What wine goes with shellfish and seafood? Our pairings
501 wines to serve with shellfish and seafoodWith shellfish and seafood, serve a dry, mineral, saline white wine: Chardonnay, Albariño, Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc or a fine brut sparkling wine. These wines highlight the briny sweetness of langoustines, lobster or prawns.
For a cold seafood platter, liveliness comes first: an Assyrtiko from Greece or an Albariño from Spain. Grilled lobster or spiny lobster in butter calls for a fuller Chardonnay, from Burgundy or South Africa. Our article on wine and seafood pairings covers each shellfish in detail.
Kistler - Les Noisetiers Chardonnay 2024
A white cut like the great Meursaults: invigorating nose, vanilla palate, broad texture.
Vesevo - Beneventano Falanghina 2023
A cuvée made from Falanghina, an indigenous grape variety from Campania
Alheit Vineyards - Fire by Night 2024
A high-class Chenin blanc from old Swartland vines
Barco Del Corneta - Barco Del Corneta Verdejo 2022
A wine full of talent filtered by minimalism and the pure expression of the terroir.
Te Mata Estate - Chardonnay Estate Vineyards 2021
A Hawke's Bay Chardonnay that plays on creamy richness without losing its lemony tension.
Simcic Marjan - Classic Ribolla 2024
A Slovenian white wine from organic farming of great finesse!
Sine Qua Non - Distenta IV White 2022
Un blanc californien opulent et singulier, entre ananas miellé, fleur d'oranger et amande, d'une tension remarquable.
Bousquet - Brut Charmat
An organic high-altitude sparkling wine from Gualtallary, fresh and fruity, with fine bubbles and crisp acidity.
Bousquet - Premium Chardonnay 2025
An organic Chardonnay from the Uco Valley, unoaked, fresh and fruity, between exotic fruit and green apple.
Santa Rita - Floresta Chardonnay 2022
A Chardonnay from Limarí on limestone soils, creamy and saline, between citrus, exotic fruit and hazelnut.
Santa Rita - Medalla Real Chardonnay 2022
A creamy, fresh Chilean Chardonnay, between citrus, ripe fruit and a buttery touch, kept taut by its acidity.
Chateau Montelena - Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022
Calistoga's emblematic Chardonnay, pure and intense, between yellow fruit, citrus and orange blossom.
DuMOL - Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
A coastal Chardonnay from Sonoma, vibrant and chiselled, with notes of citrus, sweet herbs and jasmine.
DuMOL - Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
A Chardonnay from Carneros of rare complexity, between flint, stone fruit and honey.
DuMOL - Wester Reach Chardonnay 2023
A Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley, taut and deep, between citrus, white flowers and oyster shell.
Staglin Family Vineyard - Estate Chardonnay 2021
A Chardonnay from Rutherford, powerful and chiselled, between flint, citrus blossom and spiced honey.
Sonoma-Cutrer - Les Pierres Chardonnay 2022
A single-vineyard Chardonnay grown on cobbles, chiselled by citrus and a chalk-and-slate minerality.
Sonoma-Cutrer - The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023
A single-vineyard Chardonnay, rich and velvety, between white fruit, nougat and toasted hazelnuts.
Sonoma-Cutrer - Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2024
A Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley, lively and floral, with bright fruit and a saline touch.
Matetic & Guillaume Letang - Sierra Grande Sauvignon Blanc 2021
A Sauvignon Blanc expressing the vibrant fruit of Chile's Central Valley combined with the elegance of its mountain terroir.
Gritsch - Grüner Veltliner cru Setzberg 2017
An elegant white with a perfect balance between tension and minerality
Karl Steininger - Grüner Veltliner «Grand Grü» Reserve 2018
A round, fine and complex white with intense flavors of yellow fruits
Colterenzio - Classic Pinot Grigio 2025
A Pinot Gris from the far north of Italy, round, fresh and elegant!
Matías Riccitelli - The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree - Torrontés 2024
A Torrontés full of minerality and complex on citrus fruits.
Which wine for which shellfish?
