What type of wine goes best with salmon?

A dish of salmon with red wine

A dish of salmon with red wine

Most people say that a light white wine is the best choice with fish. Is that what you would select to drink with salmon?

I think it probably depends on how the salmon is prepared: salmon teriyaki is very different from salmon poached in a dill wine broth.

When I am eating a lightly-seasoned salmon dish, like plain roasted salmon, then I usually enjoy a Chardonnay with it. What are some other wine recommendations?

But sometimes I cook salmon teriyaki, or in a spicy tomato sauce. Then salmon with white wine doesn't seem to pair so well, and I enjoy it with a light red wine, like Pinot Noir.

What are some other ways to pair wine with salmon?

Comments for What type of wine goes best with salmon?

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

May 01, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		salmon wine pairing
by: Joanna

Hi, and thank you for your submission!

You are correct that there are a lot of ways you can do salmon wine pairing, and it does depend on how the salmon is prepared, and what type of wine you prefer.

The most common recommendation is a full-bodied white wine. So your choice of Chardonnay is a good one. You could also go with a white Burgundy or a Viognier.

A dry French Rose is also delicious with salmon, or any low-tannin red wine (like Pinot Noir or Gamay Beaujolais).

Have you tried pairing salmon with a sparkling wine? That can also be an excellent combination, particularly for an appetizer, like a salmon dip or smoked salmon.

With the teriyaki salmon, you could give a sweeter white a try: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, or Moscato.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Wine Q&A.

Wine Enthusiast






Sign up for the Wine Enthusiast magazine to learn more about how to drink wine, pair with food, and the history of wine culture.