Food and wine pairing : What wine to drink with smoked salmon ?

The smoked salmon displays great finesse and a strong persistence in the mouth. Its flesh makes it an excellent companion for wine, but which one to choose ?

Smoked salmon is one of the stars of festive dishes. With the foie gras, it is the product most often put on the tables for the end of the year celebrations. Smoked salmon is distinguished from other dishes by its great finesse and strong aromatic intensity.. Its pink flesh, oily and tender goes very well with wine.

Accompanied by blinis, even toasted bread, the smoked salmon is a real pleasure. By simply adding a little light cream, a dash of lemon juice, sometimes some aromatic herbs, and now the dish takes height.

Wine blog Fine wines oenology tasting smoked salmon

The smoky aroma of wine

The aromas of the wine are numerous and very varied. They are gathered in large families. The smoky aroma of wine is often present in red wine. We are talking about woody aromas - also called balsamic - and empyreumatic.

There are aromas such as tobacco, roasting, caramel, toasted bread, chocolate, tar, pepper or smoke. They are generally obtained during the aging of the wine in barrels., which classifies them in the category of tertiary flavors, but they can also come from the grape variety - like Sauvignon - or terroir.

However, I would not advise you to pair red wine and smoked salmon. The powerful tannins and the opulence of these wines will collide with the finesse and the salty taste of the flesh.

Pair smoked salmon and wine

Smoked salmon instinctively combines with a dry, mineral white wine. The wine should not, however, be too distinctive or rustic. The ideal is a fresh white wine with a light and tangy structure, as well as a strong aromatic bouquet to counterbalance the fatty texture of the smoked salmon.

I would not advise a wine aged in oak barrels whose toasted aromas may overlap, without merging, with the smoky notes of the fish. Only a test of the pairing will be able to tell you if the aging matches correctly with the salmon.

I recommend the Sauvignon grape variety found in the Loire with the Quincy appellation, Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé.

Other possible grape varieties: Chasselas, Young Chenin Blanc, Burgundy Chardonnay –Mercurey for example-, Muscat, Riesling and Pinot Gris from Alsace.

Other parings are possible

Of course, a Champagne will go very well with smoked salmon. However, I advise you to favor the Champagne blanc de blanc which turns out to be a wonderful pairing.. A blanc de noir or a rosé Champagne have a more fruity and fresh character and will surprise your guests.

If you want to try the experience of foreign wine to pair with your smoked salmon, I recommend a wine from Furmint, an emblematic grape variety of Tokay wines in Hungary. The important thing is to get advice from your wine merchant to find a white wine that is both dry and rich.

For whiskey enthusiasts, head for Scotland or Ireland with a slightly peaty whiskey that will adapt very well to the fat and smoky dishes or Aquavit of the Scandinavian countries.

What you must remember

When you go to your favorite wine merchant, remember that a dry and aromatic white wine will be a great companion. Choose a young wine that will go well with smoked salmon. The ideal is to set your sights on a mineral wine, with acidity and not woody aromas.

Jean-Nicolas Mouretin