What Wines Should You Serve With Caviar?
When it comes to pairing Caviar with wines, knowing the do’s and don’ts is crucial.
Pick the wrong wine to go with it, and you’ve potentially ruined a delicacy that you don’t have every day. But pick the right wine, and you can create a remarkable fusion of flavours that can compliment the saltiness of the caviar with fresh and sour notes.
But what are the best wines to serve with Caviar?
In this guide, we’ve pulled together some of the best wines to drink while indulging in some caviar.
Wines to serve with Caviar
We have gathered some of the best wines to pair with Caviar in each of the four categories of wine.
White wines to serve with Caviar
Chilled white wine is a classic choice to accompany almost any variety of Caviar. It’s important to select one that won’t overpower the Caviar, with a moderate to low amount of residual sugar and a light body. Go for a slightly fruity wine with citrus notes, high acidity, and a lean body, creating the perfect backdrop for the creamy and briny Caviar.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a dry and medium-bodied wine that boasts a pronounced flavour profile, complete with hints of fresh citrus, passionfruit, and apple. This makes it the perfect pairing for Caviar, adding just the right touch of complementary flavour.
Pinot Grigo
Pinot Grigo has a few characteristics that make it a superb match for Caviar. For starters, its high acidity helps cut through the rich and fatty flavour of the Caviar, which makes for a refreshing palate-cleanser between bites. It’s also a relatively light-bodied wine with a neutral flavour profile which won’t overpower the flavour and texture of the Cavar, allowing it to really shine through.
Chardonnay
Like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay is a dry white wine with a light to medium body that won’t overpower the delicate taste of the Caviar.
Chardonnay has a diverse range of flavour profiles depending on the region it comes from and how it is aged. For example, a Chardonnay from California might have hints of tropical fruit, while one from France might have notes of green apple and citrus.
Some Chardonnays are aged in oak barrels, which can add a subtle vanilla or toasted oak flavour that can complement the Caviar’s taste. However, it’s important to note that sometimes a strong oak flavour can also mask its natural freshness and saltiness, which will ruin the distinct flavours that make this delicacy so special. Therefore, you should take the time to compare a few different types of Chardonnay to ensure the best possible pairing.
Red wines to serve with Caviar
Red wine is typically not recommended as a good pairing for Caviar, as its robust flavour can often overpower the delicate taste. However, if you are devoted to red wine and are reluctant to try something new, we recommend trying a light-bodied red wine that won’t be as overpowering and should still allow the flavours of the caviar to shine through. These are our recommended red wines to pair with your Caviar:
Pinot Noir
With its acidity and subtle earthy undertones, a lighter Pinot Noir is a great option for pairing with Caviar. This red wine undergoes a grape-pressed conversion from sugar to alcohol that results in a nearly entirely dry taste.
While it may not be as delicate as white wines, Pinot Noir is still mild enough to complement the decadent flavours of Caviar without overpowering them.
Gamay
Gamay is another light-bodied and dry wine with a hint of fruits and berries. Due to its high acidity, it’s also unlikely to overwhelm the Caviar flavour.
Sparkling wines to serve with Caviar
Sparkling wines are widely regarded as the ideal complement to Caviar. Their acidity and dryness work as the perfect pairing for the richness of the caviar. These are our top picks for pairing sparkling wines with Caviar.
Champagne
Champagne is renowned for its bready, nutty and fruity aromas along with its smooth and rich flavour profile, making it the perfect pairing to Caviar’s salty taste.Dom Perignon, an exceptional type of Champagne, possesses all the characteristics necessary and would be a good option.
Cava
Like champagne, Cava is a dry sparkling wine with high acidity, which helps to cleanse the palate between bites of the rich, salty Caviar.
However, some wine experts may prefer Champagne over Cava as a pairing because of the distinct flavour and aroma profile of Champagne, but ultimately this depends on personal preference and taste.
Prosecco
Although Prosecco wine may not share the prestigious label of Champagne, it should not be overlooked as an excellent choice to pair with Caviar. With its light-bodied, acidic, and effervescent qualities, Prosecco possesses all the characteristics necessary for the perfect Caviar pairing. Not only does it deliver an exceptional taste, but it’s also a more affordable option.
Fortified wines to serve with Caviar
Fortified wines can pair nicely with Caviar, as they are typically full-bodied, rich, and possess a sweet flavour profile. The sweetness in fortified wines can complement the salty, briny taste of the Caviar, making for a satisfying combination.
Some fortified wines may be too strong in flavour and can overpower the delicate taste of Caviar. As with any wine pairing, it’s important to consider personal preferences and experiment with different options to find the best match for your palate. Below are our recommendations for pairing fortified wines with Caviar.
Port
Ports are often considered a classic pairing because the nutty, fruity and spicy notes in the port enhance the salty flavour of the Caviar, making it taste richer and more decadent. Ports are also described as having a silky or velvety feel, which can contrast nicely with the texture of Caviar and make it more enjoyable to eat.
Sherry
Sherry comes in different styles, ranging from dry to sweet, so it can pair well with a variety of Caviar types. For example, a dry Fino or Manzanilla sherry can pair well with a lighter, more delicate Caviar, while a sweeter Amontillado or Oloroso sherry can pair well with a more robust, flavorful Caviar.
Bon Appetit
If you’re indulging in some of the world’s finest Caviar, selecting the perfect wine pairing is crucial. At The Good Food Network, we offer a diverse selection of Caviar types, including Caspian, Royal Beluga, Royal Oscietra, and Special Reserve Beluga. Our Caviar is sourced from top-quality suppliers, including a cold water outdoor farm in Northern Italy.
If you’re interested in learning more about Caviar, check out our other post, where we’ll give you all our tips on how to store it.