What To Drink With Grilled Salmon

We've been wild about salmon at Foodista recently, sharing many great recipes throughout the height of salmon season. I prefer a simple preparation, like this Grilled Salmon with Fresh Lemon and Herb Compound Butter. Compound butter can be made ahead and kept for other recipes, and grilling salmon outside or in the oven takes about 15 minutes. Salmon is fun for wine pairing because while it is fish, its comparatively richer and meatier flavor lets us play with a variety of wines. Here are some wine pairing ideas for your grilled salmon:

Riesling
A high-acid riesling pairs well with the fat in the salmon and butter by cutting through the richness. For this grilled salmon, look to Alsace or Austria for a style without residual sugar, but if you are trying another recipe with a glaze or fruit salsa, go for a sweeter riesling.

White Burgundy
A white Burgundy made from chardonnay is the ideal white wine for this salmon dish. Salmon is hefty, meaning that it needs a fuller wine to stand up to it. A Burgundy will usually have a hint of rich buttery notes, but should retain an impressive bright acidity to pair with the lemon and herbs. This wine need not be expensive; look to the Saint-Véran and Mâcon regions for deals.

Pinot Noir
A classic salmon pairing, pinot noir's delicate fruit and subtle tannins make it the red wine for fish. You can stay in Burgundy and find a lovely village level that will treat your dish well, or branch out to Oregon or Argentina for a bit more fruit. If you are cooking the salmon on a grill, a particularly fun option would be a 2008 California pinot noir. That year fires were rampant, and many of the wines show signs of smoke damage. While this can definitely be seen as a flaw in the wine, slight smokiness will complement this grilled dish.

Grilled Salmon With Fresh Lemon and Herb Compound Butter