Top five wines which taste better with seafood

Monday, 9 December, 2019
Heidi Jones
Pairing wine with seafood has always remained to be one of the most challenging tasks in the culinary industry. Unlike other delicacies, there are so many factors that determine the type of pairing you are going to initiate. The spices, garnishes, and toppings of your seafood also play a huge role in the pairing process.

You need to know the taste of each wine as well as the various components in the wine. Some of the questions you need to ask yourself include, is the wine spicy? Is it too sweet for the food? Can it achieve a perfect complementary pairing, and is it going to mask the flavor of the food completely? Those are only but a few questions. Here are the top five wines which taste better with seafood.

Albariño

There are so many things that make Albariño the best wine to enjoy with seafood. Among those things is that it can pair well with various seafood regardless of the pairing technique you use. The wine originates from Spain, and it offers an excellent taste and remarkable botanical aroma. It has some hint of bitterness with high acidity levels, which is great for seafood. 

You should, however, note that the wine doesn't pair well with salty seafood. The bitterness of the wine and saltiness of the seafood can be too much for you to bear. You need something subtle like scallops, shrimp, and oysters. Also, make sure that the food lack any spices with a sharp flavor. That way, you are going to achieve a remarkable pairing that is not only going to see you enjoy the meal but also every taste of the wine.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a fantastic white wine whose origin is Bordeaux in France. Wineries that make Sauvignon Blanc use green-skinned grapes. That is the main reason it is always crispy and dry. You should also note that despite being a white wine, Sauvignon Blanc has less acidity. The maturation of the wine takes place in various locations, and that is why you may end up with a bottle that has grassy flavours. You can also end up with sweet flavours.

It is among the best wines to pair with seafood pairing particularly well with freshly shucked oysters or fish. What makes it remarkable is the fact that it is going to balance the sweet flavor with the saltiness of the oyster. It can also make a perfect pair even if the seafood is slightly spiced. The only time you cannot make the pair appealing is when it comes to sauvignon blancs that have a grassy taste.

Pinot Noir

Pairing red wine with seafood is never a good idea not unless you know what you are doing. That is why most people who want to try the combination end up  picking pinot noir. It is a dry red wine from France that comes with intense aroma and with a variety of scents. The wine is light-bodied with high acidity and low tannins.  There are some hints of spices, but what is persistent is the earthy scent.

The flavor of the wine tends to combine best with salmon and fish. The wine can also match well with seafood with higher acidity. It is one of the few red wines that can pair perfectly with various seafood and still provide a balance of taste and enhance the flavor of the food. Before you pair the wine with any other seafood, make sure you taste the flavors to ensure it will match well. In case you want something spicy that can blend well with your salmon or fish, then you will have to try something more unique like Macallan 18.

Chardonnay

If you are the type of person who would like to pair a green-skinned grape wine with seafood, then Chardonnay should be your best option. The Burgundy wine comes with a unique flavor, which you will love. The crisp and sharp feel makes Chardonnay an incredible drink to pair with seafood, such as trout.

The light feel of Chardonnay matches well with the buttery feel of trout, thus ensuring you have a great taste. You should, however, avoid pairing heavily oaked Chardonnay with seafood, especially fish.   The reason behind that is because it is going to mask the taste of the fish. The type of seafood you pair Chardonnay with also depends on where it originates. Some kinds of Chardonnay can only pair well with other foods and not seafood.

Vinho Verde

Another best wine to pair with seafood is Vinho Verde. The wine comes with distinct characteristics that give it the ability to match well with the likes of shrimp. The wine originates from Portugal, where the grapes grow on small farms. It has floral aromas as well as fruity scents. You should also note that the acidity level of the wine is quite high. That is why it is going to cut through the fats of shrimp and make you have an enjoyable dining experience.

The wine comes in three distinct colors, white, rose, or red. Regardless of the color, Vinho Verde tends to have a light taste, which is going to amplify the flavor of shrimp. You get to enjoy every bite of the meal while washing it down with this delicious wine. It is also the type of wine that can easily pair well with fatty fish, whether roasted or cooked. With Vinho Verde, you can easily achieve one of the best wine and seafood pairings without any problems.