Quick Answer: Best Wine Pairing with Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp scampi is a dish specially prepared to equally compliment red and white wines. It tastes its best when paired with wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Vermentino, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Soave, Rioja, and Champagne. Pair any of these wines with shrimp scampi for a pleasurable dining experience.
This is the ultimate reference guide to finding the best wine to compliment shrimp scampi and satisfy your taste buds.
Let’s get started.
But first, let’s get to know a bit more about shrimp scampi before we get to know the details about the best wines to pair it with.
About Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp scampi is prepared using edible lobsters as the main ingredient.
Scampi is also known as Norway Lobster and Dublin Bay Prawn. It’s a dish that includes specific types of crustaceans for cooking.
Preparation of this dish varies from country to country. For instance, in the UK, scampi is prepared specifically using Nephrops norvegicus.
So, are you drooling over some shrimp scampi already? But before that let’s find the perfect wine match for it.
Best Wines to Go with Shrimp Scampi
These are my top wine picks that go well with Shrimp scampi –
1. Sauvignon Blanc
| Name | Sauvignon Blanc |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry and fruity |
| Primary Flavors | Blackcurrant, cedar, oaks, herbs |
| Acidity | Highly acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 59-68 degrees |
| Glass Type | Bordeaux / Standard red |
| Storage (years) | 7-10 years |
| Wine Body | Medium to full |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | Over 13.5% |
Sauvignon Blanc comes with low sugar levels and high acidity levels. This gives it a refreshing feel in every sip as you experience a tingly sensation.
The dry taste along with medium-bodied texture and fruity notes like grapefruit, passion fruit, and white peach gives Sauvignon Blanc an identity of its own.
The crispiness and peppery notes of Sauvignon Blanc go flawlessly well with shrimp scampi.
Check out this video about Sauvignon Blanc:
2. Pinot Gris
| Name | Pinot Gris |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Fresh and spicy |
| Primary Flavors | Tropical fruit, stone fruit, citrus |
| Acidity | Relatively low acidity |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 45-50 degrees |
| Glass Type | Chardonnay white wine glass |
| Storage (years) | 1-4 years |
| Wine Body | Medium to light |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5 to 14% |
Pinot Gris is a white wine with fruity flavors and strong aromas of honey, almond, ginger, spice, and clove.
It comes in three different variants based on its sugar content namely, dry, semi-dry, and sweet. It’s a light wine that generates a tingling sensation the moment you sip it.
Pinot Gris is a zesty wine with a refreshing acidity level, making it suitable for dishes consisting of seafood like shrimp scampi.
Dive deeper into the world of Pinot Gris through this video:
3. Chardonnay
| Name | Chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Sweet and dry |
| Primary Flavors | Apple and lemon |
| Acidity | Moderately acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 50 degrees |
| Glass Type | Traditional white wine glass |
| Storage (years) | 3-7 years |
| Wine Body | Full |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5 to 14.5% |
Chardonnay comes with a neutral flavor. It comes with subtle notes of citrus, blossom, apple, and almonds. It’s medium-bodied along with medium acidity and moderate to high alcohol levels.
Its dry taste and light golden shade make it visually appealing. With each sip, you experience a different flavor every time.
Chardonnay is a good pairing option for shrimp scampi as its mild fruity flavors won’t overpower the meat’s natural taste.
Here’s a video to get a complete gest about Chardonnay:
4. Vermentino
| Name | Vermentino |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sardinia and Tuscany |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Lime, grapefruit, green apple |
| Acidity | Medium-high |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 7-12 degrees C |
| Glass Type | White |
| Storage (years) | 3-5 years |
| Wine Body | Medium to light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 11.5-13.5% |
Vermentino is a white wine that comes with a subtle and salty minerality.
Its fruity flavors and low tannins make it a delectable beverage for everyday meals. Its crispiness makes it a versatile drink for a variety of dishes.
Due to its versatility, you can pair Vermentino with shrimp scampi loaded with veggies and pasta.
Get to know more about Vermentino via this video:
5. Chenin Blanc
| Name | Chenin Blanc |
|---|---|
| Origin | South Africa and France |
| Taste | Can be either sweet or dry |
| Primary Flavors | Quince, yellow apple, pear |
| Acidity | High |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 8-10 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Tulip |
| Storage (years) | 5-10 years |
| Wine Body | Light -Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12-14.5% (South African) |
Chenin Blanc is an aromatic and mineral-based white wine. It’s a versatile wine that goes with most of the dishes incredibly well. It has an expressive terroir as the climate and soil of the vineyard decide the wine taste.
Chenin Blanc has an exceptional ability to produce age-worthy sweet wine as well as fine dry wines.
Chenin Blanc is a medium-bodied wine with fewer tannins, moderate alcohol levels, and high acidity making it one of the best beverages for shrimp scampi.
Check out this short video about Chenin Blanc:
6. Riesling
| Name | Riesling |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany |
| Taste | Off-Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Lime, green apple, jasmine |
| Acidity | High |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3-7 degrees C |
| Glass Type | White |
| Storage (years) | 10+ years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | Under 10% |
Riesling is a white wine with rich fruity flavors as it’s rarely oaked and comes pure. It’s intensely aromatic and brings along with it a variety of floral notes.
