Wine can bring out the best in food, and yes, that does include seafood, but it&rsquo;s not only white wine that pairs well with seafood, despite the popular misconception, some red wine pairs well with some seafood. When you are choosing wine to pair with seafood, you should pay more attention to the wine notes, sweetness and dryness, than the color of the wine.

So how do you choose which wine pairs well with seafood. Certified sommelier, Michaela Quinlan reviews the wine list at Oceana where she reviews the list and offers pairing suggestions.

The wine list at Oceana is an extensive, award-winning 33-pages. A list of this size would take quite some time to navigate, but Michaela quickly identifies fabulous standout wines from around the globe and offers a few tips on pairing wine with seafood to help you make a wiser and tastier choice all in under five minutes.

Let&rsquo;s start with the bubbles because who doesn&rsquo;t like adding a little sparkle to the beginning of the meal?

All of the sparkling whites, whether French, Italian or Spanish,&nbsp; Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, will complement fried dishes like calamari, or any seafood fried and cooked in batter, but these bottles also pair deliciously well with caviar.&nbsp; At Oceana, you can order several by the glass, including&nbsp; Prosecco, Palidin, Extra Dry, Millesimato, Veneto, Italy 2020.

Moving on to the more obvious choice of white wine with seafood, to choose wisely, all foodies should understand which whites pair well and why. For example, a dry white wine like pinot gris or sauvignon blanc pairs best with meaty fish like cod and tilapia.

Moving on to the Spanish whites Michaela recommends the Albari&ntilde;o,&nbsp; Valtea, R&iacute;as Baixas, 2020.

The traditional cuisine of Portugal and Spain are seafood rich, so it makes sense that the local varietals of albarino and veldehro pair well with shellfish dishes of mussels, crab, scallops and lobster. These wines are light and fresh with notes of lemon and the right acidity and crispness, to complement the delicate flavors of the shellfish. Just as shellfish should not be overcooked, the wine should not overpower.

If chardonnay all day is your comfort zone, you are in good company. Chardonnay is popular for good reason. These fuller whites are heavier than the pinot gris or sauvignon blanc, but work well with bass, oysters, salmon, and even lobster. The heavier the seafood the more full-bodied the wine is a good rule to follow. At Oceana, the Chardonnay, Saint-V&eacute;ran, Domaine Luquet, Burgundy, 2020 is a good way to go.

Interested in more wine tips and recommendations? Click the link and listen to <a href="https://corkrules.com/episode/details/3">the podcast wine review</a> of Oceana.

Cheers.

Wine can bring out the best in food, and yes, that does include seafood, but it’s not only white wine that pairs well with seafood, despite the popular misconception, some red wine pairs well with some seafood. When you are choosing wine to pair with seafood, you should pay more attention to the wine notes, sweetness and dryness, than the color of the wine.

Wines that Pair Well with Seafood at Oceana

In episode three of the CorkRules podcast, certified sommelier Grace Hood shares her expertise on how sommeliers create and organize a great wine list and provides a brief overview of how to pair wines.

Quick Tips on Pairing Wine at Quality Meat Steakhouse

Whether you are just visiting or you’re a local to New York City, you know how difficult it can be to choose a new restaurant, but we can help. We’ve reviewed the best and brightest restaurants in New York City and we review the wine list, too. It’s a one-stop shop where you can find wine reviews and restaurant reviews.

Best Restaurants New York City and Wine Review

Ostra

Michaela Quinlan

Ostra:

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier.

