Quick Answer: Best Swordfish and Wine Pairings
Swordfish is a type of dish that goes equally well with red and white wines. It tastes its best when paired with wines like Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Gamay, Primitivo, and Soave. Pair any of these wines with swordfish for a sweet and meaty dining venture.
In this post, I will recommend some of the best wine pairings for swordfish.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.
But first, let’s get to know a bit more about swordfish before we get to know the details about the best wines to pair it with.
About Swordfish
Swordfish is a type of seafood that can grow up to a length of 10 feet.
Due to this stature, swordfish can generate some of the meatiest and delectable fish cuts accessible in the market.
They come with a texture, flavor, and odor so distinct that they’ll leave a mark without overdosing you with their fishy taste and smell.
So, are you gushing over some swordfish already? But before that let’s find the perfect wine match for it.
Best Wine Pairing With Swordfish
Swordfish can be cooked in many different ways and its meaty texture pairs well with many different wines.
Here are some of the best ones –
1. 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 swordfish as its light wine texture will balance the full texture of the dish.
Here’s a video to get a complete brief about Chardonnay:
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 made from seafood, like swordfish.
Dive deeper into the world of Pinot Gris through this video:
3. 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 a meaty bowl of swordfish.
Check out this video about Sauvignon Blanc:
4. 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 swordfish.
Check out this short video about Chenin Blanc:
5. 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 texture and taste of swordfish and will complement it exceptionally well.
Get more details about Riesling through this quick video:
6. Gewurztraminer
| Name | Gewurztraminer |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany |
| Taste | Off-Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Lychee, rose, grapefruit |
| Acidity | Low |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3-7 degrees C |
| Glass Type | White |
| Storage (years) | 3-5 years |
| Wine Body | Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5-15 % |
Gewurztraminer is a white wine with a floral and lychee-like aroma. It comes with sweet fruity flavors topped with spicy notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and ginger.
It has nominal levels of tannins. The Gewurztraminer grapes are a mutated version of Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
Gewurztraminer is a classic pairing option with swordfish as it complements the spicy vibe of the dish due to its slightly sweet taste.
Learn the basics of Gewurztraminer through this video:
7. Viognier
| Name | Viognier |
|---|---|
| Origin | Croatia |
| Taste | Fruity and creamy |
| Primary Flavors | Tangerine, mango, honeysuckle, and vanilla |
| Acidity | Low acidity |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 50 degrees |
| Glass Type | Traditional white wine glass |
| Storage (years) | 5-6 years |
| Wine Body | Medium bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5 to 15% |
Viognier is a white wine, primarily with fruity flavors. Its intensity ranges from light to spritz depending upon the manufacturer and how it is made.
It comes with hints of bitterness that surely won’t bother people who aren’t a fan of bitter wines. It has fewer tannins, a full-bodied texture, and moderate alcohol levels.
The fruity and subtle bitterness of Viognier perfectly strikes a balance when paired with a fishy and meaty dish like swordfish.
Discover more about Viognier through this insightful video:
8. Gamay
| Name | Gamay |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Sour Cherry, Raspberry, Currant, Cranberry, and Strawberry |
| Acidity | Highly Acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 17 - 20 degrees |
| Glass Type | Burgundy Wine Glass |
| Storage (years) | 1 - 3 years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 10 - 11% |
Gamay is articulately known for its light-bodied texture, high acidity, and low tannin levels. It’s a red wine also known as Gamay Noir as it holds a close resemblance to Pinot Noir in terms of wine body and taste.
Gamay is an excellent pick for meaty dishes like swordfish due to its light wine body and high acidity that’ll help you cut the fat.
Get to learn more about Gamay through this quick video:
9. Primitivo (Zinfandel)
| Name | Primitivo (Zinfandel) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Croatia |
| Taste | Dry and Sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Raspberry, Cherry, Plum, and Blackberry |
| Acidity | Moderately Acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 17 - 20 degrees |
| Glass Type | Zinfandel Wine Glass |
| Storage (years) | 5 - 8 years |
| Wine Body | Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13 - 15% |
Primitivo is a red wine that comes along with black and red fruit flavors coupled with spicy pepper notes for that much-needed zing. It comes with low tannin levels making it an easy-to-go option for dishes containing seafood.
Its moderate acidity and medium-bodied texture make it an excellent pair with swordfish as its meaty taste gets perfectly balanced.
Get insights regarding Primitivo through this video:
10. 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 a swordfish dish loaded with mushrooms and veggies and relish a killer combination.
Discover more about Soave through this insightful video:
Wine Pairing Guide for Swordfish
Swordfish forms a timeless combination with a medium or full-bodied Chardonnay.
This is because the full flavor of the fish gets balanced with the mild fruity flavors of the wine.
Since Chardonnay comes with a buttery and oaky taste, it will work wonders with the rich texture of the swordfish.
Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc are other white wine variants that come with a light wine body that’ll flawlessly balance the heaviness of the swordfish.
Swordfish recipes that are loaded with tomato or cream-based sauces should be paired with Rose. The strawberry and cherry notes of Rose will poise with the savory notes of the dish.
A red wine variant to suit swordfish is Pinot Noir.
Opt for the light-bodied red wine in general. But, when the fish is prepared in a spicy sauce then you can settle for a medium-bodied red wine as well.
Gamay and Sangiovese are also delicious red wines to choose from.
Best Recipes You Can Cook with Swordfish
Swordfish can be used to prepare a wide range of dishes such as simple grilled swordfish, grilled swordfish steaks with lemon oregano marinade, Italian style grilled marinated swordfish, grilled swordfish with a blueberry balsamic reduction, baked swordfish, broiled swordfish, ginger garlic pan-roasted swordfish, swordfish with asparagus foil packets, crispy swordfish nuggets, pan-seared swordfish, blackened swordfish, and swordfish tacos with mango avocado salsa.
FAQs
The nutritional value of swordfish for 100 g is 172 calories, 8 g of total fats, 78 mg of cholesterol, 97 mg of sodium, 499 mg of potassium, 23 g of proteins. It contains vitamins and minerals like iron, selenium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and vitamin D.
Eating swordfish may reduce your susceptibility to heart diseases, reduce cancer-related risks, and improve bone health. The selenium mineral present in swordfish plays a pivotal role in male fertility, thyroid, immunity, heart health, and bone metabolism.
Swordfish can be paired with a couple of dishes like green salad, bean salad, veggie kabobs, tangy vinegar-based slaw, salsa verde, mango salsa, grilled tomato with ricotta toast, wild rice mushroom pilaf, and corn on the cob. Due to its heavy feel and taste, it’s best to pair it with something light.
Bottom Line
Now that you’ve made it to the end, I hope this article was useful enough for you to locate your ideal wine pair for swordfish.
If you found this article useful do share it with your loved ones.
Also, don’t forget to share with us your ideal wine pair for swordfish, in case we missed out on it.