Wine Pairings with Seafood salads

Seafood salad is a fresh, tasty starter or main course, typical of Mediterranean cooking. Based on molluscs, shellfish and sometimes white fish, dressed with extra virgin olive oil, lemon and parsley, it calls for wines with great freshness and good salinity. Here are the best pairings.

Characteristics of Seafood Salads and General Pairings

• Ingredients: octopus, squid, prawns, cuttlefish, mussels, clams.
• Seasonings: lemon, extra virgin olive oil, aromatic herbs, sometimes vegetables.
• Palate: savoury, fresh, slightly iodine-tinged.

Best Wine and Food Pairings for Seafood Salads

Fresh, Mineral White Wines

• Vermentino di Gallura DOCG – Perfect with molluscs and shellfish.
• Falanghina del Sannio DOC – Excellent with citrus dressings and simple preparations.
• Greco di Tufo DOCG – More structured, ideal for salads with octopus and potatoes.

Elegant Sparkling Wines

• Franciacorta Brut – Fine and creamy, ideal for an elegant touch.
• Prosecco DOC Brut – Lively and delicate, excellent with salads served as a starter.

Light Rosés

• Chiaretto del Garda DOC – Fresh and fruity, perfect for salads with tastier ingredients.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Avoid red wines, which overpower the delicacy of the dish.
• Watch out for sweet wines, which do not harmonise with the savouriness of the sea.
• Avoid wines that are too structured or tannic, unsuited to cold, delicate dishes.

Specific Pairings

• Classic seafood salad → Vermentino, Franciacorta Brut
• Salad with octopus and potatoes → Greco di Tufo, Chiaretto del Garda
• Salad with prawns and citrus → Falanghina, Prosecco Brut