How to Master Wine and Seafood Pairings

 The best wines to serve with seafood are a more exciting and colourful bunch than you may imagine.

If it’s seafood it has to be white, right?

It’s true white wine will often match well with seafood, but it’s far from the whole story.

You’ll certainly be better off with white if the dish you’ve ordered is light in flavour – but that’s hardly the norm in today’s global kitchen. If you haven’t done so already, now is a great time to shake off this particular preconception.

OK, so when are red wines serious contenders?

When your dish is spicy, or when a fish is meaty in taste and texture, or once it hits the barbecue – yes! Red works even with barbecued white fish.

For example, red will be great with Union Street Cafés Sunday lunch favourite coda di rospo – that’s monkfish with borlotti, chilli, tropea and salsa verde. 

If you’re one of those people who really just prefers reds with everything, light varieties such as Pinot Noir, Gamay and Cabernet Franc are generally best with seafood. But rich southern French reds go down an authentic treat with the big garlicky and peppery flavours of bouillabaisse (as do Southern French whites, unsurprisingly), and Crianza Rioja is a great choice if your dish mixes chorizo with seafood.

Does that mean the best wine match will come from the same region as the dish?

It is a useful guide, to be honest. And it’s a great way to explore wines you might not normally consider drinking.

One of the best wines for pairing with seafood may come as a surprise: the native Greek variety Malagousia. Its citrus, pear and elderflower flavours will transport you to an island holiday, assuming you’re not already lazing by the beach.

If you’re having Portuguese seafood, a crisp vinho verde (literally ‘green wine’) will taste wonderfully fresh and vital. Sitting on a terrace in Provence? Of course you should order rosé.

And there’s nothing better with Galician-style octopus than a glass of highly chilled Albariño; full of mineral and stone fruit flavours – it cleans the palate beautifully.

But what about fish and chips?

For fish and chips, it’s hard to beat Champagne – though if you’re enjoying Britain’s most famous dish at The Narrow, we’d suggest flying the flag and ordering a bottle of Nyetimber or Chapel Down sparkling wine instead.

Whitebait has a stronger, oilier quality to it, which begs for a greener note. Try Assyrtiko, which is native to Santorini. Otherwise styles such as Pinot Grigio, Muscadet and Picpoul de Pinet.

Champagne is best for oysters too, isn’t it?

It’s one of the best options, yes. But there are other classic combinations: Muscadet, Chablis, Sauvignon Blanc. And if you don’t feel like white wine, then Guinness and other stout beers, or Fino sherry will be terrific.

Do I have to drink sake with sushi?

Hell, no. The reason experiences such as maze Grill’s Bottomless Sushi Saturday work so well is that dry sparkling white really is one of the best partners for sushi, bringing lots of the characteristics you’ll find in sushi’s most traditional accompaniment: beer.

Riesling is another great friend of sushi. So is Sauvignon Blanc, which also works with raw seafood dishes such as maze signature scallop ceviche with truffle, yuzu and caviar. For Heddon Street Kitchen’s spicy tuna tartare with wonton crisps, we’d suggest a sparkling white or rosé.

What about smoked fish?

If you’re ordering a dish such as London House’s smoked Scottish salmon with beetroot, fennel, orange and almond, you’ll need a wine that stands up to the taste of the smoke. And, in cases such as Savoy Grill’s classic omelette Arnold Bennett, the wine also needs to cut through the luxurious creaminess of the dish. Chardonnay from California, South Africa or New Zealand will be perfect.

Chardonnay, albeit lightly oaked, is also a great choice for comfortingly creamy fish pies such as you’ll find at York & Albany.

Fancy trying the best seafood dishes in London?

Visit one of our 14 individual restaurants this summer. Whether you are looking for a casual meal by the river, somewhere to eat while sale shopping or visiting London landmarks, or you want to indulge in a spot of fine dining, we have a place to suit you.