Looking for the best wine pairings to accompany your salmon? Salmon can be matched with a variety of different wines, and Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits in the Cayman Islands has some excellent suggestions.
Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits is the leading retailer of premium wines, beers and spirits in the Cayman Islands and offers a vast selection of fine beer and liquor products, award-winning wines and champagnes from around the world. Visit one of our five convenient liquor stores, or order online for free delivery to your residence, yacht, villa or resort hotel on Grand Cayman.
Wine & Salmon
Although most people recommend pairing fish with white wines, the rich, oily, steak-like salmon can also be paired with some varieties of reds. The best choices depend on how the salmon is prepared and what sauces or seasonings are used in the dish.
Salmon with White Wine
If the salmon prepared with fresh herbs like dill or with citrus flavors, Sauvignon Blanc with its crisp, citrusy zing is a great choice. Try a bottle of the award-winning Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand or the Lail Vineyards Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc from California’s Napa Valley.
When the salmon is grilled or features a butter or cream sauce, an oaky Chardonnay will be an excellent pairing. Try a bottle of the award-winning Jordan Chardonnay, one of the best from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, California, and Ca’ del Bosco Chardonnay from Lombardy, Italy.
If you plan to dine on poached salmon, salmon sushi, or a dish that features a savory-sweet glaze, such as teriyaki or ginger-soy, A Riesling or Gewürztraminer will make a great match. We recommend the Becker Laisser Faire Riesling from Pfalz, Germany, and the Hugel Gewurztraminer Jubilee from Alsace, France.
Salmon with Rosé Wine
Salmon has pink flesh, and it stands to reason that a pink wine would make a great salmon partner.
If you’re eating smoked salmon, grilled salmon tacos, or dishes that include cooked tomatoes or olives, you’ll love them with a bold rosé or sparkling wine with a bright acidity that will cut through the rich, oily layers of fish.
Try the Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé from Champagne, France, the Rickety Bridge The Foundation Stone Rosé from the Franschhoek Valley in South Africa, or the excellent Domaine Serene Rose from Oregon.
Salmon with Red Wine
The top red wine pick for salmon is Pinot Noir, although Zinfandel is a great choice for pairing with grilled or pan-seared salmon. Pinot Noir features strong, oaky overtones and is considered a moderately dry medium-to-light bodied wine.
We highly recommend the superb Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir, an award-winner from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in Walker Bay (South Africa) and the excellent Belle Glos Dairyman Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County (California).
The well-known Zinfandel grape is widely cultivated in California’s Napa and Sonoma Valleys. It is lighter in color than other reds, but has a bold taste with notes of raspberry, chocolate and cinnamon, and pairs well with salmon. Try Napa Valley’s Frog’s Leap Zinfandel.
No matter which wine pairings you decide to make with salmon or any other meal, enjoy a vast selection and delivery on Grand Cayman, free of charge, from Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits.
