Shrimp and wine are a match made in heaven. After all, doesn’t just thinking about sitting at a restaurant eating delicious shrimp pasta paired with a perfect wine make your mouth water? While, unfortunately, that may not be possible at the moment, there’s no denying that sales of wine have increased during COVID-19. And with more and more options to purchase wild-caught USA shrimp online, why not get a little of the best of both worlds and prepare a sumptuous meal of shrimp and wine for yourself?
However, with so many types of both, we know it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out which go best with each other.
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
There are different ways to approach pairing shrimp with your wine.
One way is to conduct it purely based on the tastes of each. As detailed in an article from Wine Enthusiast Magazine, shrimp can be expertly paired with wine based on flavor alone.
Sweet
Sweet shrimp, such as pink or royal red, are best paired with a Provençal rosé, which boasts a fruity, sweet flavor in its own right while being dry enough to accentuate the sweetness of the shrimp.
Briny
If you’re looking for something a little brinier, take your taste buds by the bay by pairing brown shrimp with Picpoul de Pinet or Muscadet wine for a fresh, slightly saline taste.
Crisp
When eating shrimp with slightly more firm textures – such as brown or white – try contrasting their texture with a crisp wine, such as a Riesling from Alsace.
Meaty
Finally, when you spring for a meatier type of shrimp – such as the almost lobster-like brown rock – pair them with a wine that has texture, like a Soave Classico, to bring out the rich flavor of a grilled or buttery shrimp dish.
For a slightly different approach, pair your wine directly with the type of shrimp dish you plan on making, as recommended by Matching Food and Wine.
Shelled Shrimp
Simple, shelled shrimp are perfectly paired with white wines, like Muscadet, Picpoul de Pinet, or a Pinot Grigio. Order Wild American Shrimp Online for yourself to pair with your favorite wine!
Garlic Shrimp
Garlicky dishes, including Mary’s Garlic Gulf-Caught Shrimp, are expertly matched with a sauvignon blanc, or other white wines known for a more citrusy flavor, such as Rueda, unoaked Rioja, Godello, or Fiano.
Shrimp Pasta
For a tomato-based pasta, such as our own recipe for Mississippi Gulf Shrimp Diablo, try pairing it with a dry Italian white wine or a light rosé, such as a Provence or Bardolino. For a creamy sauce, swap in a weightier white wine like a Soave, Gavi, Chenin Blanc, or Chablis.
Spicy Shrimp with Rice
Due to these dishes’ inherent spiciness, meals like Arroz con Camarones are best complemented by dry Spanish rosado wines, like those from Rioja and Navarra.
Shrimp Salad
Shrimp salad – such as our own Shrimp with Tomatoes, Fennel, Feta, and Ouzo – is a similarly “stripped down” shrimp dish that places much of the focus on the shrimp itself. Thus, this dish is also well complimented by white wines. However, for salads that utilize zestier dressings, try a wine with a bit more flavor of its own, such as a sauvignon or Semillon.
Shrimp Curry
When paired with a green curry, a pinot gris or a medium-dry riesling’s flavor will truly soar with the shrimp dish’s own spicy flavor. Try out this recipe for GW Fins’ Fresh Louisiana Gulf Shrimp, Coconut Curry, and Rice Noodles for yourself!
Want to try different wine pairings with even more Wild American Shrimp recipes? Visit our Recipes Page for dozens of them! Here are some of our favorite shrimp dish recipes that call for wine!
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