What wine goes with shellfish and seafood? Our pairings
564 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.
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Veramonte - Chardonnay 2025
Vinified naturally, this is an exotic, smooth and fresh Chardonnay.
Magpie Estate - The Last Stand Chardonnay 2023
A lively and lively Chardonnay from South Australia!
Greywacke - Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2021
A Sauvignon Blanc out of the ordinary, complex and tasty
False Bay - Crystalline Chardonnay 2023
A vintage full of life made Biodynamically!
Château Sainte Michelle - Dry Riesling 2020
A Riesling with intense flavors from Washington State
Moric Project Villa Tolnay - Hidden Treasures n°3 2022
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Balassa - Tokaji Furmint Betsek 2024
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Alheit Vineyards - Hemelrand Vine Garden 2024
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Paulus Wine Co - Bosberaad Chenin Blanc 2022
An extraordinary white wine, made using the most natural extraction of the fruit.
Groot Constantia - Gouverneurs Reserve White 2024
The great white vintage from the Groot Constantia estate!
Kabola - Malvazija 2025
An organic Croatian white wine made with finesse and lightness.
Etchart - Torrontés 2024
High altitude grape variety that grows only in Argentina, exuberant with fruit and freshness!
MMAD - Chenin Blanc 2023
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Matías Riccitelli - Sobre Suelos Calcareos Chardonnay 2024
A high altitude Argentinian Chardonnay combining purity, freshness and complexity.
Revancha - Chenin Primera Revancha 2024
Intense and expressive of its terroir, this Chenin blanc from Argentina will surprise you!
Matías Riccitelli - Viñedos de Montaña - Chardonnay 2021
A fine and distinguished Chardonnay, from the magical terroirs of La Carrera and Gualtallary
Alheit Vineyards - Cartology 2019
A high-class, elegant and distinguished white wine.
Winzer von Erbach - Erbacher Michelmark Riesling Spätlese 2015
A dry and distinguished Riesling from the Rheingau, made from grapes picked at a late harvest
Nik Weis - Urban Riesling 2019
A pure and crisp Riesling from the Moselle Valley
Dorrance - Kama 2021
A Chenin full of elegance with seductive mineral notes
Thistle & Weed - Khakibos 2021
A unique blend of 5 white grape varieties, found in the four corners of Cape Town
Domaine des Tourelles - Blanc 2025
Incredible freshness, a creamy juice with rich floral and exotic scents.
Rafael Palacios - Louro 2024
A wonderfully crafted expression of the Godello grape: ripe, elegant, balanced and refreshing.
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.