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.
Tyrrell's - Old Winery Chardonnay 2023
A fresh and balanced Australian Chardonnay, where the lusciousness of the fruit meets a beautiful tension.
Otronia - Rugiente 45 Corte de Blancas 2019
A Patagonian white from an extreme climate, precise and vibrant, where southern freshness meets a beautiful aromatic complexity.
Bouchard Finlayson - Crocodile's Lair Chardonnay 2023
A South African chardonnay from a cool climate, precise and elegant, where the purity of the fruit meets the finesse of the wood.
Zaku - Saké Impression H Genshu
A precise and vibrant Junmai Genshu, where the purity of the fruit meets a full and silky texture.
Tyrrell's - Old Winery Verdelho 2022
A fresh and aromatic Australian Verdelho, combining fruity intensity and great drinkability.
Bouchard Finlayson - Blanc de Mer 2024
A maritime and chiseled white wine, where oceanic freshness meets a generous and precise aromatic profile.
Tyrrell's - Winemakers Selection Vat 1 Semillon 2018
An iconic Semillon from the Hunter Valley, of great purity, built for aging and aromatic complexity.
Pewsey Vale Vineyard - The Contours 10 Year Museum Release Riesling 2012
A precise and mineral Australian high-altitude Riesling, patiently aged to reveal the complexity of its cool Eden Valley terroir.
Vasse Felix - Premier Chardonnay 2022
A precise and elegant Australian maritime Chardonnay, where freshness, finesse and complexity are harmoniously balanced.
Tyrrell's - Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2022
A precise and fresh Hunter Valley Chardonnay, where the elegance of the fruit meets the finesse of the oak.
Ten Minutes by Tractor - 10X Chardonnay 2022
An Australian Chardonnay from a cool climate, precise and saline, where the finesse of the fruit meets a beautiful depth of texture.
Tyrrell's - Hunter Valley Semillon 2022
A precise and crystalline Semillon from Hunter Valley, combining crisp freshness and great aging potential.
Tyrrell's - Single Vineyard HVD Semillon 2017
A Semillon from Hunter Valley of great purity, taut and crystalline, made for aging.
Pine Ridge - Chenin Blanc Viognier 2021
A lively and aromatic Californian white, where the freshness of Chenin Blanc meets the exuberance of Viognier.
Colmant Cap Classique - Blanc de Blanc
A classic pure Chardonnay from Cap, combining maritime freshness, fine bubbles and elegant brioche complexity.
Innocent Bystander - Chardonnay 2021
An Australian Chardonnay from a cool climate, combining precise fruit, vibrant freshness and measured elegance.
Mount Horrocks - Watervale Riesling 2022
A precise and crystalline Riesling from Watervale, where the freshness of citrus fruits meets a marked minerality.
Colmant Cap Classique - Brut Reserve
A precise and elegant Cap Classique from Franschhoek, combining freshness, fine bubbles and aromatic complexity.
Bouchard Finlayson - Missionvale Chardonnay 2022
A precise and elegant South African coastal Chardonnay, where maritime freshness meets the richness of controlled aging.
Henschke - Peggy's Hill Riesling 2024
A chiseled and vibrant Riesling from Eden Valley, combining aromatic purity and refreshing tension.
Viu Manent - Estate Reserva Malbec Rosé 2024
A pure Chilean Malbec rosé, lively and delicious, carried by the freshness of the Colchagua valley.
Gómez Cruzado - Montes Obarenes 2021
A great white Rioja combining Atlantic freshness, mineral depth and precision in aging.
Michelini i Mufatto - MA Godello 2022
A high-altitude Godello, precise and saline, which energetically expresses the mineral freshness of the Bierzo.
The Wine People - Pemo Pecorino 2024
A precise and refreshing Pecorino d'Abruzzo, which combines aromatic intensity and saline tension.
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.