Wine Pairings with Oysters and seafood

Oysters and seafood are refined, delicate ingredients, marked by a pronounced salinity and marine freshness. Pairing them with the right wine should enhance their flavour without overwhelming it, balancing acidity, minerality and bubbles. Let us discover the best wines to pair with oysters and seafood.

Characteristics of Oysters and Shellfish and General Pairings

The choice of wine depends on several factors:

• Type of seafood: oysters, clams, mussels, prawns and lobster call for wines with different acidity and freshness.
• Method of preparation: raw or cooked, steamed or au gratin, they influence the intensity of the flavour and therefore the choice of wine.
• Seasonings: lemon, butter, aromatic herbs and spices can change the balance of the dish.

Best Wine and Food Pairings for Oysters and Seafood

Recommended White Wines

• Chablis – Perfect for raw oysters, thanks to its pronounced minerality and freshness.
• Vermentino di Gallura DOCG – Excellent with mussels, clams and prawns, for its salinity and citrus notes.
• Greco di Tufo DOCG – Ideal for spiny lobster and lobster, thanks to its structure and balanced acidity.

Recommended Sparkling Wines

• Champagne Blanc de Blancs – Perfect for oysters and raw seafood, it brings elegance and freshness.
• Franciacorta Satèn – Excellent for steamed shellfish or shellfish in a light sauce.

Recommended Rosé Wines

• Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC – An excellent choice for gratinated seafood or seafood with light spices.
• Provence Rosé – Ideal for seafood salads and marinated prawns.

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 delicate flavours. Avoid wines that are too soft if the dish is particularly savoury, as they could seem flat and unbalanced.

Specific Pairings for Some Famous Dishes

Raw oysters → Chablis, Champagne Blanc de Blancs Lobster and spiny lobster → Greco di Tufo, Franciacorta Satèn Prawns marinated in citrus → Vermentino di Gallura, Provence Rosé Steamed clams and mussels → Vermentino di Gallura, Franciacorta Satèn