Wine Pairings with Seafood risottos

Seafood risottos are refined, flavoursome dishes, marked by a perfect fusion between the flavour of the sea and the creaminess of the rice. The right wine pairing has to bring out the delicacy of the seafood without covering its aromas. Let us look at the best wines to pair with seafood risottos.

Characteristics of Seafood Risottos and General Pairings

The choice of wine depends on several factors:

Type of seafood: mussels, clams, prawns or squid can influence the choice of wine.
Method of preparation: the presence of tomato or spices changes the ideal pairing.
Structure of the dish: a creamy risotto goes better with wines with balanced acidity.

Best Wine and Food Pairings for Seafood Risottos

Recommended White Wines

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC – Perfect for delicate, savoury risottos.
Fiano di Avellino DOCG – Excellent with shellfish risottos, thanks to its structure and complexity.
Vermentino di Gallura DOCG – Ideal for risottos with mussels and clams, thanks to its salinity and freshness.

Recommended Sparkling Wines

Franciacorta Satèn – Perfect for risottos with prawns and scampi, for its creaminess.
Prosecco Superiore DOCG – Excellent with light, fresh seafood risottos.

Recommended Rosé Wines

Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC – An excellent choice for risottos with tomato and seafood.
Provence Rosé – Ideal for risottos with prawns and squid.

Mistakes to Avoid in Pairing

Avoid tannic red wines (e.g. Barolo, Amarone) because they overpower the delicacy of the fish. Watch out for overly aromatic wines (e.g. Gewürztraminer) which can mask the flavour of the sea. Avoid wines that are too soft if the risotto has a strong salinity.

Specific Pairings for Some Famous Dishes

Fisherman's risotto → Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Franciacorta Satèn Risotto with prawns and langoustines → Fiano di Avellino, Prosecco Superiore Risotto with mussels and clams → Vermentino di Gallura, Provence Rosé 🍚 Seafood risotto with tomato → Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, Verdicchio

Seafood risottos: My personal podium

1
“Dal Nero” Pas Dosé Non-vintage - Azienda Agricola Strologo Silvano
- Type: Sparkling wine or Champagne
- Region: Italy, Marche, Vallesina
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2
Mâcon-Verzé “Le chemin blanc” 2022 - Nicolas Maillet
- Type: Vino Bianco
- Region: Burgundy, France, Mâconnais
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3
Cave Privée, Farfalla 2016 - Ballabio
- Type: Sparkling wine or Champagne
- Region: Italy, Lombardy, Oltrepò Pavese
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