A PAIRING GUIDE
What wine goes with salmon?
Salmon: Pinot Noir and Gamay.
The short answer
For salmon, start with Pinot Noir and Gamay. Why it works: high acidity cleans the palate and cuts richness, so each bite of salmon tastes fresh again.
The wines to reach for
- Pinot Noir: silky, red fruit, earth. Pinot Noir is medium-bodied, with soft, moderate tannin and fresh acidity, finishing dry. A little oak is common. Home turf: Burgundy, Willamette, Sonoma Coast.
- Gamay: juicy, crunchy, low tannin. Gamay is medium-bodied, with light tannin and high, racy acidity, finishing dry. It is usually made with little or no oak. Home turf: Beaujolais Crus.
Where to look
Good places to find these styles include Champagne, Chassagne-Montrachet, Morgon and Fleurie.
From menus we hold
- Smoked salmon pate at CORE by Clare Smyth: Pinot Noir, Domaine de la Côte, Sta. Rita Hills (2023). Forest floor after rain, and a whisper of rose petals.
- KING SALMON at Providence: pinot noir (2022). Light as a thought, and just as hard to put down.
- Miyako Salmon at Sühring: Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Royal St Robert (2022). Farm tables, wildflowers, and unhurried hospitality.
The same wines also suit
duck breast, truffle, roast chicken and charcuterie.
Quick answers
What wine goes with salmon?
Pinot Noir and Gamay. high acidity cleans the palate and cuts richness, so each bite of salmon tastes fresh again.
Red or white wine with salmon?
Red: Pinot Noir and Gamay.
Pairing logic from the Sommurai pairing engine and the grape facts of our table. Taste is personal: treat this as a starting point.
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