Different fish bring different textures and flavors to the table, and that means they call for different wines. Think of light, flaky tilapia, rich salmon, or bold, briny sardines. Each one has a wine that helps it shine.
The way fish is cooked and seasoned also plays a big role. A grilled halibut with lemon tastes very different from a spicy tuna curry, and your wine should match the vibe.
This guide breaks fin fish into four main types and offers wine pairing tips that make each style of preparation sing. Whether you’re serving fish tacos, smoked trout, or a buttery monkfish, you’ll find something that works beautifully.
Time to explore the best of both sea and vine.
Guide to Pairing Wine with Fish
As a general rule: white wines pair best with fish.
Why not red wine? Red wines contain higher levels of tannin which interact with fish oils on your palate. In most cases this interaction can leave a metallic aftertaste in your mouth.
If you’re hoping to pair fish with red wine, opt for a low tannin red wine.
Pairing Based on Type of Fish
Fin fish can be characterized into 4 major groups by texture and flavor.
- Lean and Flaky Fish – sea bass, tilapia, etc
- Medium-Textured Fish – trout, arctic char, etc
- Meaty Fish – tuna, swordfish, etc
- Intensely Flavored Fish – sardine, herring, etc
Lean and Flaky Fish
These are mild flavored white fish with filets that are thin and flaky. If you’ve ever had fish tacos, you know exactly what we’re talking about.
Examples include sea bass, branzino, black sea bass, flounder, perch, porgy, sole, fluke, tilapia, wild striped bass, pollock, and haddock.
Wines With Lean and Flaky Fish
Look for zesty and refreshing whites to balance the delicate fish flavor.
- Grüner Veltliner
- Pinot Grigio (Italy)
- Champagne
- Vinho Verde (Portugal)
- Friulano (Italy)
- Muscadet (Loire)
- Greek white wines
- Portuguese white wines
- Albariño
- Cava
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Verdejo
- Unoaked Chardonnay (such as Chablis)
Medium-Textured Fish
This is still a flaky fish, but with an overall firmer and thicker texture. With medium-texture, these fish tend to stand up to richer sauces and ingredients – and wine too!
Examples include trout, arctic char, catfish, red snapper, grouper, skate, cod, hake, black fish, haddock, redfish, halibut, black cod (sablefish), monkfish, Chilean sea bass, and escobar.
Wines With Medium-Textured Fish
Look for medium bodied whites with high aromatics and rich full-bodied whites aged in oak.
- Chardonnay
- California Sauvignon Blanc
- New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
- White Rioja
- Sémillon
- Dry Chenin Blanc (South Africa)
- Fiano (Italy)
- Moschofilero (Greece)
- Vermentino (Italy)
- Dry Riesling (Washington)
- Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley)
- Pinot Gris (Alsace)
- Garganega (Soave)
Meaty Fish
These are firm fish with a meaty, steak-like texture.
Examples include tuna, bluefish, salmon, mackerel, mahi mahi, shark, monkfish, and swordfish.
Wine With Meaty Fish
Rich white wines with lots of flavor and even a few red and rosé wines.
- Oaked Chardonnay
- Viognier
- Vintage Champagne
- White Burgundy
- Dry rosé
- Italian Chardonnay
- Marsanne
- Roussanne
- Grenache Blanc
- Falanghina (Italy)
Strongly Flavored Fish
Strongly flavored fish that are salty and taste like the sea. Examples include anchovies, sardines, herring, and mackerel.
Wine With Strongly Flavored Fish
An interesting thing happens when you get into dishes with anchovies and other strongly flavored fish. The intensity gets a lot bolder. For example, a rich Italian-style pizza with salty-tangy anchovies. Normally, you might choose a white wine to pair with fish, but in this instance, it might be better with a red.
- Champagne
- Crémant
- Dry Lambrusco Rosé
- Dry Rosé
- Pinot Noir
- Gamay
- Cava
- Grenache Blanc
Fish Preparations & Sauces
Zesty Sauces with Wine
Beurre Blanc, Lemon, Lime, Vinegar-based Sauces
Try lighter zestier white wines and wines with more herbal and savory characteristics such as Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet, Cortese di Gavi, Verdejo, Vinho Verde, White Bordeaux, and Grenache Blanc.
Sweet Sauces with Wine
Pineapple, Mango, Orange, Teriyaki, Sweet and Sour
Look for wines with a touch more sweetness than the sauce. The darker the sauce, the darker your wine should be in the rosé spectrum. For instance, Teriyaki with Lambrusco or Meyer lemon glazed tilapia with Spätlese Riesling.
Spicy Sauces with Wine
Paprika, Pepper, Cumin, Coriander, Chili
With chili-crusted fish, the firm texture helps highlight the spices and seasonings. Spiced fish dishes match well with spice driven wines such as Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and even a lighter red wine such as Grenache.
Curry Sauces with Wine
Thai Curry, Indian Curry
Curry sauces tend to be a little sweet and because of their spices look for sweet wines like Riesling, Moscato, Gewürztraminer, and Prosecco.
Fish Tacos with Wine
Fish tacos go really well with Grüner Veltliner, Muscadet, and Champagne.
Herb Sauces with Wine
Basil, Parsley, Mint, Cilantro, Dill, Capers, Cucumber
Wines with herbaceous notes taste richly floral when paired with green herbs. Check out Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, Grenache Blanc, Torrontés, and Trebbiano.
Smoked Salmon or Trout with Wine
Richly smoked fishes are a little drier and need wine pairings that quench them. Garnacha rosé, Vintage Champagne, rosé sparkling wines, dry Riesling, dry Furmint (Tokaji), and white Pinot Noir will pair well.
Raw Fish with Wine
Try most sparkling wines and bone dry white wines like Muscadet, Assyrtiko, Vinho Verde, Albariño, dry Furmint (Tokaji), and Ugni Blanc (aka Trebbiano).