People usually say that white wines go with white meat and red wines go with red meat. But what about wines that go with salmon?
Because salmon can be cooked in a lot of different ways, the answer to the question “What wine goes with salmon?” can be anything from red to white to rosé. Read on to discover wine pairings with salmon that will take your weeknight dinners to the next level.
Salmon and red wine may seem like an unlikely pairing at first glance. White wines are usually the conventional choice with seafood. However, the right red wines can complement and bring out exciting new dimensions in salmon if selected wisely. Let’s explore some fantastic red wine options to try with salmon fillets, steaks, smoked salmon, and more.
Overview of Salmon’s Flavor Profile
Salmon has a rich and distinctive taste Its meaty flesh is omega-3 fatty acid-rich, giving salmon a smooth, oily mouthfeel The flavor depends on the specific salmon variety – for example, wild-caught king salmon is more potent and fishy than farm-raised Atlantic salmon. Preparation also affects the flavor, with roasted/grilled salmon gaining a slight char taste. Overall salmon characteristics to consider when pairing red wine include
- Rich, oily, fatty mouthfeel
- Savory umami, meaty qualities
- Potent fishiness (for wild salmon)
- Subtle sweetness
- Grilled/seared salmon develops charred flavors
We can make great pairings by choosing red wines that go well with or against these things.
Lighter-Bodied Red Wines
Full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons and Malbecs tend to overpower salmon. Instead, opt for lighter reds with fresh acidity and fruit. Good options include
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the best wines to pair with salmon because it tastes like red fruits, has bright acidity, and smooth tannins. Notes of red cherry and raspberry in the wine give it a fruity brightness that goes well with the fish. Pinot Noir cuts through the rich oiliness of salmon, letting its light sweetness shine through. To get even more of a match, match the wine’s region to the way the salmon is cooked. For example, roasted salmon goes well with an earthy Red Burgundy.
Beaujolais
This wine, made from Gamay grapes, tastes like juicy cherries, blackberries, and plums with not many tannins. Its light body goes well with mildly sweet salmon, like Atlantic salmon that is responsibly farmed. If you want wild salmon with stronger flavors, try a Beaujolais Cru. It has more structure and acidity to stand up to the fishy tastes.
Red Sangiovese
Sangiovese also hits a nice balance with salmon due to its medium body and bright acidity. Tuscany, Italy produces excellent Salmon-friendly Sangiovese offering tart cherry and herbs. The tomato notes in a Chianti Classico are a fun contrast to salmon’s rich oiliness.
Bolder Red Wine Options
While powerful reds like Malbecs are too overbearing for delicate salmon, a few fuller-bodied wines can work with more intensely flavored salmon dishes:
Spicy Blackened Salmon with Red Zinfandel
When salmon is spiced with cajun or creole seasoning and blackened in a cast iron skillet, those bolder flavors need an equally bold wine. Red Zinfandel has the fruity punch along with ample alcohol (around 15% ABV) to stand up to spicy Cajun salmon. The jammy blackberry and peppery spice notes in the Zin complement the dish beautifully.
Grilled Salmon with Red Rhone Blends
The smoky char and sweet caramelized flavors of grilled salmon demand a more substantial wine. Red Rhone blends based on Grenache and Syrah grapes offer the perfect solution. Their mix of red fruit and savory herbs pairs brilliantly with grilled salmon seasoned with rosemary. Try a Cotes du Rhone Rouge or Lirac from the southern Rhone valley.
Smoked Salmon Appetizers with Pinotage
Pinotage is a unique South African red wine that’s ideal for smoked salmon appetizers. Its richness and smoky, bacon-like quality contrasts the saltiness of smoked salmon and creamed cheese perfectly. The cherry flavor in Pinotage also complements the salmon’s subtle sweetness.
Experiment with Salmon and Red Wine Pairings
Part of the fun with food and wine pairings is trying new combinations. So the next time you’re preparing a salmon entree, why not grab an affordable bottle of Pinot Noir or Beaujolais and see how the flavors meld together? You may just find a new favorite salmon wine pairing that surprises and delights your palate.
What Wine Goes With Salmon?
You can always use these general rules to help you choose the best wine to go with any food, from seafood to chicken to steak. When picking the right wine to go with salmon, you need to think about more than just the fish herself. Decanter says that the savory combinations of spices, sauces, preparation, and even side dishes determine which wine goes best with salmon.
As a general rule, full-bodied white wines and salmon go together wonderfully. However, salmon can also be paired with rosé as well as light-bodied, low-tannin red wines. If you want to learn the basics of wine or just follow along in a virtual tasting, there are a few important things you should know.
White Wine With Salmon
White wines are typically the first port of call when salmon is on the menu. Many pinot gris wines have a medium body, floral aromas, and an apple flavor that go well with a variety of salmon recipes. However, different ways of cooking salmon may call for different wines.
A crisp, dry white wine from France’s Loire Valley goes well with salmon that has been seasoned with citrus and herbs. The fresh herb and citrus notes in Sauvignon blanc and salmon will go well together, and the depth and crispness of a Loire Valley Sancerre make it a beautiful wine to pair with salmon.
When you serve salmon with a cream sauce or béarnaise, you should drink a richer white wine, like a chardonnay with light oak. The chardonnay’s full body goes well with the fish’s weight and richness, making the pairing more than just a matter of tastes and textures. A Riesling goes beautifully with salmon that has Asian-inspired flavors and is marinated in soy sauce. It also goes well with sushi-style salmon.
What Wine Goes With Salmon?: Thumbs Up Wine Pairing
FAQ
What red wine goes with fish?
Does Malbec pair with salmon?
Does chianti go with salmon?
What Pinot is best for salmon?
Does Pinot noir go with salmon?
Given its similarity to Gamay, it’s no surprise that Pinot Noir also goes great with salmon. Like Gamay, Pinot Noir is a grape that produces light-bodied wines with high acidity and low tannins. Pinot Noir can taste very different depending on where it comes from.
What wine goes with salmon?
Although people usually serve salmon with white wine, there are red wines that go just as well with one of the world’s most popular fish. Salmon is a meaty, versatile fish that can be prepared in many different ways, so it stands to reason that it can pair with a wide range of wines, including reds.
What wine goes with fish?
Sticking to light-bodied reds like pinot noir, gamay and grenache is always a good idea when you want to serve a red with fish. That said, plan to steer clear of high tannin wines. You won’t want to pour a cabernet sauvignon or shiraz with salmon.
How do you pair rosé wine with salmon?
Rosé makes your salmon wine pairing easy-breezy. If you choose rosé, go with a dry rosé that’s refreshing, light, and acidic. Try rosé wines with herby, lemon salmon recipes or salmon burgers. To ensure that your salmon wine pairing is as successful as it can be, remember to:
What wine goes well with salmon terrine?
Cold poached salmon with mayonnaise or a salmon terrine Chablis is an incredibly reliable pairing for this kind of dish but other crisp dry whites like Pinot Grigio, Albarino, Sancerre or a crisp Chenin Blanc will match well too. Warm salmon with a hollandaise or beurre blanc sauce
How do you choose a white wine for salmon?
When choosing a white wine for salmon, aim for one that has enough body to stand up to the fish; a creamy Chardonnay, for example, will complement the fish’s supple texture and a buttery sauce. (Lucy Schaeffer) We like culinary rules because they guide us and help preserve order. But every rule comes with valid exceptions.