Quick Answer: Best Wine Pairings with Shrimps
Check out these 10 wines that could take your shrimp dish from good to great. Some of the best wines to pair with shrimp are Sherry, Madeira, and an Italian marsala among many others!
The combination of shrimp and wine can’t possibly be denied.
So here is a detailed guide, after extensive research, giving you the information on how to make the most of this combination.
But first, let’s look at what palate shrimp cater to, and what we can make out of this crustacean.
A Bit About Shrimps
Shrimps are one of the most versatile seafood to work with as it plays along with no matter what the taste palette is. Stir-fried with garlic, or added into a creamy pasta dish, these Western North Atlantic inhabitants of the sea are short, fragrant, and sweet to taste.
Now that we’ve got an idea of what our dish tastes, let’s get right to the perfect wine!
Best Wines to Go with Shrimp Recipes
These are my top picks of wines to go with shrimps –
1. Sherry
| Name | Sherry |
|---|---|
| Origin | Spain |
| Taste | Bone dry to very sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Jackfruit, preserved lemon, Brazil nut |
| Acidity | High |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 12- 15 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Dessert |
| Storage (years) | 1-5 years |
| Wine Body | Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | More than 15 % |
Sherry is known to be a fortified wine (wines that have strong alcohol mixed into it to aid fermentation) from Spain that is versatile in its range of tastes.
With its minimal tannins, high acidity, decent shelf life, and medium body combined with flavors ranging from jackfruit, Brazil nut with hints of salinity, and almonds, Sherry is predominantly known to be a dessert wine.
Its range in taste allows it to pair beautifully with smoked or grilled shrimps, ones with a hint of either spice or salt to compliment the type of sherry that you drink with it.
2. Madeira
| Name | Madeira |
|---|---|
| Origin | The Portuguese island of Madeira |
| Taste | Sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Burnt caramel, walnut oil, peach |
| Acidity | Medium-high |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 12 - 15 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Dessert |
| Storage (years) | 10 +years |
| Wine Body | Full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | More than 15% |
Joining sherry in the oxidized and fortified wine list, Madeira is a Portuguese delight that is known to age for almost 100 years!
Predominantly a sweet, full-bodied, medium acidic dessert wine, Madeira’s claim to fame is its flavor range, which includes burnt caramel, walnut oil, hazelnut, and orange peels.
With a storage life of more than 10 years, Madeira works wonders, especially in the reduction of sauces, which makes it a great accompaniment with shrimps while cooking.
The shells of the shrimp, coupled with the tartaric acidity of Madeira, can make beautiful sauces and broths that stand out on one’s dinner plates.
3. Marsala
| Name | Marsala |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sicily, Italy |
| Taste | Sweet or dry |
| Primary Flavors | Stewed apricot, vanilla, tamarind |
| Acidity | Medium |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 12-15 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Dessert |
| Storage (years) | 10 +years |
| Wine Body | Full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | More than 15% |
Another fortified beauty from Sicily, marsala makes a great wine either to make sauces or to just sip along with a good seafood dish.
Vanilla, brown sugar and tobacco are its prominent flavors, making it a full-bodied, low tannin, mildly acidic, and highly alcoholic dessert wine.
The marsala mushroom sauce goes splendidly with pan-fried or sauteed shrimp, especially when made into a portion of pasta.
The wine and crustacean combination, along with bread or rice with a touch of vinegar, could be your winning dish the next time you enter your kitchen
4. Vinho Verde
| Name | Vinho Verde |
|---|---|
| Origin | Portugal |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Lemonade, pink grapefruit, yellow apple |
| Acidity | High |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3-7 degrees C |
| Glass Type | White |
| Storage (years) | 1-3 years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 10-11.5 % |
This regional blend, called Vinho Verde, hails from Portugal and is available as all white, red, or a good rose style, with prominence given to the fruity spritz-filled white wine.
Mostly dry with flavors of lemonade, pink grapefruit, and lime zest standing out, Vinho Verde is a highly acidic, light-bodied, non-decanted wine that usually contains about 10-11.5 % alcohol.
This wine goes like a gem with light, sweet-sour dishes and a tangy shrimp taco could be your go-to date to pair with the Vinho Verde.
The subtle flavors of the shrimp, along with the high acidity of the wine and the tanginess of the sauce, make a great snack for the next time you want to go out for a picnic with your friends.
5. Vin jaune
| Name | Vin jaune |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Turpentine, dry pair, rose candy |
| Acidity | Medium-high |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 7-12 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Dessert |
| Storage (years) | 10 +years |
| Wine Body | Medium- full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | More than 15% |
An exceptionally rare wine from France with literal nose-catching, bizarre aromas, vin jaune is a classic to add to your next nutty French dish.
With primary flavors including turpentine, rose candy, and fennel, this medium to highly acidic wine with a moderate serving temperature makes for a great accompaniment for dishes, especially those that contain cheese.
The blank canvas of taste that shrimp provides with hints of salinity, along with the creaminess of the cheese and the dry taste of a good bottle of vin jaune, means this combination is one for the food and wine fanatics to try out!
6. Marsanne
| Name | Marsanne |
|---|---|
| Origin | Rhône, France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Quince, mandarin orange, apricot |
| Acidity | Low- medium |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 7-12 degrees C |
| Glass Type | White |
| Storage (years) | 10 +years |
| Wine Body | Medium |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5- 15 % |
This French wine hails from Rhône, France, and is named after the white wine grape found in this region.
