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Seafood · Wine pairing

What wine goes with white fish (cod, halibut, sole)?

Delicate white fish needs a crisp, light white: Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Pinot Grigio or Chablis.

The rule: Delicate fish, delicate wine, and match the sauce.

By Rate This Wine editors · Updated · How we rate

White fish (cod, halibut, sole)

The 3 best wines with white fish (cod, halibut, sole)

  1. Sauvignon Blanc

    1 Sauvignon Blanc Light, crisp white

    Zesty citrus works like a squeeze of lemon.

    Serve 45-50°F From $10; Sancerre $25+

  2. Albariño

    2 Albariño Light, crisp white

    Salty, citrusy and made for Atlantic fish.

    Serve 45-50°F From $14

  3. Chardonnay

    3 Chardonnay Full-bodied white (oaked) or crisp (unoaked)

    Unoaked Chablis for simple fish; oaked for halibut with butter sauce.

    Serve 48-55°F Good bottles from $12; top Burgundy $50+

Best on a budget: Portuguese Vinho Verde or Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, under $12.

Also good

Pinot Grigio / Pinot GrisGrüner VeltlinerChampagne

What to avoid

  • Most reds. Tannin overpowers mild fish.

It depends how you cook it

If you’re having…Pour
Fish and chipsChampagne, Cava or Grüner.
Fish tacosAlbariño or rosé.
Halibut with beurre blancOaked Chardonnay or Viognier.

Frequently asked questions

What wine goes with cod?

Crisp whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño or Chablis. For fish and chips, try sparkling wine.

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