Drinking Wine With Smoked Salmon
From Christmas morning tradition to classic canapés and light summer lunches, quality smoked salmon has a timeless appeal.
For a classic smoked salmon dish with onion, capers and a slice of lemon, a Riesling will be great, said Dinnadge, who picked out Trimbachs Cuvée Frédéric Émile 2011 vintage from the Corigans Mayfair wine list at the time.
Others prefer sparkling wines, and particularly those made with Chardonnay in a blanc de blancs style.
Matthieu Longuère MS, of Le Cordon Bleu London, suggested a vintage English sparkling wine with smoked salmon canapés when writing on the subject for Decanter.com.
Thanks to its high acidity, it should also handle the saltiness of smoked salmon, he said.
For Chardonnay Champagne, smoked salmon on toast is best, with crème fraiche, said Thomas Laculle-Moutard, of Laculle and Moutard Champagne houses, speaking on the sidelines of Sparkling Exploration event in 2017.
Writing in back in 2007, Fiona Beckett recommended manzanilla Sherry with smoked salmon.
not the most usual combination with smoked salmon but the most reliably consistent one, she said. It goes without saying that the Sherry should be served chilled from a freshly opened bottle.
Why Choose Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir wines from different regions can be paired with salmon in almost any circumstance.
Theyre Versatile Most Pinot Noirs are quite versatile when it comes to food pairing, which is great news for those who have a hard time choosing which pinots they want on their menu.
Theyre Elegant Some Pinots are very elegant in taste as well, while others tend to fall more into the category of an easy-drinking wine with a good bit of fruit flavor and acidity. This makes them perfect for any meal, so its really up to you as far as what type of salmon youre going to be having, and how formal or informal youre planning on making your dinner party.
Pairing Wine With Crispy Skin Salmon
Theres nothing like putting skin in the game, especially when youve picked seared salmon skin with a top notch wine pairing. When I think of salmon with crispy skin, I think of heat-kissed flesh that tastes and almost melts like butter. Since no one is skimping on the cut of fish, theres no point in skimping on the wine. Keep the match full-throttle with the Kendall-Jackson Stature Chardonnay. If red is where its at for you, snatch a bottle of Jackson Estate Outland Ridge Pinot Noir for its forest floor and briar tones that align nicely with the savory tones of the salmon skin.
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What Style Of Cooked Salmon Goes Well With Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is best paired with any type of salmon thats not overly fatty or creamy but if it were me, Id have to go with salmon filets that have been seared or grilled just shy of the medium.
The wine will nicely compliment the fishs natural nuttiness and while youll still get those bold flavors from the wine, they wont overpower the lighter textures found in salmonespecially when it comes to grilling! The wine also goes well with smoked salmon as well which should be something more than a pleasant surprise for most of us!
Pairing Wine With Salmon
There are many choices depending on how you prepare the entrée.
One of the great things about living in the Pacific Northwest is the availability of fresh, local seafood. Penn Cove mussels, oysters from Taylor Shellfish, and Puget Sound salmon are just a few of the many possibilities that can be enjoyed practically year-round.
Salmon is an especially prized local treat, and the proper wine pairing with this rich seafood can make a good thing taste even better.
Preparation method is always the key to determining a reasonable food/wine pairing, and because salmon can be prepared in so many ways, it opens the door to a myriad of possible wine choicesfrom red to white and points in-between.
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If you have only one wine fridge to store your wine in, what temperature setting is best? White wine tends to like being kept between 45 F to 50 F, while red enjoys 50 F to 65 F. So, select an average temperature of 55 F. Wine bottles are best stored lying on their sides to help keep their cork moist.
Smoked Salmon Wine Pairing
If youâre gearing up for some smoked salmon, there are several wine pairings at your disposal. One of the most popular is Blanc de blancs champagne, a type of Chardonnay.
Any Chardonnay is going to have a medium-to-full mouthfeel, moderate acidity and tannins, and higher level of dryness. The Blanc de blancs variety offers more of a salty, bready, minerality that complements smoked meats incredibly well.
Another great selection is a manzanilla Sherry, which is an additional dry white wine that is made in Spain. The manzanilla is a low acid wine that offers floral aromas and botanical flavors, like almond and chamomile.
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Why Choose Cabernet Sauvignon
This full-bodied red wine has notes of black currants and plums, which means it will pair nicely with salmon because that fish has similar flavors think about a Salmon Fillet in Spiced Black Currant Sauce.
It also pairs well with other types of rich fish so you can even use this for Mediterranean dishes like Grilled Salmon Tacos or even seared tuna. Just keep in mind that its bold taste comes from an intense concentration of fruit flavors like cherry and blackberry all things considered, these flavors blend perfectly together into one delicious taste!
Essential Wine With Salmon Pairings
In the fish family, theres absolutely nothing like salmon for comfort food with luxurious flavor. Moreover, salmon dishes out all kinds of health goodies like Omega-3 Vitamin D B Vitamins 3, 5, 6 and B12 protein potassium selenium and phosphorous. Find a few essential wine pairings for this salmon goodness prepared a few different ways, and you can rest assured youve treated your body well while treating yourself.