Marsanne is known to mostly be dry, and low acidic with relatively high alcohol levels and gives out prominent flavors of quince, apricot, beeswax, and mandarin orange.
It is known for its great storage life and is hence widely used in the food sector.
This fruity and rich wine goes well with rich shellfish, shrimp in particular, and the bursts of citrus within adding a great flavor note to Asian shrimp dishes.
7. 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% |
A German-made treat, Riesling is a highly aromatic white wine variety that is highly acidic and light-bodied with a strong residual mineral taste.
It is known to be off-dry, the term encompassing its range from being bone-dry to extremely sweet.
It is best served chilled in a white wine glass and has comparatively minimal alcohol levels.
Lime, jasmine, and petroleum are just about the most bizarre flavor that this wine gives out. That, coupled with the great storage, makes it a fascinating find in the wine world.
The earthy taste of the wine goes excellently with shrimp, especially when made with the spices of Asia, India in particular.
8. Schiava
| Name | Schiava |
|---|---|
| Origin | Italy or Germany |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Strawberry, raspberry, rose candy |
| Acidity | Medium-high |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 12-15 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Aroma collector |
| Storage (years) | 1-3 years |
| Wine Body | Light- medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 10-11.5% |
A beautifully aromatic wine predominantly from Germany, Schiava is a sweet and aromatic wine that leaves the taster with aromas of cherry candies.
The wine is dry, light-bodied, medium to highly acidic, and is mostly drunk in an aroma collector glass. It has a short storage period and a considerable amount of alcohol content.
The wine, when paired with aromatic and herby shrimp, makes for a delicious dish.
Shrimps that are made according to the southeast Asian cuisine with heavy use of ginger, basil, galangal among others when eaten with a sip of this aromatic wine make it a complete experience on its own.
9. California Chardonnay
| Name | California chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Origin | California, USA |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Yellow apple, starfruit, pineapple |
| Acidity | Medium |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 7- 12 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Aroma Collector |
| Storage (years) | 5-10 years |
| Wine Body | Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5-15% |
Chardonnay, hailing from both France and the USA, has a wide-ranging ability, to be a sparkling delight to a rich creamy wine.
This dry, medium acidic, medium-bodied, low-tannin wine is an all-time favorite meal accompaniment, especially at dinner parties.
With the prominent flavors of yellow apple, starfruit, pineapple, and soothing vanilla, chardonnay is a highly alcoholic wine that pairs with the finest of foods.
The slightly spongy and sea-tasting of the shrimp goes particularly well when eaten with this soothing, fruity, aromatic wine.
The chardonnay also helps cut through the strong aroma of the shrimp.
10. Moscato d’Asti
| Name | Moscato d'Asti |
|---|---|
| Origin | Italy |
| Taste | Sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Meyer lemon, mandarin orange, honeysuckle |
| Acidity | Low medium |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3-7 degrees C |
| Glass Type | White |
| Storage (years) | 3-5 years |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 5.50% |
Known to be a perfumed, sweet Italian delight, Moscato d’Asti is an exquisite wine made up of Moscato Bianco, one of the oldest grape varieties in use today.
The wine is usually sweet, with flavors of Meyer lemon, mandarin orange, and honeysuckle gaining prominence.
It is medium acidic and is usually served chilled. It is known to have one of the lowest alcohol levels in the wine family, making it the perfect drink for light drinkers.
Because of the sweet flavors that this wine brings about with it, a good fried spicy shrimp dish would go very well with this wine.
The mix of the chilly aromas along with the fruity ones from the wine will take the consumer on a journey of its own.
Wine Pairing with Shrimp Dish – Quick Guide
Shrimps are known to be a blank canvas for flavors which makes them a perfect dish to experiment with tastes. Thus, wines that have a wide range in the taste department go perfectly with the crustacean.
Because of the mix of both salty and sweetness in the normal shrimp meat, fortified wine usually with high alcohol content pairs beautifully with shrimp dishes.
Highly acidic, it provides a tangy taste to the already mildly sweet shrimp, thus giving a burst of flavors.
Wines are best served cold with this shellfish, as the flavors are enhanced by the opposing temperatures. Hot shrimp plus a cold sip of acidic wine pairs like an oyster and a pearl.
If you’re looking for flavor-specific wines to go with your shrimp based on your choice of seasoning, garlic goes great with Sauvignon Blanc. Other wines like Rioja and Godello, too, would make a great choice.
Again, if you want to go for a classic creamy shrimp pasta, white wines from the list should be your go-to choice.
FAQs
A well-balanced cabernet sauvignon most often with a good sweet barbequed shrimp or shrimp cooked in a similar sauce. They go pretty well together.
A good rose with roasted, pungent, and often savory primary flavors will go well with a char-grilled set of shrimp. At times, a good light rose made in France also goes well with simply grilled shrimp especially if made with a rich buttery sauce.
A crisp Italian Vermentino is a good seafood wine that has very strong flavors and will pair well with shrimp linguini.
Because boiled shrimp will often have some excess heat, a slightly sweet white wine like an off-dry Riesling or viognier will do the trick!
Bottom Line
I hope that this selectively curated list of wines proves useful to help plan your next shrimp meal.
Let me know if you have any favorite pairings that are not included in the lists
Feel free to share this article with your friends and family who love wine!