The classic pairing of fish and red wine is salmon and Pinot Noir. I still remember
the first time I tried this happy combination. I was young enough to be surprised and
old enough to truly appreciate. But that's just me. What counts is what works for
you and yours.
As I look outside after a major snowstorm I am really tempted verify these food and wine
pairing suggestions. Does a Bandol Rosé really compliment a Bouillabaisse? Alas, Marseille
is so, so far. If I remember correctly that marvellous grilled fish we enjoyed on the
shore in Istanbul was accompanied very well by a modest house wine. The physical and
emotional surroundings are quite important. And don't forget to take the sauce, vegetables,
and condiments into consideration when decided which wine to enjoy.
| Fish Dish |
Recommended Wines |
| Bass | Soave, Viognier |
| Blackened Fish | Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Riesling |
| Bouillabaisse | Bandol Rosé, Cava |
| Catfish | Lambrusco, Pinot Gris, Vouvray |
| Cod | Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Fish Stew (not tomato-based) | Muscadet, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Fish Stew (tomato-based) | Chablis, Cote Rotie, Pouilly-Fumé |
| Flounder | Chablis, Pinot Blanc, Valpolicella |
| Fried Fish | Soave, Sparkling Wine, Vinho Verde |
| Grilled Fish | Rosé Champagne |
| Halibut | Chardonnay, Condrieu, Rousanne |
| Monkfish (Lotte) | Italian Tocai, Merlot |
| Red Snapper | Chablis, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Salmon (Grilled) | Bourgueil, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Provencal Rosé |
| Salmon (Poached) | Bordeaux (White), Burgundy (White) |
| Salmon (Poached) | Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir |
| Sardines | Sancerre, Vinho Verde |
| Sea Bass | Pinot Noir, Sancerre |
| Sole | Chablis, Graves (White), Riesling, Semillion |
| Swordfish | Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling (Brut) |
| Trout | Gewurtztraminer, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Tuna | Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Vin Gris |
The following table presents wine and food pairing information, sorted by wine, rather than by
fish dish. When you click on any wine a new page pops up telling you what you need to know about that
wine. This short page makes specific purchase recommendations, usually in three price ranges.
| Wine | Wine Type |
Recommended Fish Dish |
| Bandol Rosé | Powerful French Wine | Bouillabaisse |
| Bordeaux (White) | Classic French Wine | Salmon (Poached) |
| Bourgueil | Fruity French Red | Salmon (Grilled) |
| Burgundy (White) | Classic French Wine | Salmon (Poached) |
| Cava | Spanish Sparkling Wine | Bouillabaisse |
| Chablis | Classic French White | Fish Stew (tomato-based), Flounder |
| Chablis | Classic French White | Red Snapper, Sole |
| Chardonnay | White Variety
| Halibut, Salmon (Grilled) |
| Chardonnay | White Variety
| Swordfish, Tuna |
| Chenin Blanc | White Variety
| Blackened Fish |
| Condrieu | Classic French White | Halibut | |
| Côte Rôtie | Classic French Red | Fish Stew (tomato-based) | |
| Gewurztraminer | White Variety
| Trout |
| Graves (White) | Classic French Wine | Sole | |
| Lambrusco | Fizzy Italian White | Catfish | |
| Merlot | Red Variety
| Monkfish (Lotte) |
| Muscadet | Classic French White | Fish Stew (not tomato-based) | |
| Pinot Blanc | White Variety
| Blackened Fish, Flounder |
| Pinot Gris | White Variety
| Catfish, Cod, Red Snapper |
| Pinot Gris | White Variety
| Salmon (Poached), Tuna |
| Pinot Noir | Red Variety
| Salmon (Grilled), Salmon (Poached) |
| Pinot Noir | Red Variety
| Sea Bass, Tuna |
| Pouilly-Fumé | Classic French White | Fish Stew (tomato-based) |
| Provencal Rosé | French Wine | Salmon (Grilled) |
| Riesling | White Variety
| Blackened Fish, Sole, Trout |
| Rosé Champagne | French Sparkling Wine | Grilled Fish |
| Roussanne | White Variety
| Halibut |
| Sancerre | Classic French White | Sardines, Sea Bass |
| Sauvignon Blanc | White Variety
| Cod, Fish Stew (not tomato-based) |
| Sauvignon Blanc | White Variety
| Red Snapper, Swordfish, Trout |
| Semillon | White Variety
| Sole |
| Soave | Light Italian White | Bass, Fried Fish |
| Sparkling (Brut) | Dry White Wine | Swordfish |
| Sparkling Wine | (not too sweet) | Fried Fish |
| Tocai | Fruity Italian White | Monkfish (Lotte) | |
| Valpolicella | Fruity Italian Red | Flounder |
| Vin Gris | Pink but not Rosé | Tuna |
| Vinho Verde | Light Portuguese White | Fried Fish, Sardines |
| Viognier | White Variety
| Bass |
| Vouvray | Classic French White | Catfish |
The following table presents wine and food pairing information, sorted by wine, rather than by
fish dish. When you click on any wine a new page pops up telling you what you need to know about that
wine. This short page makes specific purchase recommendations, usually in three price ranges.