Now that were bent on finding those essential wine with salmon pairings, several questions must be tackled. Which of the myriad versions of salmon should we eat? Your specimen chosen, how do you prepare and cook it? Each answer here tinkers with your essential salmon wine pairing.
If Youre In a Rush or Before Your Local Stores Leave You Disappointed: Read This Primer on Best Wines with Salmon
Lets take the foot off the gas for a moment: if you dont have the time to parse through this article or, alternatively, were you to read it with gusto then not find the same types of wines in your local shops, know that your wine with salmon pairing will be okay. You simply cant go wrong with a Chardonnay that has seen a touch of new oak in its crafting or one of your favorite Pinot Noirs.
These two, historical wine grape varieties pair particularly well with salmon because of how their innate characteristics match or contrast salmons high fat content and chunky flesh.
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Best With Blackened Salmon: Bedrock Wine Company Old Vine Zinfandel 2018
Seasoned, most likely, with a combination of paprika, garlic, cayenne, and oregano and then seared until a dark and crisp crust is formed, the blackened salmon is a versatile dish. The bold, nuanced flavors in the Bedrock Zinfandel are a wonderful match for the rich and flavorful blackened salmon. Full-bodied, wonderfully balanced with extensive notes of spice and black pepper, this zinfandel features a silky texture balanced with grippy acidity and an ample personality.
Chardonnay Or White Burgundy
Chardonnay is a classic pairing with fish, particularly rich fish and shellfish such as salmon, lobster, or crab. A buttery oaked Chardonnay is especially delicious with a salmon with a cream or butter-based sauce such as a beurre blanc. Likewise, a white Burgundy from Côte de Beaune has vibrant flavors that balance the delicate flavors of the salmon.
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Pinot Noir Or Burgundy
One of the most classic pairings for salmon is Pinot Noir or red Burgundy wine. Pinot Noir and Burgundy are lighter bodied and aromatic red wines with subtle dark fruit and floral flavors and aromas that hold up well to the bold flavors of wild Pacific salmon and Copper River salmon. If you’re looking for lighter flavors to pair with delicately flavored Atlantic or farmed salmon, then try a rosé of Pinot Noir, which will have slightly lighter flavors to complement the fish.
Wine With Salmon: What The Experts Say
Salmon is a fairly versatile fish, so its going to depend on the type of salmon youve bought and what you do with it.
The wine pairing depends heavily on how the salmon is prepared and the accompanying side dishes, said Jolanta Dinnadge, speaking to as head sommelier at Corrigans Mayfair in 2019.
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What Type Of Wine Goes Well With Salmon
White wines are the first port of call for many when fish is on the menu. Something like a baked salmon seasoned with fresh herbs loves a crisp dry white wine like sauvignon blanc or gruner veltliner. If youre dressing your salmon with butter or cream sauce, opt for a richer white wine like a lightly oaked chardonnay, a marsanne-roussanne blend from the Rhone or a white Rioja.
What about aromatic white wines? Does riesling go with salmon? As a matter of fact, it does. Both riesling and chenin blanc are stunning with salmon seasoned with spices, soy-based marinades and ginger. Stick with vibrant whites and fruity rosés for smoked salmon, although brut bubbly wouldnt be out of place here, either.
What Kinds Of Pinot Noir To Pair With Salmon
Do all kinds of Pinor Noir pair well with all kinds of salmon? Yes and no.
As a whole, Pinot Noir pairs well with just about every kind of cooked salmon, regardless of the variety or how its prepared. It works well with smoked salmon, toobe it hot smoked or cold smoked .
Whats important to keep in mind, however, is just how wide-ranging bottles of Pinot Noir are, and how certain bottles pair better with certain preparations or types of salmon than others.
- Farmed salmon tends to be lighter in flavor than wild salmon, so a bottle of Pinot Noir thats more delicate in style is best. Look to regions with cooler climates, like Oregon, France, and Germany for this style.
- Wild salmon pairs nicely with Pinots that come from warmer climates and lean more toward medium-bodied, such as bottles from California and Australia.
- Smoked salmon is a nice complement to a Pinot Noir thats more earthy than fruity. Youll find a good selection of this style from France and even northern Italy, where theyre called Pinot Nero.
Various sauces and spices also play a roll. A cream sauce is better with a lighter-bodied Pinot while a tomato-based sauce is nice with a fuller, more fruit-forward bottle. Similarly, the bolder the spices you sprinkle on your salmon, the more well-suited a bolder Pinot Noir is.
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Rose Wine With Salmon
Rose wines are a no-brainer when it comes to Salmon and wine pairings. This Wine is a combination of mineral character, red fruits, and acidity that creates a balanced flavor with the Salmon.
Rose wine is a popular pairing for Salmon because it provides the strength of both white and red wine profiles.
