5 Tips for Pairing Wine with Your Grilled Seafood
If you’re a seafood lover, grilling your catch of the day is always an excellent choice. Its smoky flavors and fresh taste are simply sublime. But, do you know which wine to choose to enhance your grilled seafood experience? In this article, we’ll give you five tips to perfectly pair your grilled seafood with wine.
1. Consider the Flavors
Grilled seafood has a delicate taste that can easily be overpowered by a bold or tannic wine. Instead, go for light and crisp white wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chablis, to complement the flavors of your grilled seafood. If you’re grilling a stronger-tasting fish, like salmon or tuna, you can try a light red wine like Pinot Noir.
2. Think About the Sauce
If you’re serving your grilled seafood with a sauce, always consider the sauce’s flavor profile, as it can significantly affect the wine pairing. For instance, creamy sauces go well with white wines, while tomato-based sauces pair better with red wines.
3. Match the Preparation Method
Grilling is just one of the many ways to prepare seafood. The preparation method can also influence the wine pairing. If you’re baking, frying, or pan-searing your seafood, lighter white wines work well with these dishes. If you’re serving smoked seafood, look for fuller-bodied white or light red wines to stand up to the smoky flavors.
4. Compare Intensity Levels
When pairing wine with seafood, the wine and the dish should have a similar intensity level. The intensity can come from both the wine and the seafood. For example, if you’re serving a grilled shrimp dish, you can pair it with a light-bodied Sauvignon Blanc, as both the wine and the seafood have similar intensity levels.
5. Experiment with Local Wines
Last but not least, try pairing your grilled seafood with local wines. Different regions offer unique wine varieties that can perfectly complement local seafood. For example, if you’re grilling seafood in Portugal, you can pair it with Vinho Verde, a crisp and refreshing white wine.
In conclusion, pairing wine with your grilled seafood is not rocket science. Follow these five tips, experiment with different wine varieties and enjoy the perfect harmony between your seafood and wine.
