) which can mask the natural flavour.Avoid wines that are too soft if the dish is very flavoursome or dressed with rich sauces.

Specific Pairings for Some Famous Dishes

Raw oysters → Greco di Tufo, Champagne Blanc de Blancs Steamed prawns → Vermentino di Gallura, Franciacorta Satèn Grilled lobster → Chablis, Provence Rosé Seafood salad → Vermentino, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo