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Seafood · Wine pairing

What wine goes with sushi?

Sushi loves crisp, light, low-oak whites and sparkling wine: dry Riesling, Champagne, Grüner Veltliner or Albariño. A light Pinot Noir works with tuna and salmon.

The rule: Soy and wasabi need acidity; skip tannin and oak.

By Rate This Wine editors · Updated · How we rate

Sushi

Photo: Alpha from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 3 best wines with sushi

  1. Riesling

    1 Riesling Aromatic white, dry to sweet

    Dry or off-dry Riesling handles soy, wasabi and pickled ginger.

    Serve 45-50°F From $12

  2. Champagne

    2 Champagne Dry sparkling wine

    Bubbles and acidity refresh the palate between rolls.

    Serve 43-48°F Non-vintage from $35; vintage $70+

  3. Grüner Veltliner

    3 Grüner Veltliner Light-to-medium crisp white

    Peppery, citrusy and great with vegetable rolls.

    Serve 45-50°F From $12 (often in 1-liter bottles)

Best on a budget: German Riesling Kabinett or Spanish Cava.

Also good

AlbariñoSauvignon BlancPinot Grigio / Pinot GrisRoséPinot Noir

What to avoid

  • Oaky Chardonnay and big reds. They overpower raw fish.

It depends how you cook it

If you’re having…Pour
Spicy tuna rollOff-dry Riesling.
Salmon or tuna nigiriLight Pinot Noir or rosé.
Tempura rollsSparkling wine.

Frequently asked questions

Does wine go with sushi?

Yes: crisp whites and sparkling wines are excellent. Riesling is the most flexible choice.

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