Order your next bottle of Scout & Cellar wine TODAY!
White wine pairs with salmon or white meat, red wines with red meat, and that’s all there is to it. Not true, this is according to old school wine pairing standards.
Despite this, salmon steaks, filets, and patties appear to be rather pink. What is the recommended wine accompaniment for “pink” meat? Which wine pairs with salmon?
What about a glass of pink wine? Yes, that’s a good place to start when it comes to salmon pairings. But salmon’s popularity and recipe adaptability necessitate a wide range of white, red, and rosé wines.
When it comes to combining salmon with wine, the fatty fish must be regarded alongside the final sauce or seasonings. The spice flavors, overall textures, and preparation approach all come together in a savory synergy.
This needs to be considered to determine the ideal wine pairing for the salmon recipe at hand. It’s not only the fish that has to be considered.
The 9 Best Halibut Wine Pairings
WHITE WINE PAIRING AND SALMON
Sauvignon Blanc
White wines are more forgiving when it comes to salmon pairings. They are capable of managing a wide range of sauces and seasonings that are frequently introduced with popular salmon meals. If the salmon recipe calls for fresh herbs like dill or clean citrus flavor tones, the crisp minerality, herbaceous notes, and citrus tastes of Sauvignon Blanc offer a delicious pairing.
Chardonnay
If you want to showcase wine with salmon and butter or cream sauce, go for a creamy Chardonnay with some oak. You can also change things up with the varietal depth and sharp character of a Loire Valley Sancerre. The weight and mouthfeel of the fish will be matched by the heavier body of the oaked Chardonnay, white Burgundy, or Sancerre. This will help push the pairing beyond flavors to textures.
Pinot Gris
Many German Riesling styles pair well with the more subtle flavors of poached salmon dishes. This will also bring out the best in salmon wrapped up in spicy sushi theme. Pinot Gris from either Oregon or Alsace’s medium-bodied, floral aromas and apple character show remarkable resilience with salmon prepared in a variety of recipes.
The slightly tropical scents and often the off-dry flavor of Gewurztraminer are called for by gingered, brown sugar, or maple marinades with a hint of garlic and the yin and yang of sweet and savory.
ROSÉ WINE PAIRING AND SALMON
While many salmon recipes, from grilled to smoked and poached to paté, are a no-brainer for rosé wines, the mélange of red fruit, dry, mineral-driven character, and often sharp acidity in rosé wines make for an exceptionally accommodating salmon pairing partner.
Because of their capacity to mirror the qualities present in both red and white wine profiles, rosés remain a popular matching option. Adding some serious bubbles in the form of a brut rosé Champagne or sparkling wine to the rosé wine theme promises to amp up the elegance factor.
In addition, the bright acidity cuts through the rich, oily layers of the fish, allowing unique preparation styles, spices, and seasonings to shine through the palate structure.
The modest red fruit, yeasty aromas, and food-friendly acidity of a well-built brut rosé sparkling wine promise to come dressed to wow a wide variety of palate preferences when it comes to smoked salmon and crème fraîche, poached salmon, or a salmon paté crostini.
RED WINE PAIRING AND SALMON
The best red wine for salmon is without a doubt pinot noir. The savory flavors of herb-crusted salmon recipes or cedar plank grilled salmon are enhanced by Pinot’s silky, delicate tannin structure, strawberry and raspberry fruit character, and often earthy overtones.
Top red wine selections for matching with the smokey aromas of grilled or pan-seared salmon include Beaujolais, Grenache, or Zinfandel (particularly with blackened salmon setup). Pinot is also a good match for baked fish.
SALMON AND PINOT NOIR ARE A GREAT MATCH
Because salmon has a stronger flavor and texture, it can stand up to red wine. However, the type of red wine matters: Salmon will be overpowered by a huge, heavy-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, but not by a light-bodied red.
That’s why Pinot Noir is a great match! It has more acidity than most other red wines, which helps to balance off the richness of the seafood. Plus, the fruity, earthy overtones complement the buttery, extra-savory flavor of salmon.
What Pinot Noir Should You Drink With Salmon? Is there a Pinot that goes well with all types of salmon? Both yes and no.
Pinot Noir goes nicely with almost any type of cooked salmon, regardless of the variety or preparation method. It also goes nicely with smoked salmon, whether hot or cold smoked (aka lox).
What’s crucial to remember, though, is how diverse Pinot bottles are, and how some pairs better with specific preparations or varieties of salmon than others.
The Essential Guide to Pinot Noir
Salmon From A Farm
Because farmed salmon has a milder flavor than wild salmon, a bottle of Pinot Noir with a more delicate style is ideal. This type can be seen in milder climates such as Oregon, France, and Germany.
Salmon From The Wild
Wild salmon goes well with Pinot from warmer climates that are medium-bodied, such as those from California and Australia.
Salmon That Has Been Smoked
A Pinot Noir that is more earthy than fruity pairs well with smoked salmon. This style of wine can be found throughout France and even northern Italy, where it is known as Pinot Nero.
A variety of sauces and spices are also used. A lighter-bodied Pinot pairs well with a cream sauce, while a richer, more fruit-forward Pinot pairs well with a tomato-based sauce. Similarly, the bolder the spices you use on your salmon, the better a bolder Pinot Noir will pair with it.
But, at the end of the day, there’s no need to get too worked up over finding the ideal bottle. Pick up a bottle or two that piques your curiosity at your local wine shop and have fun experimenting! Even if it isn’t the perfect match, I am confident that it will be a fantastic one.
What to Eat with Cabernet Sauvignon
Summary: What Wine Pairs With Salmon?
White wines go with white meat, red wines with red meat, and that’s all there is to it, according to old school wine pairing standards. Despite this, salmon steaks, filets, and patties appear to be rather pink.
What is the recommended wine accompaniment for “pink” meat? What about a glass of pink wine? Yes, that’s a good place to start when it comes to salmon pairings, but salmon’s popularity and recipe adaptability necessitate a wide range of white, red, and rosé wines.
Whether you choose a white, red, or rosé wine to pair with your favorite salmon dish, you’ll be well on your way to experimenting with the best salmon pairing for your plate and palate by looking at the recipe as a whole, considering the dominant seasonings, accompanying sauce, and cooking methods when deciding which wine to pour.
Check out our post about general wine and food pairings HERE!
