Having wine with seafood makes every foodie’s mouth water but not everyone knows how to do it right. When dining at the best seafood restaurant in Greensboro it is very easy to end up ordering the wrong bottle of wine that does not complement the fish or shellfish you’re having. It may end up ruining your meal and trust no one wants that.
There are many different facets to both the kinds of seafood and the variety of wines. These peculiar differences can make the process of pairing wine with seafood a bit tricky. As with any food and wine pairings, the absolute paramount thing is to have a combo that you can enjoy. If you end up pairing Halibut with Sauvignon Blanc upon a recommendation you read somewhere, you’ll have a serious problem on your hands. So, if there is a wine that you do not prefer and read a suggestion of pairing it with your food, refrain from going with it.
That being said, there are some wonderful wine and seafood pairings that are a must-try. For foodies who want to enjoy the seafood but don’t know which wine to order when they visit their favorite seafood restaurant, we have some great suggestions. While it’s common that fish only goes well with white wine, that is not always the case. With the help of our wine experts and our professional seafood chefs at Red Crab Juicy Seafood Restaurant, we have put together a list of wines that complements a variety of delicious seafood dishes. These wines will maximize your seafood experience and give you a fulfilling meal.
Without further ado, let’s start with the list and see what wines complement which dish the most! You can find all of these seafood dishes and wine at the best seafood restaurant in Greensboro and enjoy them to the fullest.
Salmon
Salmon is one of the most popular kinds of fish. Many people like to serve it at dinner parties. You will also find salmon dishes at big and fancy seafood restaurants. Different restaurants serve different wines with salmon. But the real question is which kind of wine complements this fish the best? It is worth mentioning that salmon is one kind of fish that will defy the norms of other fish. You cannot expect salmon to pair well with what other fishes go well with.
Salmon pairs well with a light-bodied red wine. If you are ordering a pan-seared salmon then you must go with a chilled Pinot Noir, as salmon pairs excellently well with it. The perfect dry white wine choice for salmon is Chardonnay. If you want a wine paired with something as bold as a smoked salmon dish, then go for champagne it’s the perfect pair of bold fish dishes. As an alternative, a bottle of sweet wine like Riesling will also work well with the dish.
Sushi
The best wine to pair with sushi depends on what kind of sushi you are ordering. The different kinds of sauce and the variety in sushi are what make pairing wine with it notoriously difficult. However, there are some perfect all-rounder wines that go well with everything. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most common wines that is generally paired with sushi. But you do not have to just stick to that. You can opt for a sparkling wine that goes well with everything. Or you can go with the Japanese wine Koshu which complements sushi well and is available at most good sushi restaurants.
Lobster
Lobster is one of the most loved seafood by all. It’s decadent and meaty, melts in the mouth and is absolutely delicious. Because of the strong meaty texture of lobster, it is best to pair it with something that complements it. You can pair lobster with chardonnay or a Riesling as both will go well with its rich buttery flavor and aromatic notes. If you are fine dining and in the mood for decadence, then there is nothing better than sparkling wine like champagne. It has a versatile touch to it that goes well with all kinds of seafood. If you opt for champagne get one that is predominantly made with the chardonnay grape to achieve the best flavor profile.
Shrimp Cocktail
If you order a shrimp cocktail that has a horseradish base for the sauce, then you can play around with the wines that want to try. However, if you are ordering a regular shrimp dish then there might not be much room to play with. The bold flavor, courtesy of the horseradish means that you can pair something sweet like Riesling with it. It will help you cut through the spiciness of the horseradish. Alternatively, you can also opt for a fruitier wine like Merlot. This will work well with the tomato and complement your dish well.
Wine with Different Seafood
If you are going with any seafood dish on the menu that comes without sauce, then it is likely that it will go well with a full-bodied white wine like chardonnay. It is popular for its buttery flavor and usually pairs well with grilled, seared and pan-fried seafood. You can also go with others like Viognier or Muscat. This is because seafood taste is rich with a buttery flavor and full-bodied white wines complement it perfectly.
On the other hand, if you are someone who likes a bottle of red wine over everything else, then we have got something for you too. The perfect match for seafood is light-bodied reds. These can include Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. These wines when served slightly chilled becomes the best match for seafood. You will find this combo at only the best seafood restaurant in Greensboro.
A pro tip: Refrain from full-bodied Red Wine. Its dense taste will overpower your main dish and ruin your dining experience.
Crab Legs
If you want a solid all-rounder kind of wine with your crab legs, then there is nothing better than a Chardonnay. But if you want something more than basic, then there are other options as well. For a crab leg dish with lemon dressing, a Rose is the best choice. Its sweetness will perfectly complement the citrus flavor of the dressing and the saltiness of the crab. However, if you are having simple baked crab legs then the best choice is a Riesling. It will bring out the natural sweetness of the dish that will give it a yummy aftertaste.
Final Notes
Pairing wine with seafood is quite technical and complicated because of the delicate texture and complex taste of the seafood. There are a lot of different flavors and textures that come into play when you talk about food and wine. While the best seafood restaurant in Greensboro will give you recommendations for your seafood dishes most restaurants would not. A thing to remember is that sparkling wine and full-bodied white wines like Chardonnay are the safest options to go with when it comes to seafood. However, if you want to play around and experiment with new tastes, then you can go for the list of options we have provided you above. But no matter what you choose, the most important thing is that you go with what your palette desires. As there are no wrong or right answers when it comes to food!