Add some bubbles in sparkling Wine or brut rose champagne for an elegant wine and salmon experience. The acidity of the rose wine cuts through the fattiness of the Salmon.
The fruity flavor and right amount of sharpness of this Wine are great for a wide variety of Salmon and Wine pairings preferences.
Why Choose Bedrock Zinfandel
Pairing Bedrock Zinfandel with salmon is pretty straightforward, as the wine has an ideal pH level to match up with the streamlined flavors and textures found in fish.
It is a richly flavored wine that shouldnt be too bold or acidic. This full-bodied type of zinfandel also has notes of berry, which makes it a great match for salmon.
And while this wine definitely has enough tannin to handle most fish dishes after cooking, if youre planning on serving the salmon with something like potato salad or even plain rice, then go ahead and try Bedrock Zinfandel as your main white. Its just strong enough to stand up to both but not so heavy that it will overwhelm other foods served at the same time.
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The Versatile Salmon Calls For Creative Wine Pairings
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A thoughtful pairing of food with wine creates a magical dining experience. The possibilities of creating that extraordinary experience with salmon and wine are many because salmon lends itself well to many cooking techniques and global flavors. But with countless choices, how do we go about picking the perfect wine for salmon?
“I determine the fat, sugar, spice, texture, and acid levels of the cuisine to be matched,” says Scott Mattson, co-owner and sommelier at the Noble Riot wine bar. “For example, if I’m pairing a salmon fillet that has a spicy green curry sauce over topserved over steamed riceI am going to end up in a totally different zip code than I would if I were pairing a simple/classic cedar-plank grilled salmon steak with cracked pepper and porcini.”
There are a couple of routes you can take when thinking about your wine pairing for salmon. “A good pairing can either harmonize and be congruent with a dish or contrast and complement a dish by bringing in balance. Contrasting is typically the easier path, but harmonizing when done well can elevate both the wine and the food to euphoric levels,” Mattson explains.
From a zippy sparkling to a fine pinot noir, here are some of the best wines to drink with salmon.
White Wine To Drink With Salmon
White wine is the best wine when paired with salmon. If the current salmon recipe is mainly based on fresh herbs like cumin or towards a clean citrus aroma, Sauvignon Blanc’s sharp mineral, herbal and citrus aromas promise a delicious combination. If the avocado or cream sauce is to accentuate the fish, then switch to a rich Chardonnay with a hint of oak or swinging and choose the depth of the breed and sharp character found in Loire Valley Sancerre.
The fuller body of the grilled Chardonnay, White Burgundy, or Sancerre will match the weight and mouth feel of the fish, providing an out-of-flavor combination to texture. The arid style of many German Rieslings works well with the more subtle flavor of boiled salmon dishes as well as delivering the best of salmon wrapped in a spicy sushi theme. Its floral aroma and character Pinot’s has a moderate aroma.
Gris from Oregon or Alsace showed significant resilience with salmon prepared in a variety of recipes. Gingered, brown sugar, or maple marinated with a hint of garlic calls for the slightly tropical style of Gewurztraminer.
Whether it’s a white, red or rose wine, you can pair with your favorite salmon dish by looking at the recipe as a whole, considering the main seasonings, accompanying sauces and cooking methods.
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If Youve Been Pairing White Wine With Salmon Weve Got A Surprise For You We Think Salmon Can Stand Up To A Red Winepinot Noir
If youre anything like me, salmon is on your plate more often than any other variety of seafood. Whether its roasted, seared, or grilled, it makes for an easy and feel-good weeknight meal.
But what should you drink with it? The traditional rule of white wine with fish is probably what comes to mind, but salmon is meatier in flavor and texture than other fish like cod and tilapia, which makes it somewhat of an outlier.
With that in mind, I think your best bet with salmon is Pinot Noirand heres why.
Best Wine With Salmon Overview
Before we dive into the specifics of wine and salmon, lets discuss cost. One especially gratifying aspect of pairing wine with salmon is that it can all be done on a budget.
Salmon itself is a relatively inexpensive food which can be easily complimented by a wine that is reasonably priced and suitable for the task. Given the litany of preparation methods used on salmon its remarkably easy to find a suitable companion on the wine aisle or on the wine list.
As a quick note, while there is plenty of room in the world of red wine for salmon, today I will only be discussing white wines. The reason for this is because white wine options alone number in the thousands.
With so much territory to explore within the realm of just white varietals its best we limit ourselves lest we get carried away! With that said, lets dive in.
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Our Advice For Pairing Wine With Salmon
BASICS TO PAIRING WINE WITH SALMON
Full-Bodied White Wines As a general rule, rich oily fish like Salmon pair wonderfully with full-bodied white wines like oak-aged Chardonnay, Viognier, Marsanne, White Rioja, White Burgundy, and White Pinot Noir. However, depending on the preparation method and sauce, you can easily pair Salmon with rosé or light-bodied, low-tannin red wines.
First, well discuss the nature of pairing a wine directly with a very basic salmon and then offer a few options of pairings depending on the sauce and preparation method. Lets do this!