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: Hi Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules. We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top. So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Ostra. Located in Boston&rsquo;s Back Bay, Ostra features a Mediterranean menu with a seafood focus. Relax in their lounge area and enjoy piano entertainment while you scroll through their extensive wine list.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: Ostra has a fantastic Champagne and sparkling section, along with half bottles that are definitely worth the look. We will be discussing some favorite regions and new varietals today.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: I noticed a favorite right away. The 2021 Bodegas La Cana Albarino from Rias Baixas, Spain. This highly rated, medium-bodied white wine features aromas and flavors of lime zest, grapefruit, bright acidity, with an herbal finish. Definitely a consideration to pair with herbed dishes.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Another personal favorite that caught my eye was the 2019 Averaen Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. I enjoy this medium bodied pinot noir for the cranberry, raspberry, and strawberry flavors and aromas, along with the spice and coffee notes on the finish. Consider this pinot noir to pair with richly sauced proteins.

RT: So Michaela, their list seems to have lots of range but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

MQ: A must try to pair with the rich Mediterranean dishes at Ostra is the 2020 Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape in the Rhone Valley of France. This classic blend of syrah, grenache, and mourvedre, is full bodied and smooth, with aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, cassis, plumb, with earth and tobacco on the finish. Another wonderful pairing for spicy and herbed dishes.

RT: These are some great calls. So, you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: If you are considering sampling lighter fare for dinner, then a wine to consider would be the 2019 Chateau Fuisse &lsquo;Tete de Cuvee&rsquo; Pouilly Fuisse in Burgundy, France. Pouilly Fuisse is a sub-region in Burgundy that produces stand-out Chardonnay. When you see &lsquo;Tete de Cuvee&rsquo; on the label, it means top quality. This highly rated chardonnay features aromas of white flowers, green apple, pear, with flavors of lemon zest, minerality, with notes of vanilla on the finish, as this chardonnay spends some time in French oak. This is a rich, beautiful chardonnay that would pair well with seafood and dense fish such as tuna and salmon.

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind.&nbsp; Any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: One of my many favorite Italian white wines of excellent quality and value is the 2020 Vila Matilde &lsquo;Rocca dei Leoni&rsquo; Falanghina from Campania. Falanghina is a medium to full bodied white wine that will certainly stand up to any spicy Mediterranean menu items. With aromas and flavors of green apple, peach, lemon zest, bright acidity, and a mineral finish with a touch of almond.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: Another unique red quality/value wine is the 2018 Weingut Gesellmann Zweigelt from Burgenland, Austria. Zweigelt is a red grape that is a cross between St. Laurent and Balufrankisch. This is certainly a wine to consider if you are a fan of Pinot Noir. It is medium-bodied with aromas and flavors of cranberries, raspberries, and blueberries, along with earth, black pepper, and a mineral finish. An excellent quality/value wine to pair with richly sauced dishes.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

&nbsp;MQ: I had to stop when I spotted the 100 point Decanter rated 2019 Tenuta San Guido &lsquo;Sassicaia&rsquo; from Bolgheri in Tuscany. This 100% cabernet sauvignon award winner spends over two years in French oak and exudes aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, cassis, smoke, leather, black currants, with minerality and notes of lavender. Sassicaia&rsquo;s fame and intrigue has been well known since the late 1960&rsquo;s upon public release. We don&rsquo;t always have the opportunity to experience a 100-point wine, which makes the Sassicaia a perfect addition to any special occasion.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Ostra&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself. &nbsp;To our audience, thank you all for Joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible. We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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End

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The Palm - Beverly Hills

The Palm

Bistro du Midi

Sushi Note

Buca

Craftsteak

Smitty's Grill

Brewster's Fish House

Camille’s

Camille's

One White Street

Lyla Lila

Bin 26

Miller Union

Materia Ristorante

Materia

Dear Annie

Sportello

Rowayton Seafood Restaurant

Rowayton

sommeliers

Join us each week as we pour a glass and share top restaurant ‘wine list’ picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ‘wine list’ through somm recommendations, suggested food pairings and masterclass insights.

Cork Rules - Sommeliers

Meet our Sommeliers

Maria Valetta

Grace Hood

Michaela Quinlan

Alexis Rogers

Anthony Giglio

Grant Wood

Cecilia Bonet

Josh Ardizzoni

Alissa Bica

Want to be a featured Sommelier?