With summer comes the long, warm and relaxing evenings where you find yourself opting for a lighter meal or dinner. Fish is a great option as it is nutritious and healthy and is ideal for BBQs or dinner parties. We love pairing wine with fish and have listed some of our best catches below!
Why do people avoid pairing wine with fish?
This is a simple answer;
most people are unsure on how to choose a wine to accompany the fish. We admit it is a tricky job as fish is deceptive and many fish oils remain on your taste buds for a while. This can make choosing the right bottle of wine almost impossible. The sauce that is served alongside the fish also contributes to the decision. What wine goes well with a fish in parsley sauce?
How do I choose a wine to serve with fish?
Firstly take into consideration the flavours within any sauces being served. A sauce generally holds the majority of flavours and spices so bear this in mind. Secondly, the fish’s texture can help determine which wine would be ideal. We have taken this point into further consideration below with our four fish categories.
Pairing wine with fish
Flaky and often delicate fish
This is usually mild flavoured fish, including: sea bass, branzino, perch, sole, pollock and haddock. Wines that pair well are: Grüner Veltliner, Greek whites, white wines from the south of France, Portuguese whites, Verdejo (Rueda, Spain) and Champagne.
Textured fish
Generally this is still fish with a flaky texture though perhaps slightly firmer and heavier, this includes: trout, cod, black fish, halibut and monkfish. Medium bodied white wines or rich oaky white wines are generally a safe bet, this includes: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, white Rioja, Chenin Blanc, dry Riesling and Pinot Gris.
Meaty fish
This is a filling, heavy fish which has a very meaty/steak-like texture such as tuna, mackerel, salmon or swordfish. These dishes work well with rich white wines and some red wines, this includes oaked Chardonnay, Champagne and Pinot Noir.
Strong flavoured fish
Finally strong flavoured fish, which is most likely smoked or fish that is salty and taste like the sea include sardines, mackerel (smoked), herring or anchovies. This is usually the trickiest pairing as the flavours are very prominent, but these fish pair extremely well with Champagne, dry Rosé, Greek red wines, Riesling and Grenache Blanc.
What is your favourite fish and wine combination?
Tweet or email us (info@wineware.co.uk) your best wine and fish pairing – we would love to try it ourselves and share our new found knowledge. We hope you have found our blog post useful and hopefully it can help you find the perfect match and remember, experimenting with different wines can be a good way to discover your likes and dislikes. Fish and wine need not be tricky but an adventure to find out which wines complement your seafood meal. Bon appetite!
