Salmon is one of the most versatile and popular fish to cook and eat. From grilling and baking to poaching and smoking, there are so many delicious ways to prepare salmon to highlight its rich, fatty texture. With so many options for cooking this flavorful fish, it deserves an equally versatile wine pairing. While white wines are often recommended to pair with salmon red wines shouldn’t be overlooked if chosen carefully. The right red wine can beautifully complement the taste of salmon.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how and when red wine can work well with different preparations of salmon. We’ll also offer specific red wine variety and region recommendations to try with your next salmon dish. Whether you’re cooking wild-caught Pacific salmon or farm-raised Atlantic read on for expert guidance on enjoying red wine with salmon.
Key Factors for Pairing Red Wine with Salmon
Many factors impact the ideal type, style, and origin of red wine to pair with salmon. Consider the following:
Preparation Method
How the salmon is cooked makes a significant difference in which red wine will taste best alongside it. Fattier, richer preparations like grilled or smoked salmon can handle bolder more full-bodied reds. Meanwhile more delicate cooking techniques like poaching call for lighter reds.
Sauces and Seasonings
Any additional sauces or flavorings used to season the salmon will also change the best wine pairing. Fruity, bright sauces pair better with light reds, while heavy, creamy sauces match fuller-bodied reds. Spicy seasonings demand fruity, low-tannin reds.
Personal Taste
While classic pairings exist, don’t be afraid to experiment with different reds until you find what you enjoy most. Taste is personal, so discover red wines that you find delicious with salmon.
Full-Bodied Red Wines
Richer, fattier salmon dishes can typically handle the boldness of full-bodied red wines with ample tannins. Some excellent full-bodied red varieties to try are:
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Cabernet Sauvignon: The strong blackcurrant flavors of Cabernet pair well with salmon’s richness. Cool climate Cabs from Bordeaux, Australia’s Coonawarra, or Napa Valley offer freshness.
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Malbec: Fruity, dark cherry Malbec notes complement salmon’s fat content nicely. Great Malbec sources include Argentina’s Mendoza and France’s Cahors region.
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Shiraz/Syrah: With its spicy pepper and rich dark berry flavors, Shiraz/Syrah balances fatty salmon beautifully. Australian Barossa Valley and France’s Rhône Valley offer top picks.
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Zinfandel: Jammy, peppery California Zinfandels from Sonoma, Lodi, or Paso Robles are tried-and-true matches with grilled salmon.
Medium-Bodied Red Wines
For salmon dishes that call for a lighter red, these medium-bodied wines are ideal middle ground:
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Pinot Noir: The classic red for salmon, Pinot Noir’s red cherry, earth and spice notes complement without dominating. Fine choices hail from Burgundy, Oregon, and California.
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Grenache: Fruity yet dry, Grenache from Spain and France’s Southern Rhône subtly supports salmon. Grenache Rosé can also pair well.
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Sangiovese: Earthy red fruits and savory herbs in Tuscan Sangiovese or Chianti align beautifully with grilled or baked salmon.
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Aglianico: This southern Italian red boasts fresh acidity and berry flavors that won’t overpower salmon.
Light-Bodied Red Wines
For delicate poached or smoked salmon, opt for gentle, low-tannin light reds like:
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Pinotage: Pinotage from South Africa has easy-drinking red fruit perfect with salmon.
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Gamay: Fresh, bright Gamay (Beaujolais in France) suits lighter salmon preparations elegantly.
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Bardolino: A blend based on Corvina, this Italian light red offers cherry and herbal notes to complement salmon.
Best Salmon-Friendly Red Wine Regions
While regions worldwide produce red wines suiting salmon, certain areas are especially known for salmon-perfect reds. Great regions to choose a salmon-pairing red include:
- Oregon: Oregon Pinot Noir
- Burgundy, France: Burgundian Pinot Noir
- Rhône, France: Northern Rhône Syrah, Southern Rhône Grenache
- Tuscany, Italy: Chianti, Tuscan Sangiovese
- Piedmont, Italy: Light, food-friendly Nebbiolo or Barbera
- Rioja, Spain: Tempranillo with fresh acidity
- Mendoza, Argentina: Malbec with fruit intensity
- California: Napa Cabernet, Sonoma Zinfandel
Pairing Red Wine and Salmon in Meals
In addition to the main salmon and red wine pairing, also consider accompanying dishes. Side items, appetizers, and desserts should complement the chosen red. Salmon-friendly red wine meal pairings include:
- Herb roasted potatoes or creamy mashed potatoes
- Sautéed or roasted veggies like mushrooms, tomatoes, or asparagus
- Fresh garden salads with vinaigrette dressing
- Crusty breads
- Risotto, pasta, or polenta with red sauce
- Chocolate cake, sorbet, or fresh berries with whipped cream for dessert
Experimenting Beyond the “Rules”
The most important tip for salmon and red wine pairings is to taste different varietals and styles with your preferred salmon preparation. You may be pleasantly surprised by unexpected combinations you enjoy. Trust your own palate over rigid rules. While lighter reds are recommended with delicate salmon and fuller reds with bolder preparations, the most important factor is your personal taste. Think creatively, move beyond typical wine pairing advice, and find exciting new favorite pairings. With so many red wine choices now available, the possibilities for pairing reds with salmon are nearly endless.
