Which wines you drink should always be a personal choice but when it comes to seafood there are a few general things that should help you make a good choice. Which wine goes with which seafood will be dependent not only on the type of fish or shellfish but also on how it has been prepared. The wines listed on this page are just suggestions and are by no means the only wines that can be enjoyed with seafood.
It used to be that fish was never paired with anything but white wine, however with the introduction of lighter reds it is possible to find a red wine that goes well with some fish dishes, although rarely shellfish. The reason that some red wine is not advisable to drink with fish is because red wines contain tannins which react with the iron in fish causing a metallic taste. Bold red wines will also overpower the delicate taste of shellfish and flatfish like sole and plaice.
For those of you who only drink red or rose wines, we have included a red and rose option. However, as indicated in some of the notes, some seafood is far better paired with a white wine.
A few things to bear in mind:
If you have a simple white fish dish or fish that has been prepared in a light stock based sauce it is beneficial to pick a white wine that will not overshadow the delicate flavours
If you are eating oily fish like salmon and mackerel it is a good idea to choose a wine with a high acidic content to cut through the oil.
If you enjoy red wine then salmon is your best seafood to pick or fish that has been cooked in a rich, tomato based sauce.
If you want to drink red wine make sure you pick a light one that has a low tannin content to prevent any metallic taste.
