Whether you love to entertain or just want something special for a romantic evening, there’s nothing quite like a warm and comforting bowl of crab bisque.
This creamy, flavorful dish can be the perfect accompaniment for any occasion, but what kind of wine pairs best with this seafood specialty?
The best wines to pair with crab bisque are dry Sauvignon Blanc, Nebbiolo, and Viognier. These white wines complement the richness of the crab bisque while balancing out its savory flavor. For a richer pairing, try an oaked Chardonnay.
If you’re looking for the perfect bottle to enjoy alongside your delicious soup course, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this blog post, we’ll break down our top picks for wines that go perfectly with crab bisque along with some tips on how to pick out your own pairing.
You won’t have to worry about asking yourself “can I pair white wine and seafood?” ever again!
Why Consider Serving Wine With Crab Bisque?
Serving wine with crab bisque is a great way to add a luxurious touch to your meal. Not only does it pair perfectly with the creamy, savory flavors of the dish, but it also helps enhance and elevate them as well.
Wine brings out the best in dishes like crab bisque by providing a complementary flavor that allows all the other flavors in the dish to shine through even more.
It can also provide a nice contrast to better round out and balance any overly salty or sweet notes from ingredients used in the preparation of your dish.
Plus, having an appropriate glass of wine on hand when serving this type of meal just adds to its charm and elegance!
The Best Red Wines For Crab Bisque
When it comes to pairing red wines with crab bisque, the best options are medium-bodied reds with a little bit of fruitiness.
Some examples of great varietals for this style of dish include Pinot Noir, Gamay, Merlot, and Grenache. These types of wines have enough body to stand up to the richness of the broth while also having subtle tartness that will bring out the sweetness in the seafood.
Look for aromas of cherries, plums, and even leather on a good bottle, and make sure to serve at around room temperature so you can get all those delicious flavors!
The Best White Wines For Crab Bisque
White wines are a classic pairing for light seafood dishes like crab bisque. The sweetness and acidity of the white wine serves to enhance the flavor of the dish.
When it comes to choosing a white wine for your crab bisque, look for an unoaked Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc.
Unoaked Chardonnays often have notes of citrus, apple, and pear that work well with the creaminess of the soup and its delicate flavors. Pairing this type of Chardonnay with crab bisque will create a refreshing and delightful contrast in flavors on your palate.
Sauvignon Blancs typically have herbal or grassy aromas that can complement any herbs you may choose to use in your dish — such as dill, chives, parsley, or tarragon — as well as any seafood flavors from other ingredients such as shellfish stock or shrimp shells that you may use to make your bisque extra flavorful.
If you’re looking for something lighter than a full-bodied white wine but still want some hints of fruitiness then an off-dry
Riesling could be the perfect choice; it’s more subtle than both Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc but still brings enough complexity to stand up against all that richness in many crab bisques!
The Best Rosé Wines For Crab Bisque
Rosé wines are a great option to pair with crab bisque because of the subtle dryness that pairs well with cream-based soups. Not too sweet, not too dry – just right for this luxurious soup.
Try rosé from France or Spain for a classic flavor that won’t overwhelm the delicate flavors of your bisque. Be sure to look for notes of citrus in your rosé selection, as these will bring out the fruity undertones in this dish.
Look for light and bright varieties with medium body and acidity, such as Pinot Noir Rosés from Burgundy or Provence regions, Grenache Rosés from Southern France, Tempranillo Rosés from Rioja in Spain, or Garnacha (Grenache) Rosés from Catalonia in Spain. Serve chilled but not too cold so you can enjoy all the nuances of each sip!
Other Wines To Pair With Crab Bisque
While red, white, and rosé wine are usually the best choices for pairing with crab bisque, there are some other options out there.
Sparkling wines like Prosecco or Cava can work very well with this dish as they bring a nice acidity to balance out the sweetness of the bisque. A sweet Riesling or Gewürztraminer could also be great for those who prefer sweeter whites.
For something more unique, you could try a fruit-forward Pinot Gris or Chenin Blanc which will add an interesting note to your meal. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, why not try an off-dry Sherry? This will provide a nutty sweetness that pairs perfectly with crab bisque!
5 Tips For Picking A Wine
Picking the right wine to pair with crab bisque can be a daunting task, but there are some tips and tricks that you can use to make sure you pick the perfect choice. Here are our top five tips for picking a great wine:
Make sure it has enough acidity. This will help the wine stand up against the rich flavors of the crab bisque and provide balance in your glass.
Choose wines with lower alcohol levels as they tend to pair better with seafood-based dishes like this one.
Consider trying different varieties of dry white or rosé wines that have high aromatics, such as Pinot Grigio or Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie from France’s Loire Valley region.
Understand which seasonings were used in making your bisque dish so that you can match them with complementary notes found in certain wines, like buttery Chardonnay for a creamy bisque or an acidic Chenin Blanc for spicy versions of the soup dish!
Don’t forget about sweetness levels too – if your crab bisque has sweet components like sugar, tomato paste, honey, etc., then look for a sweeter style of white wine such as off-dry Riesling from Germany’s Mosel Valley!
Crab Bisque Wine Pairing: 3 Ways To Go About It
When it comes to pairing wine with crab bisque, there are three ways to go about it.
- The best way is to look for a wine that complements the flavor profile of your recipe – think about whether you’re opting for a creamy or tomato-based bisque, and then select something with similar flavors.
- Another option is to pair the wine based on texture. If you have a light and creamy soup, opt for something like unoaked Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. If you have a thicker soup or one made with tomatoes, try something a bit heavier such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.
- Finally, if you want an interesting combination, consider going “opposites attract” and matching your soup with wines that are diametrically opposed in terms of both flavor profiles and textures; this can lead to fun food-wine pairings that can quite literally add depth and complexity to your meal!
Serving Temperature And Glassware
When it comes to serving wine, temperature, and glassware both play an important role. When serving white wines, it’s best to keep them chilled. Serve your whites between 45-55°F for optimal flavor. For reds, serve them at room temperature (65-75°F).
For the perfect glassware for a crab bisque pairing, consider using a Bourgogne glass or a large white wine glass so you can get the full range of aromas from your chosen wine. These glasses also allow you to swirl and aerate the wine which will further unleash its flavors.
Try pouring in some of the cooked bisque for extra flavor before pouring in your favorite wine!
Conclusion
Finding the perfect wine pairing for your crab bisque can be an enjoyable experience. There are so many wonderful wines to choose from, and the possibilities are truly endless!
So, what wine pairs well with crab bisque?
The best wines to pair with crab bisque are dry Sauvignon Blanc, Nebbiolo, or Viognier. The crisp acidity of these wines help to balance out the richness of the bisque and bring out its delicate flavors.
When selecting a wine for crab bisque, consider factors like the sweetness of the soup, any added herbs or spices, and what type of main dish you’re serving along with it. You should also keep in mind that some wines work better with certain meals than others.
Finally, don’t forget to have fun when picking out a wine for your meal – after all, that’s half the enjoyment of dining! With these tips in mind and a little experimentation on your part, you’ll soon find yourself turning into an expert at matching up delicious wines and scrumptious seafood dishes such as crab bisque.
Jenny has always been passionate about cooking, and she uses her platform to share her joy of food with others. Her recipes are easy to follow, and she loves giving tips and tricks to help others create their own unique culinary creations.