Expert Sommelier Reveals Classic Mistake Ruining Wine and Smoked Salmon Pairing!

Smoked salmon is a staple at holiday celebrations. Whether served on toast as an appetizer or as a starter, it usually begins the feast. Its rich texture and woody aroma tantalize the taste buds and whet the appetite at the start of a meal. However, the experience is often marred by a poor wine choice. For Fabrizio Bucella, the sommelier who has become a sensation for demystifying wine with precision and humor on social media, we all fall into the same trap: we pair it as though it were a typical fish. But here lies the problem, he laments. We overlook a crucial aspect: the pronounced smoky flavor of the salmon.

Traditionally, we match smoked salmon with a rather dry, crisp white wine to offset its oily texture. “That’s a mistake!“, exclaims the sommelier in his YouTube video. He adds, “Against the smoky taste of the salmon, the wine comes off as harsh, rough, even horrible,” he remarks. And upon reflection, it’s true that we also remember slightly wincing after a sip of white wine. Once the flavor of the smoked salmon is in your mouth, the wine seems far less fruity and notably acidic. So, what wine should one drink with smoked salmon for a harmonious pairing? The sommelier’s answer is quite surprising: “You need a smoky wine, like a tannic red wine that has been aged in oak barrels“, he asserts. This may astonish your guests. Yet, it works wonderfully: “The other day, I tried wild smoked salmon with a Margaux from Bordeaux: it was divine!“, the sommelier shared with our colleagues at La Revue du vin de France.

For those who still can’t bring themselves to pair red wine with smoked salmon, the sommelier recommends a full-bodied, round white wine with distinct woody notes, like a Meursault from Burgundy or a Pouilly-Fumé from the Loire Valley. This will ensure you don’t start your Christmas meal on the wrong note!

Excessive alcohol consumption can be harmful to your health, please drink responsibly.