So don’t be afraid to drink red wine with salmon! Select the right red variety, style, and region for the particular salmon dish you’re enjoying, and the pairing can be spectacular. A whole world of delicious red wine and salmon combinations awaits your discovery.
Blackened Salmon With Pinot Noir or Merlot
Pinot Noir is the go-to red wine for salmon. With blackened salmon, you can try a red wine with a little more body to compliment the dishs spiciness. The dark fruit flavors of Merlot also balance out the spice of the dish. Whether you choose a Pinot Noir or Merlot depends on how spicy you order your salmon. Mild to medium spice will match well with a Pinot Noir while a heavily spiced salmon filet may be a better choice for a medium-bodied Merlot.
Tips for Pairing Wine With Salmon
Part of knowing what wine to pair with any dish is knowing the subtle differences from one dish to another. In the case of salmon, different species offer different textures and flavor intensities.
For example, King salmon live in colder waters, thus increasing their fat content. As such, it will have a more robust flavor, which makes it a great choice for light to medium-bodied red wine pairings. Similarly, Chum and Pink salmon have a less intense fish taste, so white wine pairings are a better fit.
Knowing a little more about the salmon youre eating will help you to first determine the general direction in which you should take your wine pairing.
- King or Chinook salmon — The meat of this salmon is fatty and flavorful, and its the leading choice for restaurants. An oaky Chardonnay or light to medium-bodied Pinot Noir will match best with King salmons richness.
- Pink salmon — This salmon has a milder flavor. The meat is a light-colored pink and lower in fat. This species will lend itself more towards white wines. Depending on how its prepared, it could go with a buttery Chardonnay or slightly acidic Pinot Grigio.
- Coho or Silver salmon — The meat is milder than King salmon but more flavorful than Pink salmon. It has a medium fat content and reddish-orange color. While most wines will pair with this species of salmon, red wine should be kept on the lighter side — Beaujolais is a fitting choice.
- Sockeye or Red salmon — The boldest salmon species. The meat is generally leaner and boasts an intense flavor and smell. The flesh is bright red. This salmon can be paired with Pinot Noirs that present rich dark fruit flavors.
- Chum salmon — This salmon is most prized for its roe. The meat is a paler pinkish-orange color and is typically lean with a milder flavor. This is a salmon that goes best with a crisp sparkling white or rosé.
- Atlantic salmon — Farm-raised and available year-round. The meats flavor and fattiness are mild. Chardonnay is the best option here, but most whites will be great.
- Steelhead salmon — The meat varies in flavor depending on where its sourced and how its prepared. The meat looks like Atlantic salmon, but it tastes similar to trout. Move toward the lighter white wines with Steelhead salmon. Look for a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
Generally, your milder tasting salmon meals will pair well with a full-bodied white wine, like an oaked Chardonnay. Umami-forward salmon dishes are the ones that open up to red wines like Pinot Noir.
What Red Wine Pairs with Salmon?
FAQ
Do red wine and salmon go together?
The combination doesn’t work since the fish and wine overpower each other’s flavors almost completely, and you get a strange metallic taste. However, if you still want to pair red wine with salmon, the trick is to choose a low-tannin wine, like Prieto Picudo or Beaujolais.Oct 21, 2022
Is it okay to drink red wine with fish?
For ages, diners have been told that drinking red wine while eating seafood can produce an unpleasant fishy aftertaste. The rule of thumb has been red wine with meat, white wine with fish. But the rule is not hard and fast. Seafood can taste fine with some reds, whereas some whites can ruin the meal.
Do you eat salmon with red or white wine?
That said, it’s a rich fish, often served with cream or butter and therefore a natural candidate to pair with a medium-to-full-bodied white wine such as chardonnay. But nowadays it’s often served raw or grilled which opens to the door to many other pairings including red wine.