What Drink to Serve with Paella (10 Best Drinks)

As a foodie, one of my favorite dishes to make is paella.

It’s such a versatile dish that can be made with seafood, chicken, pork, or beef.

And of course, no Spanish meal is complete without a delicious drink to go with it.

So what’s the best drink to serve with paella?

There are many options for what drink to serve with Paella. You can go with a white wine, like a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc, or a red wine, like a Tempranillo. If you want to stay away from alcohol, you can serve sparkling water or juice.

Here are 10 of the best drinks to choose from!

Read Also: What Wine Goes With Paella? (10 Best Wines)

What Drink to Serve with Paella?

There are many different types of drinks that you can serve with paella. If you want to keep it traditional, then you can serve it with a Spanish wine or sangria. However, if you want to try something different, then you can also serve it with a cold beer or a fruity cocktail.

Keep scrolling for more ideas!

1. Red Wine

First and foremost, I like to serve red wine with paella.

It’s a classic pairing, and it works because the two are both rich in flavor. Paella is a dish (check out: What Side Dish to Serve with Paella) that combines rice, seafood, and vegetables.

It has a lot of ingredients, so it’s a hearty meal that can leave you feeling full.

Red wine can be heavy as well—it’s made from grapes, which are also rich in flavor—so they’re complementary.

Red wine also has an earthy quality that pairs well with the earthy flavors in paella.

The two complement each other so well that it’s almost impossible to imagine one without the other!

2. White Wine

I also like to serve white wine because it is light and refreshing, which is great for a warm day when you’re eating something as heavy as paella.

The acidity in the wine helps cut through the fat of the meat and saffron, while also balancing out the sweetness of the rice.

Pairing white wine with this dish is so easy—you don’t have to worry about matching flavors or textures, or whether one will overpower or overwhelm another.

It’s just a matter of pouring yourself a glass of something delicious and letting your nose lead you into a beautiful evening with food and friends!

This wine is also great if you’re serving bread (see also: what bread to serve with paella) with your meal.

3. Rosé Wine

Rosé wine is the perfect complement to this dish. It’s light, crisp, and refreshing.

It has a little bit of sweetness to it, but not too much—so it won’t get in the way of the savory flavors in your mouth as you eat.

And it’s just effervescent enough to make you feel like you’re drinking something special without being too sweet or overpowering.

4. Cava

Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine that is best served cold, which works well with the hot and spicy flavors of paella.

It also goes well with seafood and fish, so it’s a natural pairing for this dish. Especially after a delicious appetizer (check out: what appetizer goes with paella).

The bubbles in Cava are small and delicate, which means it will not overpower the other flavors in your meal, but will instead add complexity to the experience of eating this delicious dish.

5. Sherry

I’ve been drinking sherry since I was 18, and it’s something I’ve always loved.

It’s an acquired taste—it’s dry, complex, and has a strong flavor that can be hard to get used to at first.

But once you do start to enjoy the taste of sherry, it becomes an indispensable part of your life.

It’s easy to find good sherries at restaurants or bars, but if you’re looking for something unique that you can’t find anywhere else?

Well… there are plenty of options out there!

My favorite would have to be Fino Sherry—it has a delicate sweetness that pairs beautifully with seafood dishes like paella.

6. Sangria

Sangria is a great drink to serve with paella, because it can go both ways.

If you’re looking to make a more traditional paella, sangria is a great pairing, as it’s sweet and fruity—just like the rice dish itself.

It also helps to cut through the spiciness of some chorizo or prawns in the meal.

However, if you’re looking for something more contemporary and nontraditional, sangria can work there too!

If your paella has some meaty mushrooms in it and some cheese like Manchego, then try serving up a glass of sangria with those ingredients.

The wine will complement the earthy flavors of the mushrooms while cutting through some of the richness from the cheese.

If that sounds like something you’d like to try, then give it a shot!

7. Mojito

Mojitos are another awesome drink to serve with paella.

The mint and lime in the mojito help to cleanse your mouth after you’ve eaten the delicious and spicy paella.

And the rum in the mojito helps to warm up your body, so that it can better enjoy the spicy flavors of paella.

If you’re not a fan of rum, you can always substitute it for another alcohol like vodka (See Also: 14 Best Coconut Vodka Drinks) or tequila.

No matter what you prefer, though, make sure to shake your mojito well so that all of the ingredients have time to blend together!

8. Gin and Tonic

There’s nothing better than a gin and tonic on a warm summer night.

It’s the perfect drink to serve with paella, and here’s why:

First of all, gin and tonics are light—they don’t overpower the taste of any dish you might be serving.

They’re also refreshing, which is exactly what you want when you’re taking a bite out of something that’s as heavy as paella.

A little tonic can cut through all that richness and give your stomach a break from all that food!

And if you’re looking for an even more refreshing experience?

Add some cucumber slices or lime wedges to your glass for the ultimate refreshment!

9. Beer

I think these two are a perfect pair because they both have a similar kind of earthy, rustic feel.

The first thing I do is pick out a beer that’s appropriate for the meal. If it’s going to be hot outside, I’ll go with something light and crisp—maybe a lager or pilsner.

If it’s going to be cold, I’ll look for something more hearty and malty—like an English bitter or brown ale.

Then, when everyone’s ready to dig in, we all just take turns pouring out glasses for everyone at the table so we can enjoy some good conversation while we wait for our food to cook!

10. Water

Water is a great way to help people feel at ease, especially if they’re not used to eating spicy food.

It helps them cool off and keep their mouths moist while they eat, which prevents them from feeling uncomfortable or overly dry.

It also helps them stay hydrated throughout the meal, which is important because paella is generally very heavy on the stomach (in terms of both flavor and calories), so it’s easy for people to get dehydrated if they don’t drink enough water during the meal.

What Wine to Serve with Paella?

There are many different types of wines that can be served with paella. If you want a white wine, you can serve a Rueda Verdejo or a Godello. For a red wine, you can serve a Rioja Crianza or a Ribera del Duero. And for a rosé wine, you can serve a Navarra Rosado.

Have you ever tried pairing wine with paella?

If not, you’re missing out on a truly delicious experience.

Paella is perfectly complemented by a glass of wine.

Here are three reasons why you should consider serving wine with paella:

1. The acidity of the wine helps to balance the richness of the dish.
2. The flavors of the wine enhance the flavors of the paella.
3. Wine makes the meal more enjoyable and special.

So next time you make paella, be sure to pour yourself a glass of wine.

You’ll be glad you did!