It comes in several variants like dry, semi-dry, and sweet as well as sparkling white wine. It comes back with the vibrant and powerful heritage of Germany.
The fruity flavors, acidity, and wine body of Riesling endorse the feel and taste of shrimp scampi and will complement it exceptionally well.
Get more details about Riesling through this quick video:
7. Pinot Blanc
| Name | Pinot blanc |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry and Sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Pear, Citrus, Apple, and Almond |
| Acidity | Moderate - Highly Acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 7 - 10 degrees |
| Glass Type | Tulip Wine Glass |
| Storage (years) | 1 - 3 years |
| Wine Body | Medium - Full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12 -14% |
Pinot Blanc has been derived from the grapes of Pinot Grigio which themselves are a variation of the grapes of Pinot Noir.
It is a white wine with low tannin levels and mildly spicy and smoky notes.
It comes with low tannin levels and refreshing fruit flavors backed with earthy notes to make it a complete package of excitement.
The Pinot Blanc flavors perfectly balance the flavors of shrimp scampi, making it a delectable combination of sweetness and spice.
Check out this video to better understand Pinot Blanc:
8. Soave
| Name | Soave |
|---|---|
| Origin | Italy |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Sweet Marjoram, Citrus Zest, Honeydew, and Peach |
| Acidity | Highly Acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 10 - 13 degrees |
| Glass Type | Viognier Wine Glass |
| Storage (years) | 4 - 6 years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 11% |
Soave is a white wine that comes with subtle levels of oiliness which gives it a little punch. Along with prominent fruity flavors, it comes with a mild saltiness making it an irresistible pair with meals comprising meat or seafood.
Opt for Soave for days when you’ve prepared shrimp scampi loaded with mushrooms and veggies and relish a killer combination.
Discover more about Soave through this insightful video:
9. Rioja
| Name | Rioja Red |
|---|---|
| Origin | Spain |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Cherry, plum, dill, vanilla |
| Acidity | Medium-high |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 12-15 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Universal |
| Storage (years) | 10+ years |
| Wine Body | Medium to Full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5-15% |
Rioja is a red wine with a moderately sweet taste and high tannin levels. It is oaked and aged which results in the wine developing an intense fruity flavor and an excellent finish, providing you with a pleasurable dining experience.
It comes with high levels of acidity and a medium wine body, making it an irresistible combination with shrimp scampi.
Dive deeper into the world of Rioja with this video:
10. Champagne
| Name | Champagne |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Citrus, yellow apple, cream |
| Acidity | High |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3.3- 7.3 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Flute |
| Storage (years) | 5-20 years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12.20% |
Champagne is the perfect blend of grapes like Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay and is exclusively prepared in the Champagne region of France. That’s how it gets its name. It is a sparkling white wine that generates a velvety feel in every sip.
Sparkling wines like Champagne go incredibly well with shrimp scampi. This wine comes with notes of egg and bread that’ll complement the ingredients added to your dish.
To better understand the nuances of Champagne, check out this quick video:
Wine Pairing Guide for Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp scampi is one of the most loved and enjoyable dishes of all time.
This dish can be leveraged with crisp and zesty wines like Pinot Gris or a chilled glass of Chardonnay.
Sauvignon Blanc is another classic to turn to for generating a tangy and crisp appeal to your dish. Dry Riesling comes with a defining minerality making it a perfect option for pairing with shrimp scampi.
Its soothing apricot notes with a vintage vibe are simply perfect for this dish. Vermentino is loaded with fruity notes and is a textured wine with lemony acidity making it a great wine for shrimp scampi.
Pinot Grigio is considered a classic option for pairing it with seafood due to its full acidity and notes of herbs and wet stone.
Recipe for Shrimp Scampi Pasta
Shrimp scampi pasta takes around 10 minutes to cook with a preparation time of 5 minutes.
You need ingredients like pasta, salted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, shrimp, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, white wine, parmesan cheese, and parsley.
You start by cooking the pasta by adding butter and olive oil to a saucepan. Later you add shrimp and garlic as well.
Add wine and lemon juice and cook it for 5 minutes and garnish the dish with fresh parsley.
Here is a quick recipe video of the recipe –
FAQs
Eating shrimp scampi comes with multiple health benefits because it is low in calories and rich in nutrients. It is an excellent source of selenium, vitamin B12, zinc, niacin, vitamin E, vitamin B6, and choline.
Shrimp scampi tastes and feels best when the sauce is of the right thickness. If your sauce is too liquidy you can instantly fix it by adding some butter to your dish before serving it. Add the butter while the sauce is still hot to quickly melt the butter.
Shrimp scampi can be paired with a variety of dishes like roasted asparagus, steamed broccoli, green beans, ginger rice, creamy pasta salad, mashed potatoes, Popeye’s Cajun fries, Brussel sprouts, zucchini noodles, and sauteed mushrooms.
Bottom Line
Now that you’ve made it to the end, I hope this article was useful enough for you to trace down your ideal wine pair for shrimp scampi.
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Also, don’t forget to share with us your ideal wine pair for shrimp scampi, in case we missed out on it.