How to pair Sushi and Wine

Ever since I first tried a Nigiri, I have loved Sushi. I have to admit that the home delivered Friday pizza is now more than often replaced by a Sushi combo from my favourite restaurant just 15 minutes away.
The question is, what wine goes best with these little delicacies?

An explosion of flavours

Sushi is in itself an explosion of different refined flavours. The rice, with its combination of sweetness and acidity. The fish with its delicate flavours and the marinated ginger with its pungent taste.
So we need a wine that can handle both sweetness and acidity, while not overpowering the delicate nuances of the fish.

Be sparkling?

My first choice is a sparkling wine. I know, I know, I know…I sound like I’m on repeat. But there are only a few occasions when sparkling wines are not the right choice. And this is not one of them.
The bubbles will cleanse your palate, and the crispness of the wine will complement the textures and flavours of the sushi. Whether you choose an authentic Champange or the Spanish Cava. Or why not have one of each and organise your own little wine tasting? Because these two, Champagne and Cava, will bring out completely different flavours and sensations from the Sushi.
And as I mentioned, sparkling wines are (almost) never wrong.

Be still?

But sometimes you might want a still wine.
The trick is to look for wines described with words like “Fruity” “Floral” “Fresh” and “Citrus” The fruitiness and florality are needed to match the flavours of Sushin. The acidity is needed to balance the relative fattiness of the fish. It also makes the mouth feel clean after each bite. In a similar way, the marinated ginger is there to cleanse the palate.
So look for grapes like Pinot Gris, Melon de Bourgogne, Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Riesling or why not a crisp Grüner Veltliner.
You can also choose a wine where the Chardonnay has taken centre stage. The creaminess and texture of the Chardonnay will complement the flavours of the Sushin in an unparalleled way.
Don’t be afraid to try out which combination suits you best. Because just like wine, Sushi has a whole palette of different flavours. All from classic Nigiri and Maki to innovative California rolls.
On the plus side, there are many white wines that pair well with Sushi, so you’re likely to find a favourite pretty quickly.

Go red?

For red wine lovers, however, it can be a bit problematic as it is difficult, if not almost impossible, to find a red wine to match the delicate flavours of raw fish. If you still want to try, I would look at very light Gamay or Pinot Noir with a lot of acidity and very little tannins. Alternatively, meet halfway and fill the glass with a fresh, dry rosé.

Go You!

No matter what, and as always, there’s no right or wrong, only your personal choice and taste. So I encourage you to try out to find your favourite combination. And above all, have fun doing it!

Maria Scharffenberg
Sommelier and Teacher