Each kind of seafood has its own texture and flavour. Here is how to choose the right bottle.
| Dish | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Seafood platter oysters, whelks, brown shrimps, clams | Assyrtiko, Albariño, brut sparkling wine | Salinity and liveliness embrace the briny flavours and refresh the palate between shellfish. |
| Raw oysters rock oysters, flat oysters | Sauvignon Blanc, mineral Chardonnay, dry sake | A taut white or a dry sake extends the marine note of the oyster. |
| Grilled lobster or spiny lobster Breton lobster, spiny lobster in butter | Chardonnay from Burgundy or South Africa | The broad texture answers the firm, sweet flesh, and the butter finds its echo. |
| Langoustines and king prawns langoustines with mayonnaise, flambéed king prawns | Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Grenache Blanc | Their fruity roundness brings out the natural sweetness of the flesh. |
| Crab and spider crab brown crab, spider crab, crab rillettes | Dry Riesling, Furmint | Chiselled acidity lightens the mayonnaise and highlights the delicacy of the crab. |
| Scallops seared, as carpaccio, in butter | Finely oaked Chardonnay, Sémillon | A silky white goes with the melting texture and nutty flavour. |
| Mussels and cooked shellfish moules marinières, clams with garlic | Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc | A lively white echoes the cooking wine, garlic and parsley. |
| Asian-style prawns prawns stir-fried with ginger, prawn pad thai | Riesling, Torrontés | Their aromatic profile goes with ginger, lemongrass and mild chilli. |
For oysters, our guide what wine goes with oysters compares each variety.
Salinity above all
With crustaceans, we look for wines that taste of the coast. Assyrtiko from Greece is the perfect example: sharp, almost salty, it brings brightness to a seafood platter. Spanish Albariño plays in the same register with more generous fruit, ideal with mussels or clams.
For lobster and spiny lobster, it is time for age-worthy Chardonnays. The ones from Hamilton Russell in South Africa or Duckhorn in the United States offer a buttery texture and a fresh finish that enhance the flesh. Feeling adventurous? The dry Furmints from Balassa, in Hungary, combine tension and substance: a treat with brown crab or langoustines. For a festive platter, the Vino Frizzante Col Fondo from Bresolin brings rustic, refreshing bubbles.
Three pairings to try
Seafood platter and Assyrtiko. A salinity that extends each shellfish.
Grilled lobster and Hamilton Russell Chardonnay. The roundness of the wine answers the butter and the sweet flesh.
Brown crab with mayonnaise and dry Furmint. A lively acidity that elegantly lightens the sauce.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and shellfish
What white wine goes with seafood?
Go for a dry, lively, saline white: Albariño, Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc or dry Riesling. These wines go with the briny taste of shellfish and the sweetness of prawns. For seafood cooked with butter or cream, step up in roundness with a Chardonnay or a Chenin Blanc.
What wine goes with lobster?
With lobster, serve a full-bodied, fresh Chardonnay, ideally from Burgundy, South Africa or the United States. Its texture answers the firm, sweet flesh, and its oak ageing supports the butter or sauce. For cold lobster in a salad, a livelier white, such as a dry Riesling, brings lightness.
What wine goes with a seafood platter?
For a platter, choose a taut, mineral white that goes with everything on it: Assyrtiko, Albariño or Sauvignon Blanc. A brut sparkling wine also works very well and adds a festive touch. The key: a fresh, saline wine that lets both the oyster and the langoustine shine.
Champagne or white wine with shellfish?
Both go very well. A Champagne or a brut sparkling wine enhances a cold platter and prawns as an aperitif thanks to its fine bubbles. A fuller white, such as a Chardonnay, takes over with hot crustaceans, grilled or in sauce. Discover our sparkling wines too.
What wine goes with langoustines?
With langoustines, choose a white that is both round and fresh: Chenin Blanc, Viognier or lightly oaked Chardonnay. Their delicate, sweet flesh loves fruity wines. Poached and served with mayonnaise, they also appreciate the liveliness of a dry Riesling or an Albariño.
At what temperature should wine be served with seafood?
Serve lively whites and sparkling wines between 7 and 9 °C for a platter, and richer Chardonnays between 11 and 13 °C with lobster or scallops. An ice bucket on the table keeps the bottle at the right temperature throughout the meal.