Seafood
Wine with Sushi
The pairing where conventional wisdom fails — and bubbles win.
Short answer
Avoid tannic reds with sushi — fish + tannin produces a metallic taste. The best wine pairings are Champagne or sparkling rosé, off-dry Riesling, or aromatic whites like Grüner Veltliner. For fattier fish (salmon, toro), a lighter Pinot Noir can work. Wasabi and soy sauce complicate things — sweetness in the wine handles both.
Top wine picks
1
Champagne / sparkling rosé
Bubbles, acid, and slight sweetness handle every roll on the menu.
2
Off-dry Riesling
Spicy tuna, wasabi, soy — Riesling's residual sugar tames everything.
3
Grüner Veltliner
Austrian's signature white — peppery acidity loves raw fish.
4
Junmai sake
Not a wine, but the canonical pairing for a reason — savor it.
5
Light Pinot Noir (for toro)
Fatty tuna with a Burgundy-style Pinot is a sommelier's secret pairing.
What to avoid
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Oaked Chardonnay
- Heavy reds